MIMIKO ADVOCATES MORE FUNDING FOR MASS LITERACY EDUCATION; AS HE GETS NOMINATION FOR LIERACY AWARD

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Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has called for adequate investment in mass literacy programme as a panacea for peace, development and stability of the country.



The Governor stated this on Tuesday in his office during a courtesy call on him by the management team of the National Commission for Mass Literacy Adult and Non-Formal Education.



Dr Mimiko, who opined that if Nigeria must continue to enjoy peace and stability, governments at all levels must invest in education.



He however gave kudos to President Goodluck Jonathan for according priority to almajiris’ education in the northern part of the country.



He described mass literacy and skill acquisition as major instruments of development in any nation, noting that his administration has keyed into such philosophy to transform the socio-economic landscape of the state.



He added that government has continued to carry the people along in the conception and implementation of programmes, stressing that the creation of a substantive ministry of adult technical and vocational education was a deliberate attempt to focus on the sector for the development of the state.



His words “I want to say that mass literacy is a cornerstone for us to achieve inclusive development in this country. We are only deceiving ourselves if we fail to democratize access to education. Our philosophical and ideological practice in this state is to develop our skill acquisition centres and make them functional. We are happy today that our investment has been yielding results. The same thing is applicable to our mass literacy programme”.



In his speech, the executive secretary of the Commission, Alhaji Yusuf Paiko, represented by Alhaji Musa Gusau said that the commission’s report for the year 2010 indicated that 56 millions adults out of 160 million projected population in the country are illiterates, adding that the year 2012 report showed that 10.1 million children were out of school mostly from the northern part of the country.



Alhaji Paiko noted that the commission is making frantic effort to eradicate all the associated challenges of illiteracy through the launch of mass literacy campaign, commending the Ondo state government for its determination to face the challenges of illiteracy and life-skills through the creation of the substantive ministry.



He also lauded the government in the areas of appointment of area mass literacy officers and increase in the monthly allowances of facilitators from N5,000 to N10,000, which according to him is above the benchmark of N7,500.



However, Alhaji Paiko disclosed that the management of the commission has nominated Governor Mimiko for an award of excellence for his brilliant performance and great achievement in mass literacy delivery in the country.





Dele Awogbami,

Press Officer

MIMIKO LAUNCHES URBAN RENEWAL STRATEGIES *INAUGURATES LAND RECORDS BEREAU

 

  Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko has said that his administration’s urban renewal programme has brought unprecedented transformation to the State within the last 36 months.
According to him, the state government will ensure that every urban community is touched to make life better for the city dwellers.


Dr Mimiko made the assertion on Tuesday while speaking at the launch of the State Urban Renewal Strategies and commissioning of the state land records bureau in Akure the state capital.



The Governor cited the various initiatives in the state, including mega schools, modern markets, automart, mechanic village and beautification projects as parts of the urban renewal programmes to make the state capital and major towns attractive for investors.



He submitted that the land bureau would facilitate easy processing of certificate of occupancy thereby creating wealth for property owners.



He said, “We must adopt a pragmatic approach in dealing with the urban development issues in the state. Having set up the institutional and policy frameworks we have now put in place series of strategies and methologies to achieve the policy objectives.


“This administration committed itself to deep-seated principles of good governance and promised to work for the people. In our Urban Renewal Programme, we have not departed from these principles which among others include equity, fairness, justice, collective fulfilment and peaceful co-habitation.


The governor enumerated the gains of the programme to include asphaltic urban roads, properly co-coordinated drainage system, inter-city Motor Park , massive electrification, street lighting and beautification of the urban environment, the Akure Auto Mart, the ultra modern Mechanic Village , water supply, sanitation and solid waste management.


“Neighbourhood markets have been built at critical nodes of the towns with a view to minimizing inter-urban mobility, providing decent environment to stabilize trade and small businesses. With these renewed markets, we have been able to galvanize the energies of our people and deepened their entrepreneurial capacity through the micro-credit scheme.


