UNIDO, BANK OF INDUSTRY TO PARTNER EKITI ON INDUSTRIALIZATION (24/04/08)
Efforts of the Ekiti State Government to industrialize the State have begun to yield positive results as the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Bank of Industry have agreed to partner the State Government in its bid to industrialize the state
According to the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Public Communications, Mr. Moses Jolayemi, Governor Oni who met with the Chief Executive of the two organizations in separate meetings in Abuja solicited their assistance for the State in the areas of manpower development , establishment of Small and Medium Enterprises [SMEs], agro-allied industries and development of the abundant renewable energy potentials of the State.
Speaking during a meeting with the Director General of UNIDO, Dr K.K Uumkella at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, Governor Oni said his administration intended to use large scale agricultural production and agro-processing as major platforms for the industrialization of the State .
He solicited the support of UNIDO for his administration plans to turn the State into a major centre for bio-fuel production in Nigeria.
Oni also sought the support of the global body for the realizatation of the state government vision of generating 100megawatts of electricity through its proposed waste-to-energy programme and several micro-hydro dam projects from various sites across the state.
He said Government was also trying to generate electricity from solar and other energy sources as a means of reversing the abysmally low power supply situation in the state adding that that his administration was irrevocably committed to improving the per capita consumption of electricity in the state which is presently the lowest in Nigeria.
Oni said though the state had the highest per capita of university professors and Ph.D holders in the country he however noted that majority of her people were lacking in entrepreneurship skills.
He therefore urged the UNIDO to assist the state to reverse the trend by organising training workshops for indigenes that are interested in acquiring skills in private enterprise development
Responding, the Director-General of UNIDO,Dr K.K Uumkella expressed the readiness of the global body to partner the State Government particularly in the area of capacity building and the proposed waste to energy project.
He said a team of experts from UNIDO would within the next few weeks visit to state to work out modalities for an M.O.U on the assistance programme.
Also speaking while playing host to the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Ms Evelyn Oputa,Governor Oni solicited the support of the bank in industrialising the State.
He also solicited the support of the bank for the establishment of the state of the Earth Rice and Palm Oil processing plants in the state.
Oni who also urged the industrial bank to provide soft loans for industrialists in the state also indicated the interest of the state government in establishing a granite tiles manufacturing industry in the state.
Responding the MD/CEO of the Bank of Industry, Ms Evelyn Oputa promised to partner Ekiti State government in its quest to develop the state.
She expressed the readiness of the bank to help the state source for reputable investors in the area of rice and granite production from Thailand.
While commending the mission and vision of the Oni Administration to Develop the state, she urged the state government to compile a list of genuine indigenous entrepreneurs5 in the state so that the bank could train them for the challenges ahead
 
 
EKITI TO BECOME NIGERIA'S CENTRE FOR BIO-FUEL (24/04/08)
 Ekiti State is to become the centre of production of bio-fuel in Nigeria, the governor, Engr. Segun Oni has said.
A statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant, Mr. Moses Jolayemi stated that Governor Oni, while speaking with journalists in Abuja hinted that arrangements had been concluded with two multinational firms for the establishment of two Ethanol plants in the state.
According to him, one of the Ethanol plants was designed to use cassava as raw material while the other plant which would use sweet sorghum is expected to cost over 8.5billion naira. While the cassava based ethanol plant is to take off in Iyemero in collaboration with Chinese Investors, the other plant is being proposed for Ilemeso in Oye Local Government area of the state.
Governor Oni stated that the state was being packaged as the centre for bio-fuel in the country, adding that the government has put over 5000 hectares of land into cassava cultivation to feed the ethanol plants.
The governor also disclosed that an Ultra modern Eye care centre established by the Ekiti State Government in conjunction with the Cuban Government at an estimated cost of over N1billion is to commence full Operation within the next few months in the state.
Governor Oni who disclosed this at the weekend during a reception held in his honour by the indigenes of the state in Lagos State declared that the Eye centre which would be the first of its kind in West Africa had been approved by the Cuban parliament.
He disclosed that a team of Experts led by the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria , Mr. Elio Savon was already in the state in preparation for the smooth take off of the centre while the sum of N1billion had been earmarked for its operation by the State Government in this year budget.
The governor stated that when the centre which has been globally acknowledge as a "miracle centre for eye care finally takes off it would cater for eye problems of people through out the sub-region and as well provide employment for medical personnel in the State.
On the monthly health intervention programme of the state, Governor Oni disclosed that within his ten months in office, over 120,000 people representing one in every four families had directly benefited from the programme.
He said that over 10,000 people have been given free eyeglasses while over 2,500 needy patients had undergone free surgical operation for various life-threatening conditions under the scheme.
Governor Oni pointed out that apart from investing heavily in health care facilities to meet the needs of the people, his administration had also recruited additional 13 specialists in various medical fields into public health care system from the one specialists available in the state when he assumed office.
The Governor also said the State Specialist Hospital at Ado Ekiti has been upgraded to a Teaching Hospital of the state owned university with the recent passage of the university Teaching Hospital law.


