OGUN TARGETS 70,000 FOR FREE SURGICAL INTERVENTION PROGRAMME
As part of measures rolled out by Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun to cushion the effects of the economic challenges being experienced in the nation, 70,000 residents of the state, whose health conditions require surgery are expected to benefit from the ongoing free medical surgical intervention programme, towards improving their health status.
The Executive Secretary, Ogun State Health Insurance Agency, (OGSHIA), Dr. Afolabi Dosunmu, stated this at the flag-off of the programme, at the State Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta, saying the intervention was a mandate by Governor Dapo Abiodun, as part of efforts to provide succour for people,
Speaking while monitoring the exercise at the General Hospital, Odeda, Dr. Afolabi, explained that the modalities for accessing the service were seamless.
‘’It is very simple, as long as you are a resident of the state, with one surgical need or the other, you are free to walk into any of our State or General Hospital and enrol for the insurance scheme. The doctors there will assess you to know if it is a case that requires surgery. The nature of the intervention will determine the date of surgery. It is possible for someone to have cataract but it has not yet matured, we will still enrol them. Our governor is keen on impacting as many lives as possible through this initiative.
"We have a matching mandate from the governor for us to enrol 70, 000 people and it is broken down to 20,000 pregnant women till they deliver, even if the delivery is through caesarean section. We will take care of the medical needs of the child delivered in the first six months. We have also been asked to enrol 20,000 market women and 30,000 poor people in the state’’, he said.
He pointed out that the medical doctors were on ground to do necessary check-ups and use any other parameters to know any health condition that required surgery, adding that those who did not need immediate surgery would be enrolled for them to have access to the intervention.
The Executive Secretary disclosed that those enrolled in the State insurance scheme through the palliative programme would enjoy free healthcare for a year, urging residents across the State to avail themselves of the Governor's benevolence through the programme.
The Executive Secretary lauded the governor for impacting directly on the lives of the people saying, "everything is free from the moment they walk in and get enrolled, screened and do tests, as well as the surgery and even after surgery".
Speaking, two of the enrolees, a retired Principal, Mrs. Olusola Akintola and Mr. Semiu Koleosho, commended the governor for the programme, saying it would relieve the less privileged, while a farmer and beneficiary of the initiative, Mr. Olubunmi Meshioye, who said he needed eye surgery, appreciated the governor for deeming it necessary to positively impact the lives of the people by catering to their health.
Another beneficiary, Ms. Adeola Kolapo, disclosed that she was pessimistic about the programme but was surprised at the turnout of prospective beneficiaries, revealing that she had been registered to see a doctor for consultation.
Elijah Udofia & Goke Gbadamosi,
Press Officers, Office of the Governor & Min. of Health
OGSG TRAINS WOMEN IN FINANCIAL LITERACY
Committed to empowering women on financial literacy to upscale access to opportunities and resources, as well as reduce poverty, the Ogun State government has trained women under the ‘Oko-Owo Dapo’ empowerment scheme.
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Adijat Adeleye, while delivering a keynote address at the opening of ’Training Of Trainers Workshop on Financial Education’, at the Rotary Club House, Abeokuta, said the event would enable participants to impart knowledge learnt to other members.
Hon. Adeleye enjoined them to utilise the basic knowledge acquired, to independently manage their finances and enhance their businesses.
She assured participants that Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration would not relent to prioritise the welfare and well-being of women through financial independence to support their home front which would, in turn, reduce violence on women.
‘’Women should see themselves as independent, not a liability to their husbands and communities. I therefore urge us to take this training seriously to reduce poverty and make life meaningful for themselves and the society at large’’, she said.
Earlier, the State Project Coordinator, Nigeria For Women Project, Mrs. Bolanle Fadairo, said the essence of the training was to develop and promote knowledge, attitude and skills on how to manage money matters, leading to improvement in their livelihood and well-being.
In her lecture, titled, ‘’Key Points on Financial Education’’, Dr. Funke Koleowo, stated that an entrepreneur should endeavour to increase investment, save judiciously, have financial discipline, be prudent in spending for inclusive financial management, saying the lecture would ensure understanding on basic principles of budgeting, saving and borrowing.
Speaking on behalf of other participants, Mrs. Muinat Lawal from Odeda Local Government, appreciated Governor Dapo Abiodun for the training, saying it would enlighten them on how to improve their livelihood and promised to cascade the knowledge to other members.
In their lectures, facilitators at Ogun West and Ogun East Senatorial Districts, Mr. Rashidi Ajibade and Mr. Taiwo Oyeneye, emphasised the need for financial planning, towards achieving the set goals at a particular time and ensuring that set objectives were realistic.
Tayo Olusanya & Folake Ogunboyejo,
Press Officers, Min. of Women Affairs and Social Devt.
REFRAIN FROM UNAUTHORISED DEPLETION OF FOREST RESERVES, OGSG CAUTIONS FORESTERS
Forestry Officers have been cautioned to refrain from collaborating with loggers and other unauthorised people in felling and loading trees as well as other forest resources, especially on weekends.