“We have started to mobilize and engage the various professional trade groups and artisans towards more productive ventures. Credit facilities are being granted to trade unions and associations to enable them improve in their businesses.


“As part of our drive to improve the economy of the state, we have invested in the computerization and streamlining of land records in the state through the deployment of secure online service for land title from the point of application to issuance of statutory documents of ownership.


In her address at the occasion, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ms Amma Pepple, represented by the Deputy Director, Urban and Regional development, Mr. Rufus Obadare described the strategies as a worthwhile initiative which will go a long way in sanitizing living in our urban areas.
She praised the synergy between the Ministry and the Urban Renewal Programme and recommended it to other states in the federation for emulation.

In his remarks, the director project office of the United Nations Human Settlement Programme, Mr Allioune Bidiane said the physical infrastructural development in the state is all indications of qualitative leadership style of Dr Mimiko.


He solicited the support of the people for the sustainability of the various programmes of development in the state.



Also, the former chairman of the land reform committee, Prof. Akin Mabogunje said the land records bureau of the state government would add values to the lives of the people, stressing that the Mimiko government has given a sense of direction to the people with a view to appreciating their property.



Dele Awogbami,

Press Officer.

ENGAGE SKILLED MIDWIVES FOR YOUR MATERNITY HOMES-MIMIKO CHARGES CHURCHES

Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has urged churches running maternity homes to engage the services of skilled midwives so as to consolidate the State government’s efforts at curbing maternal death.



Dr Mimiko, who stated this yesterday while addressing the state 2nd annual ministers’ conference in Akure, noted that his administration through its Abiye safe motherhood initiative has reduced drastically maternal death adding that law that mandated all health institutions to report maternal death has also been operational in the state.



Speaking on the theme of the conference, “Transformational Leadership”, the Governor opined that for any leader to be transformational, he or she must exhibit acts of doggedness and integrity and must also remain focused in order to achieve the set goals.



He said that all the programmes of his administration, including the mother and child hospital, the mega school initiative, free shuttle buses, modern markets, alto malt and modern motor park were all conceived and targeted towards changing the lives of common man in the state.



The Governor noted that 12,000 safe deliveries have been taken at the mother and child hospital in Akure free of charge, saying that 20% of the beneficiaries are from the neighbouring states.



His words “I’m very sure of one thing that for you to be a transformational leader, you don’t need to be a governor or president. In whatever position we find ourselves, we have to be focused, vigilant and stubborn. For instance, when we started our mega schools, some people went about saying all sorts of things but we remained focused and vigilant. We never allowed anything to distract us”.



“When we began to build markets, they were also murmuring, we built the 21st century alto malt, the 21st century motor park first of its kind  in Africa, today our people can see and appreciate what we are doing. They keep thanking God for all these programmes I want to tell you also that when the process of transformation is going on, we have to be vigilant” Mimiko said.



How ever, he commended ministers of God in the state for their fervent prayers and called for more prayers so as to sustain the prevailing peace in the state.



In his lecture titled “Importance of Voting as Panacea for Transformational Leadership in Nigeria ”, the guest lecturer, Rev Ndu Akuchie appealed to genuine Christians to take active part in politics in order to bring transformation to governance and rescue the nation from her numerous challenges.



According to him, democracy is meant to affect the lives of the common man positively and any government that failed to address this should not be reckoned with.



As the gubernatorial election draws nearer in the State, Rev, Akuchie appealed to the people to be vigilant and come out enmasse to elect their leader.



Dele Awogbami,

Press Officer.

FG WARNS AGAINST ILLEGAL SALES OF TEXTBOOKS

The Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike on Monday warned head teachers of schools against illegal sales or hoarding of textbooks meant for distribution to schools.
Chief Wike, who gave the warning in Akure during the flag off of the South West zonal distribution of instructional materials for basic education institutions in Nigeria said anyone caught in such act would face the wrath of the law.


