Makinde Strengthens Ties With Finland To Enhance Bilateral Relations With Oyo

By Adeleke Maria   Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and his delegation are currently in Helsinki, Finland, where they have engaged in key discussions aimed at bolstering bilateral relations. The focus of these meetings was on advancing vocational training and investment in Oyo’s agribusiness sector. Makinde,who took to his official X Account,wrote: “My team and I are in Helsinki, Finland where we have held meetings with the Regional Mayor of Northern Savo, @tyttimaatta; the Mayor of Lisalmi, @JarmoRonkainen; and the Director of Ylä-Savo Federation of Education, Kari Puumalainen. The meetings centred on bilateral relations between the region and Oyo State covering skilled work through advanced vocational training and development as well as investment promotion in our agribusiness sector.” “We also held two other meetings with the Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Mrs Aulikki Hulmi; the Finland MTK (Central Union of Agriculture Producers and Forest Owners); and the Food and Forest Development Finland (FFD) on bilateral technical support for developing our forest economy and international trade”.

Open Defecation: RUWASSA Supports Oyo LGAs With Motorcycles, Sanitary Items, Others.

By Adeleke Maria     The Oyo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) on Monday, extended a significant support to ten local government areas in the state by donating Motorcycles, Ahuja Speakers and Sanitary items. The contribution is part of activities to mark 100 days in office of the Chairman, RUWASSA, Alh. Babalola Afobaje. The items included 100 Ahuja Speakers, 6 motorcycles (2 each for Egbeda, Ona-Ara and Ibarapa-East local governments) and sanitary items to be distributed based on selection criteria in 10 Local Government areas. Afobaje said that the presentation of the items was aimed at ensuring a complete end to open defecation in the councils, as well as communities in the state. Reeling out his achievements in the past 100 days, Alh. Afobaje said the agency has enjoyed tremendous support from UNICEF in its efforts to end open defecation in Egbeda, Ona-Ara and Ibarapa-East. He added that under his supervision, the Agency has drilled Solar boreholes across some local governments in the State. Afobaje added that the purpose of the donation was to support the efforts of local government areas in ending open defecation. He urged the authorities to ensure timely distribution of the items to the beneficiaries. Afobaje noted that the Agency’s partnership with UNICEF had, to a large extent, impacted the lives of people of the state positively. Alh. Afobaje commended Gov. Seyi Makinde for his unwavering support for the agency, which has attracted international partnerships with UNICEF and other donors. In his remark, the Chairman, Egbeda Local government area, Hon. Sikiru Sanda expressed appreciation to RUWASSA for the gesture. He called on other international partners, donors, NGOs, corporate organisations and wealthy individuals to emulate RUWASSA’s gesture of responding to the needs of the less-privileged in order to ameliorate their sufferings. He assured that all the items received would be used for the exact purpose for which they were intended. The affected local governments include: Egbeda, Ibarapa East, Ogo-oluwa, Iseyin, Oluyole, Ibadan South East, Ona-ara, among others.

Oyo NYSC Take Anti-Corruption Campaign To Rural Areas

By Adeleke Maria  The Oyo State Camp Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Comrade Odoba Abel has on Monday disclosed that corps members from the camp have been working as ambassadors of the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA), towards orientating people in rural areas. Odoba disclosed this in a media chat after a sensitization programme, held at the Oyo State Permanent Orientation Camp, Okeho-Iseyin road in Iseyin, by the management members of OYACA. The Camp Coordinator said the corps members came from different backgrounds and orientations, but are imbued with good moral standard at the camp, adding that the periodic sensitization campaign by OYACA has succeeded in reshaping the characters of the young minds for developmental programmes of the present administration in the State and their lives after the compulsory orientation programme. He commended the State government for establishing the agency and equipping it with needed resources and human capacity to deliver on the task to rehabilitate the young ones. “The corps members come to the orientation camp with various tendencies, and NYSC is seen as a moralistic ground where morals are taught and where Corp members are graduated with good moral and character. “The presence of the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency at orientation camp every time is to reshape their character towards the developmental programme of the present administration. Your coming to orientation camp is to reawake their sense of reasoning toward a better path in life, we are guiding them not only for NYSC, but also for their lives after NYSC. “Your coming always to the orientation camp is yielding great impact in their lives. They are passing your messages to the rural dwellers, even secondary schools and their places of primary assignment on how to shun corruption. These students are like your extension in the rural areas. Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency is very important and I wish that all states of the federation have an independent anti-corruption agencies to continue this work. there should be anti-corruption agency of each state. In her speech at the event, the Chairman, OYACA, Justice Eni Esan (rtd.), who was represented by the Executive Secretary of the agency, Barr. Ibrahim Tijani Esq., said the enlightenment campaign was necessary because the corps members have been serving as the ambassadors of OYACA by replicating the reorientation messages at their places of primary assignment. She called on the young men and women to contact the OYACA office at Ibadan or the branch office at Iseyin, as well as the agency’s website (www.oyaca.ng) whenever they see or hear of any corruptive act or tendencies. “We decided to extend our enlightenment campaigns to the NYSC members because you will soon be posted to the nooks and crannies of Oyo State for your primary assignments to serve in different MDAs (Ministries, Departments, Agencies) and other government establishments. “In addition, as the future leaders of this nation, we want you to imbibe the anti corruption spirit from the onset so as to guard against corruption and prevent all forms of corrupt practices that are predominant in the society. “Your petitions can be submitted directly to our office at Quarter 473, Fajimi Street, Agodi GRA, Ibadan and also at our branch offices at Iseyin, Oyo, Ogbomoso, Saki. Eruwa, Oluyole also at our website at www.oyaca.ng,” he stated. Also present at the event was Deaconess Esther Olopade (a board member of OYACA, Mrs Folashade Ajibade, Director ICT, Mr. Lere Omotoso, Director Administration and Supply and Mr. Azeez Tajudeen, who is the Director Finance and Administration.

Oyo State to Crack Down On Unpaid Market Rent

  The Oyo State Government is set to initiate an aggressive campaign to recover unpaid market stall rents starting next week. The Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment, and Cooperatives announced that this move is essential for infrastructure development and service delivery to residents. Commissioner for Trade, Industry,Investment, and Cooperatives, Mr. Adeniyi Adebisi, stated that the recovery effort is part of the government’s broader strategy to enhance revenue and ensure accountability. This decision follows a recent meeting with market representatives where it was noted that defaulters have been given a three-week grace period, which concludes on Monday, September 9th, 2024, to settle their overdue fees. Adebisi highlighted the importance of this initiative in supporting the state’s revenue and warned that non-compliance could lead to penalties or eviction. He praised Governor Engineer Seyi Makinde’s ongoing efforts to improve market infrastructure and services, including upgrading facilities, enhancing security, and implementing a digital payment system. Market representatives from Ogbomosho and Podo Ultra-Modern markets expressed their appreciation for the government’s support and committed to working closely with the authorities to ensure the success of this initiative. Adebisi urged all market stall holders to prioritize their rent payments to avoid any disruption to their businesses. The enforcement will impact several key markets, including Bola Ige International Business Complex, Temidire Ultra Modern Business Complex, and others across Ibadan and Ogbomosho.