Osun State Government feeds 500,000 in 16 months

Osun State Government in Southwest Nigeria has fed over 500,000 in sixteen months through its Food Support Programme which feeds 30,000 citizens monthly.

Governor Adeboyega Oyetola said this during the flagged off the 16th edition of the Food Support Scheme on Thursday at the governor’s office, Osogbo, the state capital.

He said the scheme was aimed at meeting the needs of the vulnerable citizens and bringing succor to the less privileged in the society.

Oyetola reiterated its commitment to ensuring the continuation of the scheme as long as the incumbent he remains in power.

“Half a million households and vulnerable citizens and their dependents have benefitted tremendously since the inception of the programme last year April. Our administration is irrevocably committed to ensuring the continuity of the initiative, which signposts the determination of our administration to revolutionalize the economy. There are verifiable records to the fact that the administration has indelibly made its imprints in the sand of time towards the enthronement and sustainability of good governance in all the strata of the economy and human endeavors”, he said.

Oyetola, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji said the administration was not in any way deterred by the outcome of the election despite losing out in the last Governorship poll, saying the implementation of the initiative was in fulfilment of the promises to make life more meaningful and worthwhile for the citizens.

“You will recall that 16 months ago, we flagged off the food support scheme for the vulnerable citizens and we did say that as long as we are in power, we would continue this scheme. Election or no election can’t hinder the continuity of this programme and many others and the effect of the commitment is what you are seeing today. As of today, we are still in a Government and as long as we are in government, we shall continue to champion the cause of our people in line with the mandate. We must among other things ensure their welfare and security. We are in government and we shall continue to provide this welfare scheme. We have impacted about half a million households directly since the commencement. We are aware that agriculture is the mainstay of our economy. That is why we have been encouraging our youths to participate in the agriculture and go back to the farm. Oyetola noted that those participating in the supply of July food items were more than 24 groups of young, dynamic and hardworking local entrepreneurs, stressing that all the food items have always been sourced locally. As you can see, we are distributing Garri for this month edition and the purpose of this is to further encourage and promote local production and empower our entrepreneurs. This Garri is produced by our people and that is the focus of our Administration. We expect our people to continue to support our Administration as we are committed to revolutionizing the economy of the State”, Oyetola added.

Speaking on the impact of the scheme on the local production, the Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Olalekan Badmus said the government through the scheme has been able to expand the scope of entrepreneurs and advance their businesses.

“It is a thing of joy to see that the mandate and promises of Mr. Governor are fulfilled and sustained. Today is another day that is attesting to his promise at ensuring that, on a monthly basis, 30,000 vulnerable citizens are reached with food items. We went through all the local governments to look for those that can supply us, and today the scheme has really encouraged local production. We have been able to build many entrepreneurs as many of them have been able to increase their staff strength and local productions. The fund for this programme is the fund for the economy of the state because the money used to finance this is being expended locally”, he added.

In separate remarks, some of the Garri processors, Hammed Adekunle and Prince Wale Afolabi, affirmed the massive impacts the scheme had made on their businesses.

“I want to say with all sense of pride that the present Administration of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has made us and impacted greatly on our lives and businesses. Before I was incorporated into the list of government for the supply of Garri, I was not known to anybody, but to the glory of God today, I have expanded the scope of my business. I was only in the streets of Ode-Omu where I was producing Garri. But today, I have been made a Garri contractor just as I have recruited a greater number of people in the production of Garri. As I speak to you, more than 15 persons have been enzaged for the processing while many women were equally engaged in the production process. I can’t thank the Governor enough for seeing the potential in us and for uplifting us from nothing to something,” Adekunle said.