He said “On no account must these textbooks find their ways to markets and bookstores. I implore the security agencies to arrest any person selling these books or hoarding them in strange places”.
 He added “Parents whose children are without these textbooks should not hesitate to demand them from the head of schools and upon refusal, contact UBEC for appropriate action.


The minister, who said 14 million textbooks on essential subjects including English, Mathematics and sciences have been procured of which 2. 3 million and 672, 600 library materials distributed to the zone.
He praised Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko for his administration’s incomparable strides in repositioning the basic education sector especially with the Mega schools in the state.


According to him, with such sophisticated schools, the state will soon become a leading state in the delivery of basic education.
Governor Mimiko, while flagging off the scheme declared that the state government has been procuring and distributing, on regular basis, textbooks written in line with the new 9-year basic curriculum to primary and secondary schools in the state.


He said the curriculum has been reviewed to accommodate more subjects with in-depth knowledge of theory and practical.
Dr Mimiko described the provision of instructional materials as a basic necessity for effective teaching and learning in schools.


According to him, “Instructional materials are the indispensable granules of the required ingredients for success in any educational institution. Indeed, it is an integral part of a systematic and robust intervention package in the education sector.
He noted that the provision of quality education must be on the front burner of the re-engineering process in order to achieve rapid socio-economic and political transformation of our society.


This, the governor explained, necessitated the state government’s massive investment in the restoration and expansion of existing schools’ structures to provide child-friendly environment for effective teaching and learning.
“The outcome of our efforts rubs off positively on the performance of our pupils and students as Miss Falokun Tolulope, who is a product of our public school from St. Louis Secondary School , Ondo, came out in flying colours during the last WASC examination.
“There is also now a spiraling increase in the enrolment of pupils and students in our public schools with the construction of Mega Schools and the attendant 21st Century instructional facilities.  



In his speech, the executive secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Modibbo Mohammed said the effort was a complementary role of the federal government in the provision of quality education to the pupils and enjoined stakeholders to ensure full utilization of the books and materials.



Also, the state commissioner for education, Mr Remi Olatubura said the state government has been proactive in addressing the various challenges affecting the growth of education in the state.



Dele Awogbami,

Press Officer.

AGAGU'S IN-LAW,OTHERS DEFECT TO LP IN ONDO AS MIMIKO COMMISSIONS N30m PROJECTS

AGAGU’S IN-LAW,OTHERS DEFECT TO LP IN ONDO,AS MIMIKO COMMISSIONS N30m PROJECTS

The ancient town of Ilutitun in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State was agog on Monday as a former chairman of the council and in-law to the immediate past Governor of the State, Dr Olusegun Agagu. Elder Olusegun Ayerin, with his supporters dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling Labour Party. 


The State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, his deputy, Alhaji Alli Olanusi, the State chairman of Labour Party, Chief Olu Ogidan among other leaders of the party attended the ceremony, which took place at Ilutitun.


Other defectors included the immediate past lawmaker from the council in the State  Assembly, Hon Niyi Adebusoye, (PDP), PDP women leader, Mrs Christiana Jimoh, Mr John Adeyeye, Mr Idowu Faleye and the Urhobo community in the area.


Governor Mimiko, who was in the town to commission town hall and boreholes constructed by his administration through its community development programme, said governance was about impacting on the lives of the people.


The Governor stressed that his administration has added values to the lives of the people of the state in all facets of lives, adding that over 350 communities in the state have benefited from people-oriented projects.


Dr Mimiko appreciated the people of the town for trooping out en-masse to receive him and for appreciating his administration’s efforts at completing the project following their inability to do so for the past 11 years.


He noted that the door of Labour Party was still open for progressive-minded people to join his government in the total transformation of the State.


The State chairman of Labour Party, Chief Olu Ogida, who received the defectors into the fold, congratulated them on the bold step taken to be partners in progress.


In their speeches, Elder Segun Ayerin and others attributed the various developments being witnessed in the last three years in the state for their decisions to join Governor Mimiko in the task of moving the state forward.


While describing the Governor as a man with caring heart, they vowed to work hard for his victory in the October 20 poll for him to continue in office.



