NEWS
Osun Ready For Transition To Agro-Industrial State
With the ongoing multi-sectoral infra upgrade and real sector policy frameworks currently being put in place, the Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has declared the state ready for transition to an agro-industrial society.
This was conveyed in a government house statement in Osogbo on Sunday.
It was gathered that Gov Adeleke made the remarks while updating industry captains and leading Nigerian businessmen at the 60th birthday of the wife of the former Senate President, Bukola Saraki yesterday in France.
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Gov Adeleke latched onto the occasion to drum support for the state’s industrial investment summit commencing this week at Osogbo told the dignitaries that his administration is focused on infrastructure upgrade as a strategy to ease the business environment and attract businesses into the state.
According to Gov Adeleke, the huge infra deficit he inherited from his predecessor was a strong disincentive to business and investors, both local and foreign, noting that his administration therefore decided to massively address that yawning gap to improve the economic fortunes of the state.
He narrated how his administration is constructing several kilometers of rural roads to achieve rural trade connectivity, the construction of inter – city roads to ease rural-urban linkage and the construction of dualised roads and flyovers bridges to ease congestion at major towns centers.
Gov Adeleke explained that the massive infra projects are also designed to deepen local and grassroots economy through the implementation of the state’s local content policy, noting that “we source materials and personnel locally to stop capital flight as was the case in the past.
“We are using local contractors; we are sourcing materials locally. By doing so, Osun money is staying in Osun. We are equally boosting the local economy.”
On developments within the real sectors of the economy, Gov Adeleke highlighted his plan to expand Osun economy through new attention to digital economy, announcing that Osun now has a world class ICT policy and a state’ tech innovation policy that are set for implementation.
“For the power sector, we now have a state electricity bill to create an electricity regulatory body, to regulate power generation and distribution. Like I said before, the state will take a leading role in power generation and distribution to back up our plan to become an agro-industrial economy.
“For the agricultural sector, we have launched our agric revolution with tractor and input distributions. Value addition through agro processing is a focus. We look towards an export oriented agricultural economy. We will soon commence the state agropreneurs initiative across all the local governments.
“For the sport sector, we are ready to unveil our landmark initiative, the creation of the Osun State Sport Commission to develop various games in the state. My deputy who supervises the sport sector is doing so well and has taken all necessary steps to ensure that the sport sector grows and that the state participates in the upcoming sport games.
“I also have good news for the creative industry sub-sector. Culture, tourism and entertainment are critical components of the creative industry. My government is implementing a robust actualisation plan. That sector has huge potential to employ thousands and to generate billions of naira. We are tapping into those opportunities.
“Our administration is also working on a diaspora housing project in each local government under a public private partnership arrangement. We are looking at affordable and sustainable housing projects for our people”, the Governor explained.
The United Nations has raised the alarm over a dramatic surge in attacks on schools worldwide, reporting a 166% increase between 2021 and 2024.
The rise highlights the escalating dangers faced by children in conflict zones.
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, revealed the figures during the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on the rights of the child on Monday.
The session, themed “Mainstreaming the Rights of Children in Armed Conflict: Prevention and Protection,” focused on protecting children amid global conflicts.
Al-Nashif noted that the attacks were particularly concentrated in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, where children remain among the most vulnerable victims.
“In 2024, armed conflict directly affected nearly one in six children globally—about 470 million children,” she said. “Years of lost education, trauma, and lasting mental scars shape societies for generations. Long after the fighting subsides, children continue to face deadly risks.”
She highlighted Gaza as having the world’s highest number of child amputees per capita, warning that the impact of war goes far beyond immediate violence.
In Lebanon, government figures show that more than 450,000 people were displaced in less than a week, with at least 394 fatalities, including 83 children, during the 2024 conflict with Israel.
Al-Nashif also stressed the disproportionate risks for displaced children, who are more likely to die from disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from direct violence.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a 2025 cholera outbreak killed 340 children, underscoring the long-term consequences of conflict.
She called on states to uphold their international obligations to protect children, insisting that protecting children is “both a legal obligation and a humanitarian moral imperative.”
Also speaking at the council, Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, warned that violence against children continued at extreme levels in 2025.
She urged mainstreaming child protection across peace, security, humanitarian, human rights, and development efforts, emphasizing that children should actively participate in shaping policies designed to safeguard them.
Frazier highlighted her office’s global campaign, “Prove It Matters,” aimed at amplifying children’s voices in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The UN report underscores the urgent need for coordinated international action to protect children and ensure their safety in conflict zones worldwide.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
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“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
Nigerians are facing yet another economic blow as petrol prices surge again. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has raised the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N1,175 per litre, marking the third increase in just one week.
The latest adjustment, announced to marketers on Monday, follows a temporary suspension of petrol sales at the refinery on Sunday. Diesel, also known as Automotive Gas Oil, has also been revised upwards to N1,620 per litre.
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A senior refinery official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the hike, noting that it reflects “prevailing market fundamentals and the cost environment we are currently operating in.”
Industry checks show that depot pricing systems have already updated the new rates, signaling an inevitable rise at retail stations.
In some cities, petrol is now being sold at over N1,200 per litre, adding pressure on Nigerian motorists and businesses alike.
This repeated surge comes after earlier increases that pushed gantry prices from N774 to N995 per litre earlier this week.
Experts warn that the hikes are likely to drive up transportation, logistics, and production costs, potentially impacting the prices of goods and services nationwide.
While the Federal Government, through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), is working to secure crude supplies for the refinery via international traders, officials cautioned that this may not immediately reduce prices for consumers.
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