Society Gists

Prince Dapo Abiodun, the Governor of Ogun State, is a prince of the earth, of the natural richness of men, never one to decorate himself in gold or jewels, but his performance in office continue to bring him a plethora of awards from home and abroad.

As has become a part of his unfolding leadership éclat, Ogun State, under Prince Abiodun, last night, Wednesday, won GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR AWARD at the Nigeria Agriculture Awards 2020, in Abuja, in recognition of strides in the agricultural sector, particularly, in the transformation of Ogun State into one of Nigeria’s top agro-industrial hubs for local and foreign direct investment.

Interestingly,  some days ago,  Thursday, November 26th, he was  presented an award by President Muhammadu Buhari in recognition of its outstanding performances in rice and cassava value chain activities and up-to-date payment of counterpart fund in the Federal Government/International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP). Eight other participating states were also honoured during the 2nd National Workshop on Commodity Alliance Forum (CAF) held at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

The Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Sabo Nanono represented President Buhari at the event which focus was on cassava crop with the theme; “Enhancing Productivity and Market Opportunities for Cassava Value Chain Development.”

Reacting to the award, Governor Abiodun reiterated the commitment of the state to maintaining the lead in cassava production in Nigeria, and rice in the southwest while assuring the president of the state government’s continuous support for the FGN/IFAD VCDP and other federal government agricultural initiatives in the state.

A week earlier, the National Parents’ Teachers Association had named Governor Abiodun as the Best Governor in Education in Nigeria for his landmark achievements in the sector. Presenting the award to the governor in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the president of the association, Chief Adeola Ogunbanjo, acknowledged the innovative ideas Governor Abiodun has brought to bear on the sector while highlighting free education, stoppage of education levies, offering of automatic employment to best graduating students in higher institutions, renovation of schools and increase in students enrolment, as some of the factors that led to the award.

Ogunbanjo said, “We have observed your landmark achievements in the education sector. You did not only make education free, but you also stopped payment of education levies, employed the best graduating students in our higher institutions and you are renovating schools.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, no incident was recorded in Ogun schools. Of course, this is possible because you brought your managerial skills into play. We see you as an education-friendly governor and that is why we are giving you this award as the Best Governor in education for 2020.”

The PTA President, who called for the inclusion of the association in the scheme of things in the state, described the ‘Ogun DIGI’ Class as an innovation that kept students in the state busy during the pandemic while calling for its adoption by other states.

Responding, Governor Abiodun said his administration would focus on technical and vocational education as a means of taking the youth off the unemployment market. The governor described technical and vocational training as one of the ways of engaging the youth positively and noted that his administration has revitalised some of the technical colleges to train artisans and also set up a TechHUB facility to enable youths leverage on Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

The governor said the ongoing rehabilitation of primary schools across the state was to provide the right environment for teaching and learning, assuring that the gesture would be extended to secondary schools and technical colleges.

Governor Abiodun also announced that the state government was working towards a uniform curriculum as fibre optics cable was currently being laid in educational institutions to enable students to have access to Internet service and allow for e-learning. He called on the association to partner the state by offering useful advice that would help to further reposition the education sector.