As part of activities marking his second year in office, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has commissioned a Start Them Early Program (STEP) Agric Initiative Project and some blocks of classrooms in some public schools in Ibadan.
Commissioning the project, at the Methodist High School, and a model school building at the Muslim Grammar School, Odinjo, in Ibadan, Governor Makinde reaffirmed the commitment of his government to create an integrated approach to governance that would engage younger minds in agri-business.
The Start Them Early Programme is an agric initiative to engage youths and young minds on agri-business in partnership and with technical support from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA.
Governor Makinde explained that STEP project would not only engage young minds in agriculture but would create a new set of interested vibrant minds who would contribute in ensuring food sufficiency in the state.
The governor promised to extend the project to six more public schools across the state.
From left, Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr Nureni Adeniran; Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Debo Ogundoyin; Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun and Commissioner for Education, Barr Olasunkanmi Olaleye during the Commissioning of a Model School Building, Distribution of Science Equipment Materials and Students’ Furniture at Moslem Grammar School, Odinjo, Ibadan. PHOTO: Oyo State Government. 
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde (middle); his deputy, Engr Rauf Olaniyan (second left); Director General, International Institute Tropical Agriculture (lITA), Dr Nteranya Sanginga (right) and others during Commissioning of STEP-Oyo Project School at Methodist High School, Ibadan. PHOTO: Oyo State Government.
Earlier, the chairman of the state Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Nureni Aderemi noted that the edifice was valued at over 137 million naira and would significantly create a conducive learning environment for the benefiting school.
Governor Seyi Makinde has equally commissioned a newly upgraded and equipped government staff clinic at the Secretariat with nine new buses for civil and public servants.
The governor emphasized that the health facility and cervical screening centre was to promote inclusive health care services while the bus would reduce congestion as well as save cost of transport for civil servants which invariably would promote optimal performance in the service.
The Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Mrs Olubanwo Adeosun urged civil servant to replicate the gesture by being committed to their duties.
Iyabo Adebisi
