The Citizens' Watch

Nov 04, 2021

Let's set the records straight- Gov. Seyi Makinde

There has been so much happening in politics and governance in the past two weeks. For example, there have been debates about VAT. These debates again bring to the fore the importance of states taking decisions that will increase their internally generated revenue and attract investors. That is why here in Oyo State, we are always thinking "economy first'. One year ago, when we flagged off the remodelling of the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, we were in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like forward-thinking leaders, we were particular about the timing of our decisions. While many concentrated on the short-term goal of converting their existing stadiums to isolation centres, we built and positioned ourselves to reap the benefits of sports tourism post-pandemic.With Phase 1 of this project, we have completely remodelled the main bowl of the complex. It now contains FIFA standard facilities such as four changing rooms, a studio, media centre, mixed zone and of course floodlights. I can boldly say that with the facilities we have here, we are ready to host any national, regional or international competition!So, to all anywhere in the world who need FIFA standard facilities for their events, we say â€œcomeâ€. Oyo State is ready to receive you. We are open for business.But let me address some genuine concerns. Some people have asked why we didn't wait out the rainy season before hosting the event. They have said our haste to unveil an 'uncompleted stadium' blighted an otherwise outstanding achievement. I have also seen those who have been spreading malicious lies about the work we did. They have shared pictures of the Sheffield Wednesday flooded stadium and presented it as the newly unveiled Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba main bowl. So, let's set the records straight by addressing these malicious lies. A logical mind would quickly deduce that if people resort to lies and misinformation, their case doesn't hold water. So, when you meet any of them, ask them: "If you really believe the Lekan Salami Sports Complex was poorly done, why are you sharing fake pictures?" Is it not a mark of serious mischief that a group of people would lie about something that was watched live by millions of people on international and local television? If they can lie about something so obvious, what else could they possibly lie about?Next, let me talk about the timing of the game. Some people have asked why we didn't wait till December to unveil the main bowl along with the rest of the sports complex. There are a few reasons for this. To start with, we wanted to unveil the main bowl with an international friendly. Anyone who follows international football will tell you that there are seven windows for these matches. None of these windows falls in December and January. If we had waited, we would have to wait until February 2022 or later. Secondly, and this is a more personal reason, when we watched the Shooting Stars game just three days before my birthday in 2019, the picture of the players on the floor stayed with me. The players I saw on the floor that day were a far cry from the club I had gone to watch at Adamasingba as a child. I had promised during my campaigns to bring back the glory I knew they had without even knowing how terrible things were. And after that day, I was determined not to let even one unnecessary day pass by without keeping that promise. So, yes, I was determined to make sure they didn't have to manage anymore. Also, I knew the players would face playoffs to ensure that they are restored to the NPFL this September after suffering relegation in 2017. I knew what a boost playing in this stadium would give them. And so, even though the rest of the sporting complex is still being constructed as part of phase 2, we ensured the main bowl, which we unveiled, was ready for use.Contrary to what some have said, this is not about politics. If it were, we would have waited until December or February 2022, when the entire complex (Phase 1 and 2) would be ready so that we could make a louder noise. It was about putting the players first, and it was about not letting people suffer "just for three months" so that we could make a bigger political statement.For the avoidance of doubt, there is nothing wrong with the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba. The stadium withstood four hours of torrential rains without getting flooded. The match went on, and our darling 3SC beat the visiting team by four goals to nil. The pride on the players' faces at the end of that match was worth whatever "political loss" anyone thinks this decision cost us. If we had a chance to do this again, we would make the same decisions.I am going to leave you with these thoughts today. For those who will eventually get into politics: Whenever you are forced to choose between political expediency and humanity, always choose humanity. Source: Seyi Makinde Newsletter

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Oct 29, 2021

Fayemi Inaugurates Ekiti CARES steering committee

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State on Monday inaugurated a nine-man committee to give policy direction to the implementation of the State COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (CARES) programme designed to support livelihood of the poor and vulnerable households in the state.The CARES is a jointly developed World Bank-supported programme aimed at mitigating the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the socio-economic wellbeing of the people.Governor Fayemi while inaugurating the committee member in Ado-ekiti, to mark the formal activation of the CARES programme in the state, explained that the programme would also support budgeted state government interventions for farmers, artisans, Micro and Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) affected by the economic crisis occasioned by the pandemic.Rea more: Business day

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Oct 29, 2021

Fayemi commissions the Ekiti Values Education Curriculum

"The development of Ekiti Values Education resonates with the central theme of my electoral promise for the second term which was centered on restoring the values of Ekiti. This curriculum can sustainably instill the cherished values, history, and vision of Ekiti in the young ones right from early child education to secondary school“ Dr Kayode Fayemi

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Oct 23, 2021

Tambuwal, Bagudu, Badaru join Fayemi to Commission Ilupeju-Ire-Igbemo—Ijan Road

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has been commended by his colleague governors for completing projects that were abandoned by his predecessors in the State, describing the act as a practical demonstration of leadership and good governance.Governors Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State, and Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, who spoke at different project commissioning events across the three senatorial districts of Ekiti State on Friday also commended Governor Fayemi for the high quality of projects executed and his prudent management of scarce resources. The commissioning of the road projects came barely one month after the state government flagged off the construction/ rehabilitation of another set of road projects across the state as well as the state capital.Governor Bagudu, who inaugurated the Ijan-Igbemo-Ire-Ilupeju road project, commended Governor Fayemi for sustaining the tenet of good governance and leading by example through the completion of projects and programmes that were initiated and abandoned by past administrations. Source: Digital Communications Unit, EKSG Office

