Agriculture

FG Supports Small-Scale Farmers In Oyo With Farm Inputs

By Web News 1184

Federal Government has disbursed seeds and seedlings to fifty small-scale farmers in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital. 

The seeds and seedlings included fifty citrus seeds, fifty sachets of Amarantus seeds and five hundred plantain suckers.

Distributing the seeds to the farmers at Ibadan North West Local Government Secretariat, Onireke, the Executive Director, National Horticultural Research Institute, NIHORT, Dr. Abayomi Olaniyan said the gesture was to cushion the effects of COVID-19 on small scale farmers. 

Speaking through one of the Assistant Directors of the Institute, Dr. Adebisi Adelani, Dr. Olaniyan stated that the move would equally improve food security as well as eradicate poverty.

He assured that other small-scale farmers from other local councils and states would also benefit from the distribution of the seeds and seedlings. 

Chairman, Ibadan North West Local Government, Alhaji AbdulRahmon Adepoju appealed to the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the seeds and seedlings so as to check over-dependence of food items from other states.  Rotimi Famakin

Education

We need to ensure the protection of children’s rights – Activist

By Web News 770

A child rights advocate and Executive Director, Hope For Second Chance Foundation, HOSEC, Mrs Ibukunoluwa Otesile has advocated the need for members of the public to speak up when the rights of a child is violated. 

Mrs Otesile made the call while speaking with Premier FM in commemoration of this year’s Day of the African child. 

She said it has become important for people to stand up and take action against child molestation, child marriage, parental neglect and Female Genital Mutilation, FGM, for the protection of the rights of the children. 

Mrs Otesile reemphasised the need for children, irrespective of gender to be conscious of the protection of their bodies and report any form of sexual molestation to trusted persons. 

She described the Day of the African Child as an occasion to celebrate and call the attention of relevant authorities to the plights of the children.

To however celebrate children on the day, the child rights advocate distributed a gender protection book to pupils of Humani Alaga High School, Samonda Ibadan.

In the book titled, “The New Game”, tells the story of a boy who was sexually molested by his family’s maid.

Also speaking, Mogaji Derele Lekan-Salami who spoke through Mr Olaoluwa appealed to the children to thrive to make impact in their generation.

Mosope Kehinde

Economy

Osun Govt Boosts SMEs With 100M Seed Loans

By Web News 727

Osun State governor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola says his administration has adopted a proactive strategy to stimulate the economy of the state in the face of Coronavirus pandemic.

Governor Oyetola stated this in Osogbo while presenting cash as seed loans to two thousand successful trainees of Skills Upgrade and Entrepreneurship Training Programme.

He said the Skills Upgrade and Entrepreneurship Training Programme was designed to generate 15,000 direct and indirect sustainable job opportunities for the people annually.

Governor Oyetola explained that the administration had set aside one hundred Million naira for disbursement to beneficiaries of the scheme, as seed loans of one hundred thousand naira was given to each participant.

He urged the beneficiaries to utilise the skills and knowledge acquired in the course of the programme positively to add value to themselves and to enable them to compete favourably in the industrial and commercial sectors.

In a remark, Osun State Commissioner for Commerce, Industries, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Dr. Bode Olaonipekun, said the programme was put together by the government as part of efforts to address the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and ameliorate the disruptions to livelihood of the citizens.

Executive Director, Micro Enterprise, Bank of Industry, Mrs. Toyin Adeniji, commended the Administration of Governor Oyetola for building a virile and healthy economy for the state.

Some of the graduands commended government for the gesture saying it would go a long way to improve their lives.

Wasiu Ajadosu