OSUN STATE IN BRIEF
Osun State, which was caved out of the old Oyo State on the 27th August, 1991, is in the South-Western part of Nigeria. It covers an area of approximately 14,875 square kilometers, lies between longitude 04 00E and latitude 05 558”, and is bounded by Ogun, Kwara, Oyo and Ondo State in the South, North, West and East respectively.
PEOPLE AND CULTURE
The indigenes of the State belong to the Yoruba tribe and are composed of the Ifes, Ijeshas and Osun. However, non-indigenes from all parts of Nigeria and foreigners reside in the State, living together in harmony. Yoruba and English are the languages of the people for official and business transactions. The State is blessed with a highly literate and articulate populace who constitute a virile and productive workforce. Traditionally, the people engage in agriculture and produce sufficient food and cash crops for domestic consumption and as inputs for agro allied industries and for export. A reasonable segment of the populace are also traders and artisans. Other occupations of the people include hand-weaving, mat-making, dying, soap making, wood carving, among many others.
The people have a rich cultural heritage which is eloquently demonstrated in all areas of their lives. Their culture finds expression in their arts, Literature, music and other social activities. It is marvelous being among the people savouring the beauty of their well acclaimed cultural inheritance.
TOURISM
Tourist centres abound across the State. Some of the popular ones are the Oranmiyan Staff, Ife Museum, Obafemi Awolowo University Zoological gardens, Ile-Ase, Yeyemolu and Oduduwa Shrines and groove, all at Ile-Ife. Others include Osun Osogbo shrine which is the venue of the internationally recognized Osun Osogbo festival, the Mbari-Mbayo cultural Heritage, Idi-Baba Cultural Centre, Adunni Susuan Wengers Centre and Nike Arts Gallery, all based in Osogbo. There are also the Olumirin Water-Falls at Erin-Ijesa, Igbo-Sango at Ede and the Ayikunugba Water-Falls at Oke-Ila.
Tourists in Osun State are guaranteed maximum hospitality as there are standard hotels in all the major towns in the State which will cater for their basic needs. They provide suitable accommodation and render other hotel/catering services at moderate charges. Some of the standard hotels in Osogbo, the State Capital, are Presidential, Charity, Heritage and Concord Hotels. Others are Capital, Terminus, Adlis and Royal Suites Hotel. In addition, an ultra modern, State-owned Five Star Hotel is at an advanced stage of completion at the State Capital.
The State also boasts of the existence of a modern golf course at the Mic-Com Golf and Holiday Resort a serene settlement on the outskirts of Osogbo.
The State government accords great importance to tourism. All issues pertaining to tourism are handled by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and its parastatals. This Ministry of Tourism and Culture is charged with the responsibility of modernizing and developing tourism in the State.
POSTAL AND TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES
Efficient postal services are rendered in the State by the Nigeria Postal Services Limited, a Federal government parastatals and private Courier Companies. In the same vein, telephone, E-mail, fax and internet facilities are available. With the take off of the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) in Nigeria, high rate of mobile telephony penetration and increased volume of business transactions in Osun State are assured.
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Osun State enjoys a heavy presence of Commercial, Development, Merchant, Mortgage and Community Banks. Branches of these financial institutions are in the State Capital, Zonal and Local Government Headquarters as well as other major towns in the State. These institutions render local and international services.
MASS MEDIA
Both the electronic and print media are well-represented in the State. The State Broadcasting Corporation operates a radio and a television station both of which are clearly received within and outside the State. In addition, two television stations of the Nigeria Television Authority are located in Osogbo and Ile-Ife respectively.
All national newspapers have their correspondents’ offices in the State Capital and some of the major towns. This has made media coverage of social and economic activities in the State very effective.
EDUCATION
Convinced that education is the key to complete human emancipation, the State Government has restructured and committed enormous resources to the education sector. The Government operates free and qualitative education at all levels.
There are 1,460 primary and 330 secondary schools in the State. There are 24 State-owned technical colleges, 2 Colleges of Education, a polytechnic and a College of Technology which are also run by the State while a Federal Polytechnic is also located in the State. The State is a joint-owner of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology with Oyo State. The College of Medicine of the University is located in Osogbo, Bowen University, Iwo, owned by the Nigerian Baptist Convention operates in Osun State while the permanent site of Redeemed University is located in Ede, also in Osun State, in addition, the site of the proposed Hijirah University is located in Ede, Osun State. The State Government has established Osun State University as a model while Fountain University has its permanent site in Osogbo.
Since the inception of the present administration in May, 2003, an appreciable sum has been committed to education and the Government is determined to continue to accord the sector priority.
ADMINISTRATIVE SET-UP
The State is divided into three senatorial districts namely, Osun I, Osun II and Ife/Ijesa. Each of these districts is further divided into two zones. Osun II consists of Osogbo and Ikirun Zones while Osun I is made up of Ede and Iwo Zones. Ife and Ilesha Zones are the constituents of Ife/Ijesa district. In all, the State is divided into six zones. The State is made up of thirty Local Government Areas.
