Oyo State Government

3 days ago

WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER YOUR GOOD DEEDS, ALAAFIN TO AJIMOBI

...AS GOVERNOR INAUGURATES LEGACY PROJECTS

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has said that the state will always remember the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, as the purveyor of unprecedented achievements that have far-reaching effects on the lives of the people.

Besides, he commended the governor as unique and visionary for immortalising statesmen and heroes of the state by naming monuments after them while they were alive.

The Alaafin gave the commendation when the governor paid him a visit in his palace while in the town to inaugurate the dual carriage way constructed by his administration now named after the foremost monarch.

Ajimobi had also on the same day inaugurated a zonal mediation centre, which is part of his legacy projects located in the historic town and named after Justice Adejumo Kester; while his Deputy, Chief Moses Adeyemo inaugurated similar project in Ogbomoso, named after Justice Atilade Ojo.

Extolling what he called the virtues that set Ajimobi apart from his predecessors and most leaders, Alaafin said that the governor had by his gesture spurred the beneficiaries on to work even harder towards the greatness of the state.

Ajimobi had on Tuesday named monuments after the Alaafin; Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji; Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi; former Governors Lam Adesina, Rashidi Ladoja and Adebayo Alao-Akala; Ambassador Olu Saanu, Justices Ojo and Kester; a former Minister of Industry, Chief Onikepo Akande, among others.

Oba Adeyemi said, "We shall always remember you for good because of these achievements, which have far-reaching effects on the lives of our people. You have done so much to be remembered for, my governor.

“I read in the newspapers recently that you have named major projects after important people that have impacted on our dear state. This is highly commendable. It is unique and visionary.

"We should not wait for people to die before honoring them, after they might have contributed immensely to the progress of the society while alive. The name of the Olubadan now adorns the Eleyele-Dugbe-ANCE road as Oba Saliu Adetunji Road.

"When you look at the age of Olubadan (90), you will appreciate this gesture better. He did not have to die before being honored. I’m sure he will not forget the governor for honoring him in his lifetime.

"I was overwhelmed when you (governor) contacted me to inquire about who had traversed the legal profession from the Oyo empire and I mentioned Justice Adejumo Kester, you responded that you trusted my judgment.

"We appreciate the governor for this honour. It is not common for people to be honored this way. This is a wakeup call to the people that we should do our utmost best for our societies always and for leaders to immortalize such people. I pray that we will have people like you in position of authority that will continue this trend.”

The Alaafin further commended the governor for what he called his uncommon leadership acumen, which inspired the unprecedented achievements and growth of the state in all facets of human endeavors, including the enthronement of peace and security.

The monarch said it was noteworthy that Ajimobi had spent eight historic years that were devoid of brigandage, which he said aided the steady socio-economic development and growth of the state.

Responding, Ajimobi thanked the monarch for his fatherly role and support spanning his two tenures, which he said had proved bookmakers wrong.

On assumption of office in 2011, he said that pundits had predicted that his then robust relationship with the Alaafin would not last long because of the monarchs known criticism of mediocrity and weak leadership.

Ajimobi said, "People predicted that my relationship with Baba Alaafin would not last on my assumption of office in 2011. I'm proud to tell them now that we are flexing daily in our relationship and this is the eighth year of my administration.

"No governor since the days of the Western Region had ruled the region or Oyo State for eight years, not even during the military misadventures. I want to sincerely thank Baba for his supportive roles and prayers, which contributed to our success story.

“I also thank the good people of Oyo State, including the people of Oyo for their love and support for me. I won elections in 2003 (Senate), 2011 and 2015 (governorship). So if I fail to win in 2019 (Senate), I still scored A1 or what you can call First Class."

The governor said that the mediation centres were established by his administration as a practical demonstration of its repositioning agenda, particularly in enhancing peace, safety and security.

He said, “Dispute resolution is an important factor in our social existence and the more we all learn to live with our disagreements and take mutual steps towards amicable resolutions, the better for our society and communal harmony.

“This underscores the need to provide mediation services across all the zones of Oyo State. The outstanding success of the mediation centre at the ministry of justice in Ibadan provoked the conception and birth of the zonal centres, two of which are being commissioned today (yesterday) in Oyo and Ogbomoso zones.

“With today’s commissioning, Oyo State, under our leadership, would have fulfilled its electioneering promises of entrenching in the state an enduring peaceful co-existence and speedy dispensation of justice.”