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Oct 22, 2021

Ikun Dairy Farm Resumes Milk Production after 40 Years

The Ikun Dairy Farm, Ikun-Ekiti, Moba Local Government, which the state government recently resuscitated, has started producing milk for the first time since it was established about 40 years ago.The Ekiti State Commissioner for Information and Values Orientation, Mr Muyiwa Olumilua, who gave the information in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, described the development as “a symbolic milestone” and sign of what to expect when the farm reaches full capacity.Olumilua recalled that in July 2019, the state government had signed an agreement with Promasidor Nigeria Limited to form a joint venture company named Ikun Dairy Farm, located at Ikun-Ekiti.According to him, Promasidor agreed to invest the sum of $5 million in the farm to procure, at least, 500 cows and processing equipment, as well as renovate the buildings in the farm.He added that the farm would be expected to produce up to 10,000 litres of milk per day at full capacity.Expressing satisfaction with the progress of work on the farm, Olumilua noted that in just a year after the agreement was signed, the farm had returned to life with over 120 cows in place, while 200 more were being expected before the year runs out.“Arable farming has commenced in the area, while the promised renovation of buildings is ongoing, and over 30 people from the community have been employed by the company,” he said.The Special Adviser to Governor Kayode Fayemi on Investments, Trade and Innovations, Mr Akintunde Oyebode, lamented that though the coronavirus pandemic affected the progress of work on the farm, the effect of the pandemic was not insurmountable, and the farm would attain optimum capacity by the end of the year.Oyebode assured that hundreds of direct and indirect job opportunities would be created when the farm attained full capacity and called on residents of the state to continue to support the efforts of the Fayemi-led administration at developing the state.Source: Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission

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Oct 22, 2021

227 pregnant cows arrive Ekiti to boost dairy farm, targets 10,000 litres of milk daily

Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti has said the state-owned Ikun Dairy Farm in Ikun- Ekiti, would serve as a prototype for National Livestock Transformation Plan in addressing farmers-herders crisis in the State.Fayemi said this during an inspection of the newly-arrived 227 cows at the Ikun Diary Farm from the United States of America (USA) and the expansive land for the cultivation of hays.He said the integrated farm, designed to commence production of 10,000 litres of milk daily, is a joint project of Ekiti State Government and Promasidor Diary Company.Fayemi said the new pregnant cows will be confined to their sheds in the farm. He said about 500 hectares of land had already been acquired to grow fields that will be used to take care of the animals to prevent them from roaming about.The governor said appropriate measures had also been put in place to connect water directly from Ero Dam to achieve a seamless water supply and irrigation process on the farm.Read more: TheGuardian

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Oct 22, 2021

US Mission Shares Photos of Ikun Dairy Farm in Ekiti State

Source: US Mission in Nigeria Twitter Account

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Oct 22, 2021

Governor Fayemi inspects Ikun Dairy farm facility

Source: TVC News Nigeria

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Oct 22, 2021

Promasidor Signs Pact with Ekiti State on Ikun Dairy Farm

Promasidor Nigeria Limited has signed a partnership agreement with Ekiti State Government to drive its backward integration initiative aimed at creating local source of raw materials for its dairy products through the state owned Ikun Dairy Farm.The pact was sealed on behalf of the partners by the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi and the Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Anders Einarsson in Abuja, on Tuesday, July 23, 2019.This project will enable Promasidor utilise the potentials of Ikun Dairy Farm in the making of milk and other products of nutritional value which helps to enhance human growth.Commenting on the agreement, Fayemi stated that Ekiti State was delighted to collaborate with a major player in the fast-moving consumer goods sector that is deeply committed to the wellbeing of consumers through its array of quality products.The Governor affirmed that the partnership would enhance the backward integration initiative of Promasidor, in compliance with Federal Government's directives that companies should seek local source of raw materials for their products, thus ensuring local content development.Fayemi disclosed that Ikun Dairy Farm, established in 1980 with hundreds of fattened cows, could serve as a source of milk supply to produce evaporated milk and other nutritional products, create more employment opportunities and increased nutritional products.In his remark, the Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Anders Einarsson, who was highly elated with the progress made on backward integration, said Ikun Dairy Farm would in no small measure provide opportunities to enhance local milk production, an exciting opportunity for the company.Read More: THISDAY

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Project Activities

Let's set the records straight- Gov. Seyi Makinde

Fayemi Inaugurates Ekiti CARES steering committee

Fayemi commissions the Ekiti Values Education Curriculum

Tambuwal, Bagudu, Badaru join Fayemi to Commission Ilupeju-Ire-Igbemo—Ijan Road

Ikun Dairy Farm Resumes Milk Production after 40 Years

227 pregnant cows arrive Ekiti to boost dairy farm, targets 10,000 litres of milk daily

US Mission Shares Photos of Ikun Dairy Farm in Ekiti State

Governor Fayemi inspects Ikun Dairy farm facility

Promasidor Signs Pact with Ekiti State on Ikun Dairy Farm

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