AC LOSES BID TO USE PROJECTOR (22/04/08)

The Action Congress (AC) suffered a major setback at the on-going Election Petitions Tribunal in Ekiti State yesterday as the tribunal refused the use of a projector by one of the AC witnesses, Mr. Tunde Yadeka to demonstrate the process of scanning of the ballot papers used for the forensic examination carried out by Mr. Adrian Forty.
AC counsel, Chief Anthony Adeniyi had made an oral application that Yadeka be allowed to graphically demonstrate his findings with the aid of a projector, which he had set-up at the tribunal.
But counsel to the State Governor, Engr. Segun Oni, Mr. Adebayo Adenipekun (SAN) opposed the oral application, saying it was against the practice direction. Specifically, He pleaded paragraph 6, subsection 2, of the practice direction.
Adenipekun also pointed out that Yadeka affidavit is before the tribunal and has been tendered and adopted. He noted that, having done that, the affidavit has to be guarded by paragraph 4, subsection 3 of the practice direction.
In his own argument, counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr. Roland Otaru (SAN) said that the AC counsel was trying to make oral application through the back door and take both the governor counsel and the commission by surprise.
Otaru noted that section 91 of the evidence act was clear enough on evidence and submitted that Yadeka can only frontload and not demonstrate.
Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Bwala aligned himself with the INEC counsel.
"This application is alien to the constitution of the land and it is an attempt to stab them at the back," Bwala said while dismissing the application.
Speaking under cross-examination, Yadeka revealed that the cropping of all the scanned ballot papers was not done in the presence of the representatives of the respondents.
 He also admitted that he did not see all the originals of the ballot papers.
"I saw the originals of most of the ballot papers because my team worked on them. But I did not see all," Yadeka said.
 
I REMAIN EKITI SPEAKER  BAMISILE (22/04/08)
The Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon Femi Bamisile has condemned the report in some National Newspapers that a court sitting in Ado-Ekiti sacked him as speaker, saying he remains the Chief Presiding Officer of the Assembly.
Speaking on the court ruling, yesterday in Ado-Ekiti Ekiti, the speaker expressed surprise that some national dailies went ahead to twist the judgment of the court so as to deceive the public.
The Action Congress (AC) and lawmakers elected on the party platform had sought for an injunction restraining the speaker from "acting or further acting as the presiding officer of the Assembly."
In his twelve-paged judgment, Justice Akeju said he find no ground for the grant of a declaration that the election of the speaker is unconstitutional.
The speaker, armed with a certified true copy of the judgment in company of the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Gboyega Oyewole described the publication as wicked, misleading and a calculated attempt to cause crisis by the AC lawmakers.
Justice Akeju, in the ruling affirmed that; "I however found no ground for the grant of a declaration that the election of the 4th respondent (speaker) is unconstitutional and that the relief sought by the Action Congress lawmakers is hereby refused."
Bamisile said that the propaganda machinery of the AC would not deter him from performing his duty as the number three citizen of Ekiti State, saying a section of the press has made itself the organ through which false information is disseminated to members of the public.
Also reacting to the publication captioned; "Court removes Ekiti Speaker", leader of Government Business in the House, Hon. Lai Oke said publication of falsehood is detrimental to the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.
"If truly; members of the AC love the people of this State as they claim, they should sheath their sword and embrace peace and dialogue, which are part of the norms of democracy," Oke said.
 