Communication Unit
Governor's Office
Ibadan ... See MoreSee Less

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Oyo State Government is with Salam Saheed.

4 days ago

Oyo commits more than N61bn to tertiary, secondary education in 7 years – Ajimobi

....Inaugurates 11 new PS, road projects

Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, on Wednesday disclosed that the state had committed about N46bn to funding of state-owned tertiary institutions in the last seven years.

Besides, he said that the School Governing Board (SGB), a novel participatory model of school management system introduced by his administration in 2016, which accommodates the stakeholders in the day-to-day running of public secondary schools, had so far attracted funding to the tune of N15bn.

Ajimobi stated this while inaugurating the ultramodern Oba Akinbiyi Model School at Mokola, Ibadan, one of the model schools constructed by his administration.

The governor had earlier in the day sworn-in 11 newly-appointed permanent secretaries, while he later inaugurated the newly-constructed Ijokodo-Apete Road, now named Ambassador Olu Saanu Road, as well as Challenge-Efunsetan Road named after the late former Governor Lam Adeshina.

The governor said that his administration’s scientific approach to his mandate informed the organization of two education summits in the 2012 and 2016, which identified major gaps in the education sector.

According to him, a significant part of the gap was infrastructural decay in the school system, consequent upon which the state embarked on the provision of world class facilities in public schools with a vision to deliver quality education across the state.

He said: "As an administration, we have presided over the most focused, prudent and responsible management of available resources for the maximum benefit of our people for eight years.

"Underpinning every step we have taken is our desire for quality in whatever we do. Aside from the three model schools, renovation of several blocks of classrooms in over 100 secondary schools across the state was recently carried out to create conducive learning environment.

"We have spent close to N46billion on the funding of state-owned tertiary institutions in the last seven years. If you divide it by seven, it means we have spent close to N7bn every year on education.

“Contrary to some uninformed opinions, this administration has succeeded in repositioning all tertiary institutions owned by the state, setting them on the path of financial prudence for sustainable management and development.”

The governor said his administration’s desire to make tertiary education more available informed the upgrade of Oyo State College of Education, Lanlate to an autonomous college, and the College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora from a monotechnic to a polytechnic.

Similarly, he said that Oke-Ogun and Ibarapa Polytechnics, which used to be satellite campuses of The Polytechnic Ibadan, were upgraded to full-fledged polytechnics.

On the gains of the SGB policy, the governor said that over N8bn had been committed to the management of public secondary schools by the stakeholders, aside the 7billion which government had also spent on renovation of schools.

He said that the financial, manpower, logistics and intellectual contributions made by the stakeholders,, including alumni associations, parent-teachers’ association and community leaders, among others was a reflection of the popularity of the policy.

The governor also said that his administration had made huge impact in education, health, agriculture, urban renewal and other areas.

Ajimobi said: "The greatest innovation we have made is the introduction of SGB. We have close to 628 secondary schools in the state today which are being managed by stakeholders in all the communities where the schools are situated.

"I'm happy to inform you that since we started the policy, the stakeholders have contributed close to N8bn, while government has spent over N7bn so far. We are so happy that the resultant effect has been that in the past 18 years, we recorded the best results in public examinations in 2018.

"These efforts are not limited to secondary schools. Through the Oyo State Education Trust Fund which we established, we have carried out renovation of many schools, including the five technical colleges.

“The State Universal Basic Education Board also carried out massive construction and rehabilitation of public primary schools in our bid to making learning environment child-friendly.”

In his address during the inauguration of the new permanent secretaries, Ajimobi admonished them to place public interests above personal interests in the true spirit of their oath of office and allegiance.

He also harped on the need for confidentiality, reminding them that they swore not to divulge anything made known to them by virtue of their positions.

The governor urged them to contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of the state and to cooperate fully with the incoming administration in order to move the state to the next level.

He said: “I urge you to be more hardworking and you must be loyal to the government of the day. To whom much is given, much is expected. The enviable position of a PS is the peak of any civil servant’s career and it comes with a huge responsibility and commitment.

“We have been able to raise the bar of governance in this state and we want you to assist in sustaining this incremental raising of the bar by being more dedicated and committed.

“Do your best and leave the rest; move ahead of your followers and subordinates at all times. As a leader, you may not be appreciated today but you will be appreciated tomorrow, because the world is replete with cultural, political and spiritual leaders who were not appreciated while in office or alive.”

The governor advised other civil servants to be alive to their responsibility with the expectation that they would also be rewarded in one way or the other. ... See MoreSee Less

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