Commissioner for Forestry, Engr. Taiwo Oludotun, gave the warning, while addressing management and Forest Officers at the Ministry's headquarters, Abeokuta, charging lazy officers to turn a new leaf and be proactive, to enhance the revenue generation drive of the ministry.
Engr. Oludotun described the officers as catalysts, whose actions or inactions might make or mar the output of the Ministry, warning that stiff penalties would be meted out to erring ones.
"In as much as the Ministry is investing heavily on you, it is your responsibility to reciprocate such gesture by ensuring you put in all within you for the progress of the ministry", he said.
He urged team leaders to hold regular meetings, at least on a weekly basis, to review activities, progress and monitor habitual absentees among them.
Reiterating government’s commitment to human capacity development, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Timothy Olatunji, in his remarks, appreciated the Commissioner for his usual support, especially at the just concluded training programme, tasking officers to allow knowledge gained at the retreat reflect in their daily activities and not see it as a jamboree or exercise in futility.
Kayode Oduyebo & Luke Adebesin,
Press Officers, Ministry of Forestry
ABIODUN'S FREE SURGICAL INTERVENTION PROGRAMME UNPRECEDENTED – OGUN GOV.’S AIDE
The ongoing free surgical programme for residents across the state, initiated by the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has been described as noble and unprecedented.
Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Rotimi Ogungbe, who made this known while monitoring the exercise at the State Hospital Ilaro, said the surgical intervention covered pre-operative, operative and post-operative treatments, with residents having the opportunity to go to any of the State Hospitals and get treated, adding that the intervention was historic.
Dr. Ogungbe noted that the impact of the programme would be felt by numerous families across the state, with beneficiaries getting free surgeries and one-year enrolment in the state Health Insurance Scheme,
"This initiative is a kind gesture from Governor Dapo Abiodun, to alleviate the suffering of the people. At this time, it is important that we think out of the box and initiate different ways to touch the lives of our people. So many people require surgical operations but do not have the money. What we are providing involves pre-operative, operative and post-operative treatments. Of course, being a Surgeon myself, I know that the cost of operation is very high. Therefore, our governor should be commended for having put this together", he said.
The Special Adviser further disclosed that those who require emergency surgeries would be treated soon, while others would register, go through consultation and get a specific date for their surgery.
On his part, the Chief Medical Director, State Hospital, Ilaro, Dr. Yusuf Abdl-Wahaab, said the initiative had brought smiles to the faces of residents, who trooped to the hospital for different surgeries, adding that many would have languished further in suffering and poverty due to the high cost of treatment.
He expressed gratitude to the governor for investing in the hospital which would have been overwhelmed with such a people-centred programme.
In their separate remarks, Mrs. Saidat Dopemu and Mr. Adebayo Aremu revealed that they had lost hope, having lacked the funds for surgery for close to a year, appreciated the Governor for his kind gesture
Goke Gbadamosi
Press Officer, Min. of Health
TEACH FOR NIGERIA HAS GREATLY IMPACTED EDUCATION SECTOR - OGUN TESCOM BOSS
Synergy between Ogun State government and Teach for Nigeria (TFN) has improved the standard of education in Ogun State.
Chairman, Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Evang. Olalekan Ifede, gave the assertion during a courtesy to his office at Oke-Mosan, by Teach for All (TFA), a global body overseeing the activities of Teach for Nigeria and 59 other countries, stated that the different teaching models adopted in classrooms and the special attention given each learner set the team apart.
The TFA development partners, who visited from different countries were on a study tour to the state and interacted with relevant stakeholders in the education sector, including TESCOM, State Universal Basic Education Board, as well as Ministry of Education Science and Technology.
" This visitation will enable them have first-hand experience, erase their fears, ask vital questions and generally propel them to reproduce more of this, when they engage the government in their respective destinations", he said.
Speaking, the Head of Training and Leadership Development, TFN, Mrs. Flora Gabtony, disclosed that the visitors were in the state to understudy TFN and equip themselves with useful information needed to replicate the same in their respective countries.
Two of the visitors, Nike Kuchika, CEO and Founder, Teach For Benin Republic and Saheed Saheed, CEO and founder, Teach for Somalia, in their remarks, noted that the visit had broadened the horizon of all network partners and provided them with vital information that would convince government of participating countries to approve the initiative.
Teach for Nigeria is a teachers' leadership training project, aimed at training qualified fellows, who would be engaged for two years, to impart quality education through the use of modern methods of teaching.
Rasak Sekoni,
Press Officer, TESCOM
UK, ETHIOPIA OTHERS UNDERSTUDY OGUN ON TFN INITIATIVE
An international teaching group, comprising United Kingdom, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Serbia and Eswatini, have visited Ogun State to understudy the successful implementation of its activities regarding the 'Teach for 'Nigeria' initiative (TFN).