ONI PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR ROBBERY VICTIMS (16/04/08)
   Ekiti State Government, Engr. Segun Oni has visited victims of Wednesday’s armed robbery incident, with a pledge that Government would foot the medical bills of the victims receiving treatment at the State Specialist Hospital Ado.
   Governor Oni, who was accompanied by the Assistant Inspector-General of police in Change of Zone 8, Lokoja, Mr. Tunji Alapinni, the State Commissioner of police, Mr. Yemi Onashile, and the Secretary to the State Government, Amb. Dare Bejide visited the State Specialist Hospital, Ado, to commiserate with the victims of the robbery. Speaking with newsmen after the visit, Oni said inspite of the assurances from the Chef Medical Director of the hospital that it has the wherewithal to take care of the victims; his administration was prepared to foot the medical bills of any of the patient that may be referred to any advance hospitals for further treatment.
   The governor was later at the commercial bank that was raided by the robbers, to commiserate with the staff over the incident.
   He also visited the palace of Ewi, Oba Rufus Aladesanmi Adejugbe, were he condole with the royal father over the robbery attack on a supermarket belonging to the Monarch ‘wife.
   Oba Adejugbe expressed appreciation to the Governor for the prompt visit and commended the governor for the improvement in the health care system in the state, which he said made it possible for the victims to receive quality attention without need for referral to other hospitals
   The Governor later went to llawe, where he also identified with the parent of the youth killed by the robbers in their desperate bid to escape.
   Earlier, Oni commended the state command of Nigeria police for responding swiftly to the rest of the gang.
   The Governor said the action of the police has shown that there is no safe haven for robbers in Ekiti, as they always meet their waterloo.
 
ONI SOLICITS SUPPORT OF  HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ABANDONED
132/33 KVA SUBSTATION PROJECT (16/04/08)
   Ekiti State Governor, Engr. Segun Oni has solicited the support of the house of Representatives Committee on Power and Steel in ensuring early completion of the 132/33KVA Substation in Ado.
   Speaking while playing host to member of the Committee in Ado, Governor Oni said the non-completion of the project since 1993, has been hampering economic and industrial development of the state. Oni said the 19 megawatts being supplied to the State 33KVA substances in neighboring state were grossly unreliable and inadequate for the state.
   The Governor, who urged the Committee to do all in its powers to ensure that the contractor completed the project on time, said the state has the lowest Electricity per Capital consumption level in the country.
   He stressed the readiness of his administration to complete the rural electrification project in Oke-Ako, as well as other rural electrification projects initiated by the Federal Ministry of Power and Steel, if the Federal Government agrees to reimburse it upon compilation of the projects
   Earlier, the Chairman of the House Committee on Power and Steel, Hon. Ndidi Elumelu said the Committee was in the State as part of its nationwide tour of project embarked upon by the Federal Ministry of Power and Steel in the last eight years.
   He said the committee’s tour to the South South and South East zones had revealed that work done by the contractor handling the construction of new Power Plants in the two Zones was not commensurate with the huge sums of money released them by the Federal Government.
   Elumelu said it was unfortunate that despite the fact that government had expended over thirteen (1.38) billion dollars on the power sector, there has not been any substantial increase in the number of megawatt would ensure that the contractor handling the 132KVA sub-station retune to site to compete the project
 
