NAFEST 2019: OGUN EMERGES 1ST IN DRAMA, 2ND OVERALL IN NIGERIA

Ogun State, out of over 27 States that participated at the weeklong National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST), in Benin City, Edo State from Saturday, 19th to Saturday, 26th October 2019, has won the first position in drama. 

Announcing the result at the official closing ceremony of the event, held at the University of Benin Sports Complex, Benin City, our correspondent at the festival, Bimbola Ojo gathered that the gateway state came 2nd overall position at the festival. 

The Chairman House Committee on Information, Culture and Tourism in Ogun State, Hon. Yussuf Adejojo, while speaking with journalists after the award presentations, thanked Edo State Government for hosting the festival of unity. 

Adejojo thereafter commended the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun for his kind gestures to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, saying his support made the State stand out among its contemporary while assuring the ministry of the continued support of the Governor. 

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Ogun State, Alhaja Selimot Ottun, expressed her profound gratitude to Governor Abiodun for his moral and financial supports towards the festival while appreciating all the state’s contingents who had in one way or the other contributed immensely to the success, saying this has brought fame to Ogun State. 

The Director of Culture in the Ministry, Mr. Oluwaseye Adeyemo, on his part urged the staffers in the ministry to continue with the spirit of oneness, which he said, is the secret behind the State’s successes, noting that “united we stand, divided we fall”. 

In his closing remark, the Host Governor, Godwin Obaseki said the festival is a huge success, which had broaden the knowledge of all participants about the diverse cultures in the State and had also created an avenue to display culture in the last seven days. 

Represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, the Governor urged everyone to take back to their various States, the knowledge acquired, improve on it, to promote sustainable peace and unity, provide employment opportunities and improve the Nigerian economy.

MATERNAL, INFANT MORTALITY RATE: OGUN INTENSIFIES EFFORT ON HEALTHCARE DELIVERY

          Towards reducing maternal and infant mortality rate to the barest minimum, the Ogun State Government has intensified efforts on its affordable health care services for the people of the State.

          The Special Adviser to the Governor on Information, Mrs. Modele Sarafa - Yusuf made this known in Ijebu-Ode, at a one-day advocacy organised by Ministry of Information, in collaboration with United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) for Chief Executive Officers and Heads of Programmes of selected radio stations in the state.

          While reeling out steps to achieving the goal, Mrs. Sarafa Yusuf said government had started the renovations and equipping of Primary Health Centres (PHC) across the State, assuring that at least one PHC would be renovated in each ward.

          The Special Adviser disclosed that the State hospitals in Ilaro, Abeokuta and Ijebu-Ode had witnessed government's touch, adding that the Governor had put machinery in place to revive the past glory of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH).

          She called on media organizations to join hands with the state government and UNICEF in publicising healthcare related messages to the people at the grassroots.

          In their separate messages, UNICEF Consultants, Dr. Goke Rauf and Dr. Omolayo Jegede, appreciated the State Government and the media stations for their continued support, assuring that, UNICEF’s efforts had begun to yield positively, especially in the areas of breastfeeding, nutrition and hygiene.

          Earlier in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alhaji Abiodun Awere, affirmed the Ministry's commitment to promoting programmes that would guarantee the survival, development and protection of the citizenry through adequate publicity.

          Speaking with newsmen shortly after the event, the Head of Programmes, Paramount FM, Mrs. Remi Femi-Omololu and the General Manager of Family FM, Mr. Kilasho Opeoluwa, assured of their stations’ support in enlightening the populace

2020 BUDGET: ABIODUN ASSURES ON DEEPENING INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

          The government of Ogun State says it is irrevocably committed to deepening its investment potentials towards retaining its status, as the largest industrial hub in the Sub-Saharan Africa through urgent and massive construction and rehabilitation of interstate and critical intrastate roads. The State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun gave the assurance at the Ogun West Senatorial District’s Town Hall meeting, on 2020 budget and Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2020-2022 in Ilaro.

          Governor Abiodun highlighted some of the roads to include, Lagos-Abeokuta, Epe-Lagos and Ogijo- Ikorodu roads among others, saying it was important to embark on road infrastructure to attract more investment to the State.

          He noted that Ogun West Senatorial District has great potential of becoming another world-class Industrial hub of the State, due to the proximity of two Local Governments in the District, namely Ipokia and Imeko-Afon to Lagos State and international markets, assuring that the roads would be included in the budget. 

          The Governor revealed that more model school buildings would be converted to technical and vocational training centres, saying, "unfortunately, the model school in Ilaro has been recommended for demolition because it has been adjudged by professionals to be structurally defective".

          In his remark, a former governorship aspirant in the State, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, appealed to Governor Abiodun to declare state of emergency on all roads in Ogun West Senatorial District, urging indigenes to support government through prompt payments of taxes and levies to aid rapid development. 

          The Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewa Land, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, pledged allegiance of his people to governor Abiodun led administration. 

          Speaking with newsmen at the meeting, the Chairman, Yewa Awori Traders Association, Prince Matthew Ajibawo, appealed to the Governor to caution Customs and other security personnel from disturbing traders in the area.

          Also, a Woman leader in Yewa South, Alhaja Afolake Akinyemi called on government to incorporate women empowerment in the budget.