No fewer than 30,000 poor and vulnerable residents would benefits monthly from the Osun State’s Food Support Scheme approved by the State Executive Council, under the leadership of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.
It explained that the scheme had become imperative in line with the state’s government commitment to cushioning the effect of coronavirus pandemic and recent economic hardship being faced by Nigerians, particularly the poor and vulnerable.
As stated, the approval for the food support scheme was part of the decisions reached at the end of the State Executive Council meeting held yesterday.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ismail Omipidan, noted that the scheme, which runs from March 2021 till November 2022, would be targeting 30,000 poor and vulnerable citizens across the state in its first phase.
He explained that all food items for the scheme would be sourced locally in line with Oyetola’s policy of promoting small, micro, and medium businesses in the state to boost the local economy.
“For effective administration, the scheme will target persons with special needs and disabilities in all LGAs; the poor and the vulnerable in churches will be reached through the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN; the needy and the poor in the Muslim community will be reached through Osun Muslim Community.
“The vulnerable among artisans through their associations; the needy among other ethnic groups in the state through their leaderships; the traditional worshipers through their association and traders through Iyalojas and Babalojas,” he said.
Omipidan said that the council also approved the allocation of farmlands to youths genuinely interested in agriculture in fulfillment of Oyetola’s promise to effectively and productively engage the youth into the sector.
“Recall that while Mr. Governor was presenting this year’s budget before the House of Assembly last year, he revealed that about N1.5 billion was set aside to engage our youths in Agriculture, Culture and Tourism, Mining and Commerce. It is in fulfillment of that promise that the State, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, will be clearing 10, 000 acres of land. Of this number, 1000 have been successfully cleared.
“It will interest you to know that in the last 10 years, this is the first time the State will be having access to such cleared farmlands. We have broken a jinx of over 10 years by clearing 1000 acres of farmlands. We intend to allocate a large chunk of it to our youths who are genuinely interested in farming. We shall be embarking on enlightenment campaigns soon to get interested ones enlisted,” Omipidan added.
The State Executive Council has also approved the appointment of Prince Azeez Muideen Olaniyi as Elegbedi of Egbedi in Egbedore Council of the state.
His appointment followed the demise of Oba Isiaka Ayanboye Jinadu in May last year. The Kingmakers had met in August last year to elect Olaniyi as the Oba-elect out of the five candidates that showed interest in the throne.