Receiving the group, accompanied by the executive members of the TFN organisation, in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the Executive Chairman, Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board, (SUBEB,), Dr. Femi Majekodunmi, said the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration’s developmental initiatives, policies and programmes, as well as capacity building mechanisms in the education sector had made the state to stand out among its peers in the country.
Dr. Majekodunmi stated that standard education in the state remains a positive reference point for others to emulate, noting that TFN teachers' participation in the sub-sector had added advantage to quality teaching of learners both in external and international examinations.
He pointed out that the initiative had improved the teaching methodology in schools, thereby making the state to receive positive transformation through continued employment and payment of teachers’ salaries, assuring that government would not relent in enhancing the educational system through rehabilitation and construction of public primary schools across the state.
Earlier, Director of Education Quality Assurance, SUBEB, Mr. Segun Alade, expressed satisfaction with the performance of TFN Fellows, appreciating them for maintaining high standards and implementing new techniques since their inception in 2017.
Contributing, Director of Academic School Services, Mrs. Kehinde Anifowoshe, lauded TFN for lofty initiatives through the introduction of modern teaching methods in the state's education system.
Responding, the Head of Impact at Teach for Nigeria, Mr. Edikan Mbang, who noted that the study tour was an invaluable experience, explained that the purpose of the visit was to understand the successful operations of the organisation in the state.
Mbang stressed the pivotal role played by the state government, particularly, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, as well as SUBEB, in enabling Teach For Nigeria to carry out impactful interventions since 2017.
Tolulope Ogunjimi,
Press Officer, SUBEB
FG TO REHABILITATE CONSTITUENCY PROJECTS IN SAGAMU, OTHER LGAs
As part of efforts to improve the living standard of rural dwellers in Remoland, the Federal Government, has flagged-off a 2km road constituency projects, at Pa. Osho Oluwakemi-Sokunmade street in Ewuga community, Sagamu, Itamaro-Iraye road in Remo North and Alhaja Ogunsanya street, Irolu, Ikenne Local Government Areas (LGAs).
Speaking at the event, a member, representing Remo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Adewunmi Onanuga, said the project would ease transportation of farm produce, thereby enhancing food security, hinting that the projects would be the first phase, while rehabilitation of 22km Sagamu -Simawa Road was slated for the second phase.
“Effort to fix rural roads in this constituency is necessitated by the need to enable our farmers in the rural areas get their perishable produce to the urban centres. Most times, they harvest overnight and wait on the road for too long before getting to the urban centres; due to the bad roads most of their farm produce usually get spoilt in the process”, she said.
Onanuga urged Counsellors to involve their Chairmen and ward leaders in the selection of roads to be rehabilitated in the LGAs.
Earlier, the project Coordinator, Obis Associate Nig. Ltd, Engr. Ishola Popoola, assured that the company would deliver quality work at the stipulated time.
Remarking, Baale Ewuga Community, Chief Sunday Osho, commended the federal and state governments for their efforts at improving the socio-economic activities at the grassroots.
Responding, two community members, Mrs. Adewale Felicia and Mr. Samuel Peter, lauded the intervention of the House of Representatives member, calling for speedy completion of the project.
Iyabo Araba,
ZIO, Sagamu
YEWA SOUTH LG PROPOSES N3.932BN BUDGET FOR YEAR 2024
A sum N3.932 billion has been budgeted to be expended by Yewa South Local Government for the year 2024.
Chairman of the Local Government, Hon. Lateef Salami, who presented the budget proposal tagged, "Budget of Solidification", before the Local Government Legislative Council in Ilaro said his administration was poised to deliver good and quality governance.
The Council boss added that a total recurrent expenditure was estimated to N3,598,618,302.33, representing 92 percent of the total budget, while capital expenditure would gulp a total of N333,500,000.00, representing eight percent.
He noted that the proposed budget would be funded through Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N73million, representing two percent of the budget size, capital and other receipts, estimated at N200million making five percent of the budget and proposed statutory allocation of N3,659,118,302.30 billion of 93 percent of the total budget.
Hon. Salami said his administration would continue to lay a solid foundation for the local government especially in the area of provision of infrastructure across the 10 wards of the council's area, social welfare protection and well-being which include, healthcare, effective water and waste management, provision of empowerment for the teeming youths amongst others.
The Chairman who pointed out that, he fully understood the difficulties that people of the area were going through especially with the fuel subsidy removal stated that, "we shall forge on to greatness with strict budget discipline through establishment of a sustainable public finance management that would bring better allocation of our scarce resources and improved public service delivery".
Speaking, the Leader of the House, Hon. Prince Talabi Safiu, while commending the Chairman's developmental efforts, said the legislative council would examine the draft budget carefully before approval, towards ensuring that public resources were scrupulously applied for intended purposes that would facilitate meaningful development of the area.
He assured that adequate provisions would be made for the execution of each project in the proposed budget to avoid undue concentration of developmental projects in any particular section of the area.
Abiola Rufai,
ZIO, Yewa South LG
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