The Local Governments and their headquarters are:
Atakumosa East - Iperindo
Atakumosa West - Osu
Ayedaade - Gbongan
Ayedire - Ile-Ogbo
Boluwaduro - Otan-Ayegbaju
Boripe - Iragbiji
Ede North - Oja Timi
Ede South - Ede
Egbedore - Awo
Ejigbo - Ejigbo
Ife Central - Ile-Ife
Ife East - Oke-Ogbo
Ife North - Ipetumodu
Ife South - Ifetedo
Ifedayo - Oke-Ila
Ifelodun - Ikirun
Ila - Ila-Orangun
Ilesa East - Iyemogun
Ilesa West - Ereja Square
Irepodun - Ilobu
Irewole - Ikire
Isokan - Apomu
Iwo - Iwo
Obokun - Ibokun
Odo-Otin - Okuku
Ola-Oluwa - Bode-Osi
Olorunda - Igbona
Oriade - Ijebu-Jesa
Orolu - Ifon-Osun
Osogbo - Osogbo
Osogbo is the State Capital, it is very rich in arts and crafts. It is about six hours drive from Abuja, the Federal Capital and 232 kilometers from Lagos, Nigeria’s most prominent port city and commercial/industrial nerve-centre. Ibadan, the most populous city in West Africa is about 88 kilometers from Osogbo. Federal Government Agencies in the State Capital include the Nigeria Machine Tools, Osogbo Steel Rolling Company and the Industrial Development Centre. Others are the Federal Department of Solid Minerals, the Liaison Office of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, National Directorate of Employment, National Examinations Council and the West African Examination Council.
The State Capital also houses a National grid of the National Electric Power Authority. It is linked by a good network of roads with other parts of the country and it is also connected by a rail line for passengers. The Ofatedo aerodrome, near the State Capital, has the capacity of being expanded into an international Airport.
The State Government operates from an Ultra-modern Secretariat complex in the State Capital. The legislative and judicial arms of government are independent and work harmoniously with the executive arm to move the State forward.
Local Government administration in the State, as in other States of the Federation, is operated under a two-tier system made up of the executive and legislature. Developmental activities in the Local Government areas complement the efforts of the State Government in making the State truly investment-friendly.
OUR MISSION AND VISION
Our goal is to create an egalitarian society, built on the fear of God, full of opportunities, where truth, peace and justice reign. The socio-economic and political transformation of our society into a land of equal opportunities, utilizing the available vast human and material resources maximally for its rapid overall development, remain our major goal, with the ultimate objective of making Osun State a State that is truly, a step ahead of others.
ECONOMIC POLICY
Osun State operates a free Market economy under which the role of government is limited to that of a facilitator and creator of a friendly investment environment. The government has embarked on a privatization programme, divesting its investment in companies and leaving the private sector to play the dominant role.
As a way of reducing the initial cost of investment and operating cost, the State Government has embarked on the provision of industrial estates. Government intends to develop the estates in phases in all the zones of the State. The government will provide in each estate, necessary infrastructures such as road, pipe-borne water, electricity and telecommunication facilities. An Extension Services Unit of the Department of Industries, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Co-operatives will also be located in each estate to provide extension services. Work is presently in progress in two of the estates while preparations are being made for the take-off of others.
MANPOWER
Osun State is endowed with abundant human resources, which could provide a worthy pedestal for the success of any concern. The State parades a highly articulate informed and enlightened citizenry. It can equally boast of skilled and unskilled manpower required for the take-off of investments in the State.
Labour constitutes a major, indeed the most crucial determinant of the success of any business. Skilled manpower is available in abundance in the State. This is a direct result of the State government’s massive investment in education. Products of the State’s tertiary institutions in various disciplines are turned out annually to provide industries with adequate top-level manpower. To produce semi-skilled Labour the State Government runs technical colleges where various trades are learnt.
SECURITY
One of the basic ingredients for the promotion of investments is security. It is an incontrovertible fact that Osun State, Nigeria has a track record with regard to the maintenance of law and order. The State is very peaceful with the people co-existing in harmony. The serene atmosphere pervading the State makes it investment-friendly.
Investments in Osun State are therefore safe and secure. Osun is about the most peaceful State in the country today. In addition, the people of the State are highly hospitable and warm.
FACILITIES
Government is ready to provide the land, grant tax-holiday and concessions, participate through purchase of equity shares, provision of infrastructural support facilities and the general provision of an enabling environment.
ACCESSIBILITY
Osogbo, the state capital is very accessible to all parts of the country. The aerodrome located at Ofatedo near Osogbo is being rehabilitated. It is expected that the aerodrome would become functional by July, 2005.
The Gbongan-Osogbo road which links the State with the Ile-Ife-Ibadan Lagos expressway is being dualized when the project is completed, it will take about 2 ½ hours to reach Lagos by road from Osogbo.
In addition, a rail line passes through Osogbo.
POWER SUPPLY:
Osun State enjoys an almost uninterrupted power supply. Osogbo, the State Capital houses the national grid of the National Electric Power Authority, hence the stable supply of power to the State.
WATER SUPPLY
Water supply is an aspect of social services which is accorded priority attention. Government ensures the supply of potable water to all the nooks and crannies of the State.
|