Dele Awogbami,
Press Officer.

ODSG BUILDS 32 MEGA PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN TWO YEARS

The Federal Government will next week launch a National Free Textbooks and Resource Materials Scheme for the South West in Akure.


The Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike announced this today at the commissioning of the first Ondo State government-owned Caring Heart Mega School at Okejebu in Akure.
According to the minister, the choice of the state capital for the launch was due to the world-class and unparalleled achievements of the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko’s administration in the education sector in the past three years.

‘As Minister of State for Education, I have not seen such a 21st Century-compliant primary school like this one in the entire country. This is the first of its kind in Nigeria . It is simply a world-class achievement”, Wike declared.

Also, the Executive Secretary of the National Universal Basic Education Commission, Alhaji Modibbo Mohammed urged other states in the federation to adopt the Mega School system as another way of strengthening the Universal Basic Education Scheme.

Speaking while commissioning the school, Mimiko said the state government has lifted primary education from its dysfunctional state to higher level in the past two years with the construction of 32 world-class Mega primary schools.

According to him, “Four of the schools which are located across the 18 local government areas of the state are now ready for commissioning, 27 others are at the various stages of completion while more of such schools are on the way.

He said, “Construction work will soon commence in some designated centres among which are Ijare, Olebu and Igbobini as soon as the award process is concluded.
“State public schools, particularly of the primary education variety, face certain irrelevance, if not total extinction via dwindling pupils’ enrolment in the face of serious competition with private schools despite their commercial fees.

“The resultant effect of this inherently discriminatory system is that qualitative, but free primary and secondary education in the state became only a mental construct and catchy political sloganeering because in practice, only the rich could afford it.

The governor explained that the state educational policy provides the opportunity for the lumping of two or more existing primary schools together to make one Mega School instead of having schools inadequate to build an educationally-sound critical mass.
"The Mega Schools are the state government’s way of providing the best of education obtainable in private schools in the state’s public schools system and to serve as models below which future public or private schools cannot fall”, Mimiko said.

Dele Awogbami,
Press Officer.
25th June 2012.

URBAN RENEWAL: MIMIKO BEGINS CONSTRUCTION OF LOCK UP SHOPS AND OPEN STALLS IN ONDO TOWN

As part of its efforts at improving the lives of the people through urban renewal projects, Ondo state government has commenced the construction of one hundred and seventy lock up shops and open stalls in Ondo town.

The lock up shops and stalls which are to be located opposite the State Specialist Hospital in Ondo is expected to be completed in the next two months in order to improve the lives of the people in the area.


Supervising the project, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Direct Labour - Team 5, Mr. Victor Ogunya explained that the initiative was geared by Governor Olusegun Mimiko on the need to rehabilitate and augment the standard of traders and boost their income, particularly those operating opposite the State Specialist Hospital in Ondo.

Ogunya revealed that the initiative was borne out of the need to provide a convenient, secure and serene working environment for traders in Ondo town, stating that those that vacated the location for the construction to take place are the primary beneficiaries before other users will be given consideration.

It could be recalled that Ondo State government is presently constructing a Caring Heart Neighbourhood Modern Market at Moferere in Ondo. The neighbourhood market which is at its finishing stage is expected to alleviate the suffering of traders and ensure they benefit from the caring heart initiative of the government.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor stressed that the state government will continue to improve the lives of the people through the provision of adequate infrastructural needs, adding that the Corner Lock up Shops and Open Stalls will be

equipped with adequate facilities like parking space, toilets, restaurants, administrative offices, among others.

He therefore appealed to the people to further aid the government so as to achieve more giant goals, noting that urban renewal projects have been identified as one of the key factors in fostering development and better economy.

Corroborating his view, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Direct Labour - Team V, Engr. Jimi Akintade said the lock up shops will be built to a befitting standard, thereby making it worthy of emulation by other states.


Ayokunle Ikusemiju,
Press Officer
Physical Planning & Urban Development