TEXT OF A NEW YEAR BROADCAST TO OSUN PEOPLE BY H.E. GOVERNOR ADEMOLA ADELEKE
Hello, this is Governor Ademola Adeleke. I bring New Year greetings from the Government House, Osogbo.
We just transited from 2024 to 2025. We praise Almighty God for the gift of life. We pray for the repose of the souls of those we lost in 2024. We celebrate the 2024 babies and new couples. We accept the good and the bad of the past year in anticipation of an even more successful 2025.
As we begin the new year today, I reflect on the last 12 months of governance. I review everything Osun people have passed through. I got elated about those good things that happened to us, both collectively and individually. I equally brainstormed with my team about finding lasting solutions to outstanding challenges facing our people.
We faithfully implemented our infrastructure agenda. We rehabilitated over 150 kilometers of roads, upgraded over 100 schools, refurbished 200 health centers, and provided over 332 local water facilities. We executed over 300 local community projects. We are changing the face of Osun to reduce the infrastructure deficit. Osun is now a giant construction site.
Our service delivery in the last 12 months is quite inclusive. As we support the physically challenged, we are developing the creative industry to empower the young ones. We not only purchased a new set of tractors after over a decade, but we launched the agropreneur project for young people. Our bursary programme is also ongoing.
We are financially empowering artisans and local businesses. Our cooperative loan scheme is servicing the entire 332 political wards in Osun. When you add our local content policy, Osun money is revolving within Osun as we engage local personnel and local suppliers.
In the last one year, we have expanded our care and support for the senior citizens. We continue to pay the pension and gratuities of our seniors. All legitimate pension debts are equally attended to. Additionally, the free medical lifeline for our seniors is being well funded. We use instruments of state to ensure that retired workers enjoy their retirements.
For Osun workers, the last one year witnessed further advances in our pro-workers’ policies and programmes. Just last night, a state worker called me on the new minimum wage. While expressing joy on the payment alert he just received, he broke down in tears of joy. I am elated that Osun workers appreciate our efforts to make life easy for them.
In the last 12 months, we have expanded access to higher education. Osun State University continues to be one of the best in Nigeria. The University of Ilesa is growing. I have also directed that the proposed Ijesha Technical Institute be established within the university.
The last one year also witnessed new efforts to enhance the investment climate in Osun. We are perfecting the implementation of the state tax harmonization project. We launched the 45-day window for the processing of Certificate of Occupancy. We hosted an Industrial Investment Summit attended from far and near. And we are pushing ahead with the state’s digital economy agenda.
My good people of Osun, I kept faith with my pledge for transparency and accountability as your state governor. In the last one year, we got and processed several requests for information based on the Freedom of Information Act. We ensured access to information as a transparent and accountable government.
In the last one year and since I assumed office, our projects have been financed mainly from state resources. This includes internally generated revenue and allocations from the federation account. Just as I have not been accessing security votes, I had not borrowed a single kobo to run the state government.
As a responsible state in Nigeria, we are part and parcel of programmes and activities of the National Economic Council and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum. We inherited many national programmes from the previous APC governments. We continue to sustain those programmes when and if they benefit our people.
As democracy is a government for the people of the people and by the people, I call on those seeking specific data on government programnes to take advantage of the Freedom of Information Act. Specifically, I enjoy the opposition to join the state government as we turn the fortune of our state for the better. We are all stakeholders.
My people, in 2024, we won several medals and awards. Osun state won the global school competition debate in Malaysia. Osun again came first on access to Primary Health care in the South West. The leadership newspapers just awarded me Governor of the year 2024. Our successes are collective testimony to good governance in our dear state.
As we enter 2025, I accept that there are issues and challenges to address. As we have been doing in the past, I look forward to working with Osun people for sustainable solutions.
In this new year, we will build on the past successes to attain new, deeply pro- people deliveries. As I had promised , this new year will witness extensive implementation of soft infrastructure. The goal is to ensure that good roads are complemented by strong bodies, strong citizens, and residents.
In 2025, I will remain your responsive, listening, and compassionate governor. My only motivation will continue to be the well-being of you, the good people of Osun state.
Akun odun. Imole ama tan si ile gbogbo wa.
I thank you for listening.
Long live Osun State, the State of the Living Spring
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.