SELF-HELP PROJECTS: BEDROCK OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT- OGSG
Self-help projects have been described as the bedrock of community development, as they bring members of communities together to contribute meaningfully to the improvement of their localities, which in turn leads to State and National development.
The Commissioner for Community Development and Cooperatives, Hon. Ademola Balogun, stated this during the launching of a N150 million Vocational Training Centre, a self-help project by the New Dawn Area Community Development Committee (ACDC) and the Investiture of Patron/Matron and Award Ceremony at Abeokuta.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Lateef Benson, Hon. Balogun, commended the Area CDC for initiating the project to improve the lives and well-being of its members, describing it as a laudable initiative, worthy of emulation.
“It is a fantastic idea as it ensures that members are thoroughly engaged and contribute to overall development, just as it will help youths in the area to have a focus and take up a skill that will create opportunities for them to become employers of labour and be self-reliant,” he said.
He assured the Area CDC of government's support for all programmes that would better the lives of residents, noting that the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration would not relent in its efforts aimed at improving grassroots development.
Earlier, the Chairman, New Dawn Area CDC, Alhaji Usman Ganiyu, described the launch of the vocational training centre as a significant milestone in the history and future of the Committee, noting that it was aimed at promoting skills acquisition, economic empowerment and sustainable individual and community development.
Alhaji Ganiyu, added that the event reflected the importance of vision, service, leadership as well as collective responsibility in building a stronger, more empowered and self-reliant community, emphasising that the establishment of the vocational training centre would represent a strategic investment in human potential.
He noted that the initiative was designed to equip youths, women and other community members with relevant vocational skills that would enable them to establish dignified livelihoods, create employment opportunities and contribute meaningfully to society.
In their goodwill messages, the 2nd Vice Chairman, Ogun State Community Development Council, Apostle Peter Adeniji, commended the State Government and the Area CDC for the initiatives, urging beneficiaries to make judicious use of the vocational centre for individual and community prosperity.
On his part, the Abeokuta North Zonal CDC Chairman, Chief Olawale Ahmed, enjoined community members and leaders to work hand in hand for the collective progress of their communities, saying that, no ''society can rise above the collective prosperity of its members''.
Highlight of the event was the conferment of Outstanding Community Leader of the Year Award on the Commissioner for Community Development and Cooperatives, Hon. Ademola Balogun and the decoration of Prince Ifekayode Akinbode and Princess Ojaronke Ogunremi as Patron and Matron of the New Dawn Area CDC, respectively.
Yemisi Fashola & Sakirat Kehinde-Ajala,
Information and Public Relations Officers, MCDC
ISEYA AGENDA REQUIRES COMPETENT WORKFORCE, EFFICIENT SERVICE - OGUN HOS
The Ogun State Head of Service, Mr. Olanrewaju Saka, has said that the ISEYA Agenda of the present administration under the leadership of Governor Dapo Abiodun required a competent workforce and efficient service that rested heavily on Statisticians and Statistical Officers, whose professional competence would determine the quality of information available to the government.
The HoS made the disclosure at the opening ceremony of a 2-day training programme, organised by the Bureau of Establishments and Training for Statisticians and Statistical Officers in the Ogun State Civil/Public Service, at the Ogun State Drugs and Health Commodities Management Agency hall, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, with the theme: ‘Strengthening Statistical Capacity For Effective Planning, Decision Making and Public Service Delivery’.
He noted that reliable statistical information was fundamental to governance, as it helped to identify public needs, set priorities, allocate resources judiciously, monitor programmes and evaluate outcomes, stressing that accurate and timely data were vital for informed decision-making and improved public service delivery, urging the participants to keep developing the requisite technical skills to collect, analyse, interpret and present data accurately, objectively and professionally.
The HoS stressed that achieving the objectives depended significantly on the competence, dedication and professionalism of the workforce, describing the training as an important step towards equipping officers for effective planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation.
Saka, therefore, urged participants to uphold accuracy, integrity and objectivity, while they should also embrace modern statistical tools and digital technologies and ensure statistical findings were clearly presented to support informed decision-making across government policies, advising further on the need to apply the knowledge gained to improve data quality and evidence-based decision-making in their various MDAs and to collaborate with other cadres in order to advance institutional objectives and the vision of a more efficient and development-oriented service.
Earlier, Ogun State Statistician General, Mrs Omolara Adebayo, said that the Bureau of Statistics remained committed to strengthening the Integrated System of Administrative Statistics, ISAS across Ministries, Departments and Agencies, (MDAs) with support from the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project, OGSTEP to ensure the systematic generation, management and timely availability of administrative data for planning, monitoring, evaluation as well as policy formulation.
Adebayo, enjoined officers to collectively strengthen a culture of data-driven governance, where decisions are informed by credible evidence and administrative data, saying the knowledge acquired would help improve statistical operations within their respective MDAs.
The training had in attendance the Permanent Secretary, Civil Service Commission Mr. Jola Oyeneye and his counterpart from Service Matters, Mr. Oladipupo Ogunfowora.
Alero Funmilayo,
Information and Public Relations Officer, Bureau of Statistics
OGUN SUBEB COMMENDS TEACH FOR NIGERIA'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has commended Teach For Nigeria (TFN) for its significant contributions to teaching and learning in public Primary Schools across the State.
The Chairman of the board, Evang. Olalekan Ifede, gave the commendation while delivering a goodwill message at a stakeholders’ engagement organised by TFN at Abeokuta Grammar School, saying that the organisation’s deployment of dedicated fellows, support for school leadership, foundational learning and numeracy initiatives, 'Be the Change projects' and educational radio programmes had contributed significantly to its achievements.
Represented by the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Mrs. Oluwaseyi Oke, the Chairman appreciated the commitment of TFN fellows, who continue to inspire pupils, promote effective teaching practices and contribute to improved learning outcomes. He acknowledged the support of Governor Dapo Abiodun, whose administration had facilitated the annual placement of 200 fellows in Public Primary Schools across the State and provided them with monthly stipends.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of TFN, Mrs Molade Adeniyi, said the organisation was the first partner in Africa to collaborate with a Ministry of Education on the placement of fellows in public schools, noting that the partnership demonstrated the government's commitment to prioritising education and promoting equity in the sector.
She disclosed that TFN had deployed more than 3,000 fellows to public schools across Nigeria, describing Ogun State as the organisation’s longest-standing partner.
“We have impacted over 500,000 children in the last ten years in over 800 schools. That is a big number. It is possible to reach millions of children with zero impact. But through the collaboration, we have recorded a huge success,” she said.
Also speaking, a 2025 Teach For Nigeria fellow, Aminat Adeniji, said the organisation had transformed her life, particularly in her academic pursuits, adding that the programme had helped her develop greater self-confidence.
Gafar Alabi,
Information and Public Relations Officer, SUBEB
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