EKSG DISBURSES N20M TO DISASTER VICTIMS (16/04/08)
   Ekiti State government has disbursed Twenty Million Naira (n20m) to victim of various disasters that affected some parts of the State recently
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Affair, Mr. Obafemi Adewale, announced in Ado, while taking delivery of relief material from National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on behalf of the State Government.
Obafemi thanked NWMA for the materials and called for concerted efforts at reducing disasters in the State.
The item received include, two hundred (200) mattresses, two hundred (200) bundles of Iron Sheets, Six hundred (600) bags of cements Six hundred (600) bags Rice, Three hundred (300) bundles of textiles materials and some other materials.
The South West Co-coordinator of NEMA, Mr. Mike Adeyanju, sympathized with the victim of the disaster, noting that such people were subjected to untold hardships.  He urged the people of the State to always put prevent measures to curb future occurrence.
The General Manger, Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Kunle Olofintunyi, thanked NEMA for its support for the Agency.
He said the relief materials would be distribute to the affected people Ado, Oye, Ise/Orun, Ekiti South West and Irepodun/ifelodun Local Government Areas.
Mr. Olofintuyi called on the State government to assist the Agency by providing it with necessary facilities in other to enhance its operations.
 
DISBURSES N29.2 MILLION AS MICRO-CRIDIT LOAN
TO FIVE COMMUNITIES (16/04/08)
   Ekiti State Government has disbursed twenty million, Two hundred thousand Naira (n23.2m) Micro-Credit Loan to three communities under the mentor scheme.
The communities are Oke-Ayedun, which got over three million (N3.3million), Omuo, over eight million (N8.8million) and Ijeasa-Isu, over ten million (N10.10million).
The Director-General said, the Micro-Credit Agency, Mr. Cyril Fasuyi, announced during the distribution of cheques to beneficiaries at Oke-Ayem.
Fasuyi assured that, with the polices put in place by administration, poverty will become history.
The Director-General said, the Micro-credit Agency is disbursing loans to the people in their towns and villages to ensure that beneficiaries did not spend substantial amount of money on transportation.
The Chairman, State School Project Entrepreneurs, Engineer Olufemi Aribisalafi, who stood surety for-fifty nine (59) people at Ayedun, thanked the government had urged the beneficiaries to use the fund to boost their businesses.
He called on the people of the state to join hands with the government in the war against poverty.
The Alaaye of Oke Ayedun, Oba Ala, and two of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Titi Adeleye and Mr. Moses Faluyi, thanked the government and promise to pay back promptly.
In a related development, the people of Usi got over five million Naira (N5.7) while over one million (N1.3million) received by people of Ifisin in Ido/Osi Local Government area from the Micro-Credit Agency, Mr. Cyril Fasuyi, who spoke during the distribution of cheques to beneficiaries in the communities, said the Micro Credit Loan was in fulfillment of the Governor Oni ‘s campaign promises.
Fasuyi commended Hon Femi Adeleye, who stood surety for Sixty  (60) people in Usi and Mrs. Bunmi Oriniowo, who mentors for thirty-five (35) people in Ifisin.
Femi Adeleye and Bunmi Oriniowo commended Governor Segue Oni for initiating Micro Credit Scheme.
The beneficiary lauded the government on the programme, and the promised to pay back the loan promptly.   
 
CIVIL SERVANT ASSURED OF CONDUCIVE WORKING ENVIRONMENT (16/04/08)
   Civil Servants in Ekiti State have been assured of a conducive working environment to enhance their productivity.
The State Commissioner for Local Government and Culture, Prince Bamiteko Abioun gave the assurance while presenting motorcycles to the Community Development Department of the Ministry in Ado.
Bamiteko, who stressed that the departments sever as an intermediary between the State Government and grassroots, added that the motorcycles would assist them in service delivery to the people.
The Permanent Secretary, Mr. Kunel Falope thanked State Government for the procurement of the motorcycles and urged the staff of the Department to discharge their duties as expected.