•Says Entrepreneurship Only Solution To Unemployment
•Ibukun Awosika, Folorunso Alakija, Others Speak At Ondo Unemployment Summit
Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has said his administration is determined to push the people of the state out of poverty and unemployment through entrepreneurship knowledge economy, innovation and technology.
The Governor disclosed his readiness to invest more in entrepreneurship development and provision of grants for startups and those badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Arakunrin Akeredolu spoke on Friday at the Inaugural Unemployment Summit held at the International Centre for Culture and Events (DOME).
Speakers at the summit include Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, Apostle Folorunso Alakija and founder of Africa’s Leadership University, Fred Swaniker.
While declaring the summit open, Governor Akeredolu explained that the letter ‘D’ in his second term agenda which is simply encapsulated in the acronym ‘REDEEMED’ stands for Digital Revolution and Entrepreneurship.
The Governor noted that the digital revolution and Entrepreneurship is not just an agenda but his passion to see that the unemployment rate in the state is reduced.
“Unarguably, we have come to the point of deliberating extensively as a State to take actions to tackle this problem of unemployment once and for all. We have always been concerned that the only enduring solutions to the unemployment issues are for our youths to embrace entrepreneurial development.
“This type of Summit is not the first in Nigeria, but it is significant because of the peculiarity of the seasons we are in as a country and because we have decided to refer to it as ‘Unemployment Summit’ and not employment summit, as we would rather address the problem first before the solution.
“You will recall that our State had hitherto been known and referred to as a Civil Service State. The little Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) we get is recycled around the public service and our capacity to generate more IGR was limited.
“We observe that keeping the civil service culture, in no time, the state will be in chaos hence the birth of the Ondo State Entrepreneurship Development Agency (ONDEA) for Poverty Eradication, Job Creation and Economic Development,” Arakunrin Akeredolu said.
The Governor said ONDEA was birthed with the mandate to create a master plan for massive job creation in the State, foster economic growth and engender business knowledge transfer for indigenous based entrepreneurs, MSMEs and job seekers.
He added: “A lot of people might not know the importance now, the fact about entrepreneurship is that it is the engine that creates new jobs and it is a great panacea for economic development.
“We are building the right foundation and it might take some time. Many of these entrepreneurial initiatives have great benefits that are not just for now, but for long after our administration, because that is when the narrative of this State would have changed.
“Our people would be more self-driven and self-conscious, and we have started seeing the impact. This Agency, within just a year Of Creation has trained thousands of people and there has been various empowerment of young people to support them with interest-free loans and grants.”
In her Keynote Address, the Grand Matron, Africa Young Entrepreneurs Organization A.Y.E, Apostle Folorunso Alakija, commended the administration of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for opening up the state economy through entrepreneurship.
Apostle Alakija who presides over several entrepreneurial establishments said opening up the eyes and minds of the youth to employable potentials around them through the creation of Ondo State Entrepreneurship Agency, ODEA, is highly salutary.
In her speech, a top rated business woman and motivational speaker, Mrs Ibukunoluwa Awosika said entrepreneurship is the panacea to the daily increasing growth of unemployment and poverty which has become a cankerworm affecting the fabric of Nigerian nation.
Mrs Awosika who noted with satisfaction the Ondo State example in poverty and unemployment management, said the prosperity of Nigeria depends largely on the intervention of the private sector through the productive engagement of the youth populace in entrepreneurship.
Richard Olatunde
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ondo State.
December 3rd, 2021.

Be trustworthy, steadfast, Okowa urges politicians

Governor of Delta, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, on Friday, urged politicians in the country to be truthful and steadfast in order to remain relevant in the scheme of things.

Okowa gave the advice when he paid a condolence visit on the family of the late PDP Chairman in Ughelli North, Hon. Lawrence Agbatutu at his residence in Agbarho.

Governor Okowa said late Agbatutu was his genuine friend, a man that was bold, selfless and reliable, praying that God should grant his soul eternal rest.

He noted that the late Agbatutu was one man that supported him politically in 2019 and promised to remain a father to his children.

While condoling with the deceased family, the governor told the children not to feel that the world had come to an end as a result of their father’s death, stressing that God will be there for them at all times.

He thanked PDP leaders in Ughelli North for being there for the bereaved family and urged them to maintain the bond of unity between the Agbatutu family and the party.

“I want to condole with the family of Lawrence Agbatutu on this sad loss. He was a very bold man, bold politically and he was a man that will tell the truth all the time and l loved him for that.

“He was somebody who you could exactly say where he was. He never at any point in time, played the game of l am neither here or there.

“I think that is good for politics and that is what actually endeared him to me. He worked very hard for our party.

“He truly worked for the party, he believed in the party and he put in everything in him towards working with the rest of the leadership to get the party working.

“I want you to be rest assured that I will open up my line of communication to you and I will do my best to ensure that the role he would have played in your lives, l will play that role,” the governor assured the children.

Welcoming the governor and his entourage to their residence, the eldest daughter of the deceased, Dr. (Mrs.) Omonefe Moses thanked him for the condolence visit.

She disclosed that members of the family were not unaware of the enormous positive role the governor played in the life of their departed father.

While saying that she was a direct beneficiary of the governor’s magnanimous gesture, she thanked him for being a nice man to their family.

Dr. (Mrs.) Moses, therefore, appealed to Governor Okowa to see them as his adopted children as their backbone was no more.

“We are not unaware of the good role you played in the life of our father until his death. I am a direct beneficiary of your magnanimous gesture.

“On behalf of my siblings, l thank you immensely for being a nice man to our family. I plead with you to see us as your adopted children as our backbone is gone,” she added.
OAU TO HONOUR GOV AKEREDOLU WITH DISTINGUISHED GREAT IFE ALUMNUS AWARD
Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu Aketi , SAN, will tomorrow, Saturday, December 4, 2021 be conferred with the Obafemi Awolowo University Distinguished Great Ife Alumnus Award.
The Governor is among the 60 graduates of the institution to be honoured with the award of excellence as part of the activities marking its 60th Anniversary.
A letter personally signed by the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, and addressed to Governor Akeredolu said “the award of excellence for very passionate, supportive and dedicated Great Ife ambassadors who have contributed over the past 60 years, is to further show the University management’s appreciation.
The Obafemi Awolowo University is Governor Akeredolu’s alma mater. The award ceremony holds in Lagos tomorrow.
Signed:
Olabode Richard Olatunde
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ondo State.
December 3rd, 2021.