By Adekola Afolabi

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Ondo State Governor,  Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has commissioned some newly completed projects at the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa.

The newly completed projects commissioned by the Governor included: the Vice-Chancellor’s Lodge; Principal Officer’s Quarters; and privately donated buildings.

Governor Akeredolu, who reeled out his administration’s intervention at the institution, said the university was a museum of abandoned projects before his administration’s intervention.

“Other areas of impact by our administration in making OAUSTECH a great university include: the completion of University Library; the completion of University Auditorium; and the completion of Administrative Building which were commissioned on the 13th August, 2020″, the Governor added.

Akeredolu further stated that his administration, with the support of the ever-committed Council and the Management, was able to facilitate the donation of science equipment worth millions of Naira from Seeding Lab., USA.

“Again, OAUSTECH for over eight years was a One-School-University, with only School of Science offering ten programmes in three departments. Our intervention through improved funding enabled Council and Management to add two additional schools: School of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and School of Engineering and Engineering Technology. More schools are being planned and would start off soon after NUC approval.

Meanwhile, the Governor has formally launched the Ondo State COVID -19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (ONDO-CARES).

This is part of the measures to cushion the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on the poor and vulnerable and stabilise micro and small enterprises affected by the pandemic.

At the launch of the programme held at  the International Culture and Events Centre ( The DOME),  Akure, Akeredolu disclosed that 80,734 beneficiaries which cut across different segments of the population have been captured under the implementation of the programme in the State.

The well attended ceremony also had in attendance, the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa; members of the State Executive Council; royal fathers including the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye; the Chief Imam of Akure, Alhaji Abdul- Hakeem Yayi Akorede; among other dignitaries.

Akeredolu listed beneficiaries  to include 2,340 poor and vulnerable persons; 3,705 youths (male and female); 4,711 micro and small enterprises; 48,000 beneficiaries of community micro projects; and 21,978 small holder farmers across the 18 local government areas of the State.

The ONDO-CARES intervention programme is an extension of the NG CARES which is an emergency programme aimed at supporting state-level efforts to respond  and recover from the COVID-19-induced socioeconomic crisis.

Akeredolu said the NG-CARES was a two-year emergency intervention designed by the World Bank in collaboration with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to support states to restore the livelihood of poor and vulnerable households and stabilise Micro and Small Enterprises affected by the pandemic.

He explained that Ondo state bought into the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme (NG-CARES) Programme in its quest to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic head-on.

He stressed that the launch was a clear demonstration of the readiness and commitment of his administration to the implementation of the Ondo-CARES Programme.

He stressed that the intervention programme was performance-based, adding that it was a result-oriented programme which required the State to work and achieve the expected results with its own resources and be verified by Independent Verification Agent (IVA) before reimbursement to the State.