Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Information and Strategy, Semiu Okanlawon, at the weekend, said the state has provided templates in many areas of development initiatives which Nigeria can adopt.
Okanlawon stated this during the installation of the first female Rotary President of Osogbo GRA,bBola Akinyemi.
The governor’s aide, also an awardee, while dedicating the Achievers’ Merit Award conferred on him to the people of Osun, said the people deserved commendations and recognition for providing the Aregbesola administration the atmosphere needed to use Osun for the development experiments which have earned it local and international commendations.
He said it was significant that Rotary Club, selected officials of the Aregbesola administration for recognition, stating that the awards were meant for those who have been supportive of the administration in its development strategies. “I am happy today for this recognition. However, I am happier that Osun is getting all the recognitions from all over the world due to the ingenious development ideas of the governor.
“I am happy that the World Bank representative who presented me this award on behalf of the Rotary International, in the course of her presentation, made reference to the World Bank-backed YESSO programme which was launched in 2014 in Abuja. That scheme is an adaptation of the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) which was launched less than 100 days Governor Aregbesola assumed leadership of this state. The opposition derided us over this scheme but today, it remains the best emergency solution so far to the problem of youths restiveness, crimes, prostitution and other vices,” Okanlawon stated.
