Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke chaired the Treasury Board meeting for the 2025 budget, on Thursday and issued a strong admonition to Ministries and Agencies to sustain budget performance on all fronts.

Members of the Treasury Board include the Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi; Secretary to the State Government, Hon Teslim Igbalaye; the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon Kazeem Akinleye; Head of Service, Elder Ayanleye Aina; Attoney General/HCJustice and HC Finance; the Accountant General; Chairman of State Internal Revenue Service among others.

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The Governor scrutinised proposals of various Agencies submitted through the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.

The State Governor noted that presentations by the agencies are encouraging but called for a more innovative approach to Revenue and Expenditure process and practice in line with the fiscal procedures and extent laws.

According to the State Governor, the real value of federation allocations to the state has dwindled despite the slight increase in the nominal value but to have a sustainable budget performance for the good of the citizens, political heads and accounting officers should think out of the box by emphasizing high priority projects and programmes.

“I task heads of ministries and agencies to focus on high priority projects. The resources are limited, and our needs are much. So we have to balance both ends by avoiding frivolous programmes and emphasizing areas promoting the five point agenda of this administration.

“You are to conduct full due diligence on your various sectors and programmes. Revenue generation must be driven with vigour but with a human face. Value for money is also key in state expenditure”, the State Governor charged the various ministries and agencies led by the Commissioners and Special Advisers.

Earlier in his presentation, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Prof. Moruf Ademola Adeleke assured that the report of the Treasury Board will be submitted to the State Executive Council for approval as a draft budget for presentation to the State Assembly.

He informed the Governor and other state officials that the budgetary process is on schedule to meet the timeline for final processing and approval by both the State Executive Council and the House of Assembly.

Sectors already covered by the Treasury Board meetings include Education, Solid minerals and infrastructure sectors. The board sitting continues today with the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs Yetunde Esan, coordinating the process

Senior U.S. officials are set to meet their Israeli counterparts on Thursday to negotiate a potential agreement aimed at stabilizing Israel’s northern border and reducing the escalating conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

This high-stakes visit comes amid ongoing hostilities in Gaza, where the Palestinian militant group Hamas has rejected multiple ceasefire proposals as Israeli strikes persist.

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Just days before the U.S. presidential election, American envoys Amos Hochstein and Brett McGurk are expected to arrive in Israel.

Their mission focuses on securing a framework that could see Hezbollah withdraw approximately 20 miles (30 kilometers) north, beyond the Litani River.

In exchange, Israeli forces would pull back from Lebanon, allowing the Lebanese army, supported by UN peacekeepers, to manage border security.

Under this arrangement, Lebanon would be responsible for preventing Hezbollah from rearming, while Israel would retain its right to self-defense under international law, according to Israeli media reports.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed hope on Wednesday that a ceasefire could be reached “in the coming hours or days.”

Newly appointed Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has indicated that the group would consider a truce under certain conditions, saying Hezbollah could sustain its resistance but remains open to negotiation.

Qassem’s appointment follows the assassination of his predecessor, Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli airstrike last month.

In parallel, U.S. and Qatari mediators are attempting to negotiate a brief humanitarian pause in Gaza, where Israel’s campaign against Hamas is ongoing.

However, on Thursday, senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu reiterated the group’s stance against a temporary ceasefire, stating, “The idea of a temporary pause in the war, only to resume aggression later, is something we have already expressed our position on.

Hamas supports a permanent end to the war, not a temporary one.”

This proposed pause would have allowed essential humanitarian aid to reach Gaza and opened up negotiations for a longer-term resolution, but Hamas’s rejection of the offer dims prospects for an immediate breakthrough.

As a result, attention remains firmly fixed on Lebanon, where efforts for a ceasefire along Israel’s northern front are likely to take precedence.

Last week, Israeli Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi spoke to the growing potential for resolution in Lebanon, saying, “In the north, there’s a possibility of reaching a sharp conclusion.”

Israel’s military has since intensified its strikes, particularly in southern Lebanon, where it issued evacuation orders in areas such as the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidieh, warning of imminent action following previous strikes.

The Nigerian government has announced a significant boost to its Artificial Intelligence (AI) talent development efforts, securing a N2.8 billion support grant from Google to equip a new generation of AI experts in the country.

The announcement was made by ‘Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovations, and Digital Economy, at an event in Abuja, organized in collaboration with Google on Thursday.

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The minister revealed that the funding is part of Google’s broader $5.8 million commitment to digital skills initiatives across Sub-Saharan Africa.

He emphasized that this support will help bridge Nigeria’s unemployment gap and address economic challenges by enhancing AI expertise among its youth.

“This support from Google is a testament to our commitment to positioning Nigeria as a leader in AI innovation,” Tijani said.

“By leveraging Google’s expertise and resources, we are creating opportunities to equip Nigerians with the skills they need to thrive in the global digital economy. This is a major step forward in our journey towards a more inclusive and innovative future for all Nigerians.”

According to Matt Brittin, President of Google EMEA, the grant will contribute to Nigeria’s 3 Million Technical Talents (3MTT) program, aiming to equip 20,000 Nigerians with AI skills.

Brittin explained that the partnership will provide 125,000 educators with training, further impacting over 125,000 young learners in AI fundamentals.

“I’m pleased to announce that Google.org is providing N2.8 billion (or approximately $1.7 million) in funding to the Data Scientists Network Foundation, supporting the Honourable Minister’s vision for AI growth in Nigeria,” Brittin said.

He highlighted that Google will empower 10 emerging Nigerian AI startups with a funding package of N100 million, along with $3.5 million in Google Cloud Credits, mentorship, and technical support.

The Experience AI Program, developed with the Raspberry Pi Foundation, will also play a vital role, targeting Nigerian educators to inspire and educate young learners in AI.

Through these initiatives, the Nigerian government and Google aim to build a skilled AI workforce that can contribute to the digital economy, pushing Nigeria closer to its ambition of becoming an AI innovation hub in Africa.