Mercy Olayinka

2019-06-24 22:09:20 Ekiti Resuscitates Multiple Birth Trust Fund

The Multiple Birth Trust Fund disbursement has been restored in Ekiti State after a break of four years, courtesy of products support made to 104 families by the First Lady, Erelu Bisi Fayemi.

Erelu Fayemi who made the first tranche of the support in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, expressed her happiness that the Trust Fund was back and congratulated the parents who gathered at the ceremony organized by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with Office of the First Lady.

“I say congratulations to you all on these blessings from God Almighty, it is my fervent hope that these babies that you carry are going to be sources of joy and happiness for you all the days of your life, May you never mourn over them, May you never grieve over them, and may you live to reap the fruits of your labour.”

Items distributed at the occasion include cash gifts, baby foods and other support products.

The First Lady gave a bit of background to the Multiple Birth Trust Fund. “The Multiple Birth Trust Fund was initiated in 2010 just after the inauguration of Dr Kayode Fayemi and throughout the first tenure of Dr Fayemi as Governor of Ekiti State, the multiple birth Trust Fund assisted families in Ekiti State who have been blessed by God with Multiple births but due to their circumstances were finding it difficult to cope."

"We were receiving many reports of mothers giving birth to twins or triplets in the hospitals and the fathers running away because they were scared of how they were going to settle the bills of their obligations.”

The Multiple Birth Trust Fund over a period of four years between 2010 - 2014 supported at least 740 families. While some of these families received cash and products support from the administration, investments were also made on behalf of some of the families who had triplets.

The investments were created to support the children through school on a long term basis.

Erelu Fayemi expressed her sadness for the non-continuance of the initiative post-Kayode Fayemi administration. She also gave an alert to the public on the institutionalising of the Multiple Birth Trust Fund.

“I was deeply saddened to note that this initiative did not continue in the post-Kayode Fayemi administration. It is, therefore, my pleasure that it has commenced now as part of the Social Investment Programmes of JKF2. However, I am also using this opportunity to alert the public that we are going to be working on ways to ensure that this program is institutionalised, so that it is not done at the discretion of incoming administration but is done as a matter of cause, as an obligation to Ekiti people. Therefore we are going to be seeking legislation to back the multiple birth trust fund.”

On her part, the state Commissioner for women affairs, Moji Fafure explained that over seven hundred multiple birth parents benefited from cash disbursed during the first term of office of the Fayemi's administration.

She urged them to utilize the amount given to them for the care and upkeep of their babies.

Mrs Oriowo Victoria who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries lauded the first lady for the initiative while describing it as unprecedented.

Her Excellency, Erelu Bisi Fayemi with some of the recipients of the Multiple Birth Trust Fund /Product Disbursement today. Open / Comment

2019-06-21 08:36:02 *EKITI STATE TO CLEAR 1,554 HECTARES FOR FARMING*

Ekiti State Executive Council at its sitting on Wednesday, approved the clearing of over 1,554 hectares of Agricultural Land across 5 Local Government Areas (Oye, Irepodun/Ifelodun, Emure, Ido-Osi and Ilejemeje) to open up the axis for Farming and fulfil its readiness to partner with multilateral donors in developing agriculture in the state.

The Fayemi-led administration is determined to nurture and grow the transformational agribusiness value chain, that will enhance food security, employment opportunities and empower women and youths. It has met with development partners and representatives of foreign governments, including China, India and Belarus to bring increased trade, new markets, and sustainable development to Ekiti State.

The policy direction of the Fayemi-led administration is to reduce poverty, improve living conditions of Ekiti people and mobilize resources for the state’s economic and social development. As part of efforts to realise this laudable vision of transformation in the agricultural sector, the State Government has entered into a partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), and International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) to participate in the implementation of FGN/IFAD Value Chain Development (VCDP).

The objective of the programme is to enhance and improve the income and food security of poor rural households that are engaged in the production, processing and marketing of rice and Cassava on a sustainable basis.

There is also an agreement with the World Bank/FGN sponsored Agro-processing Productivity Enhancing and Livelihood Improvement Support Programme (APPEALS) with the overall objective of enhancing the transformational Agric Value Chain Development of Ekiti State, particularly in the areas of modernising and upgrading the existing traditional and drudgery propelled agro-processing centres for maximum productivity.

With the plan to clear a significant land area, the government has shown its commitment to activate the agrarian potential of the state and create more jobs in the agricultural sector. Open / Comment

2019-06-16 08:17:46 by Gov. Fayose.
14. However, last December, Dr. Fayemi, having paid Ekiti State’s counterpart funds, flagged off the rehabilitation of Ero Dam & replacement of transmission main pipelines. This project is now being co-sponsored by the World Bank & Ekiti State Govt to give a sigh of relief to the 9 local government areas supplied by the dam when uninterrupted potable water is made available to them.
15. The rehabilitation of Egbe Dam is expected to be completed before the last quarter of 2019. Egbe & Ero Water Supply Dams on completion will have a combined capacity to meet 85% of Water Supply requirements in Ekiti. https://twitter.com/GovEkiti/status/1078335596559548416/video/1
16. Dr. Fayemi has since flagged off 251km water pipeline extension & distribution network in Ado Ekiti. The project will give dividends of democracy to the populace and ensure good hygiene for the citizens through provision of potable water. https://t.co/3AYGWCFrGh
17. *IRE BURNT BRICKS *: The bond accelerated its resuscitation only for it to be abandoned later by Gov Fayose. However, Dr. Fayemi has collaborated with its management to improve its productivity through tech & financial support to ensure it accelerates economic growth in the state.
18. *EKITI STATE SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE*: This was built, fully equipped and ready to take off in 2014 to focus on mid-level manpower development in the Agricultural sector but was neglected by the immediate past administration for 4 years so much that the structures and equipment were overgrown with vegetation. Resuscitation has since commenced and the School will take in its first set of students in September 2019. When fully developed, it would provide capacity building for unemployed youths in the agricultural value chain.
19. *CONSTRUCTION OF LAGOS LIAISON OFFICE *:This was constructed to serve as a reference point for indigenes and potential investors seeking information on business opportunities, investment areas and other programmes of the State Government. Dr. Fayemi's policy direction is to make poverty history in Ekiti and functional education, infrastructure, industrial development & social investments are central to this. Agribusiness is another focus for Ekiti youths and farmers.
20. On the re-election of Dr. Fayemi for a second term, the SEC will now conclude the verification and documentation process required in its oversight functions of ensuring that the funds were utilized as proposed. Many of the abandoned projects are now reactivated and should be available for public use in Dr Fayemi’s 2nd term as he promised during the campaigns.

#EkitiStateFactFile Open / Comment

2019-06-16 08:17:46 *SEC to visit Ekiti State on N25bn Bond Projects*
1. : The Securities and Exchange Commission @SECNigeria will visit Ekiti State on Monday June 17, 2019 for a verification of projects exercise in conclusion of the N25bn Bond process approved for the State Government in 2011.
2. The N25bn bond had a prospectus registered with SEC before it was used to raise money from investors which contained everything about the company issuing the bonds, what it will do with the money, and the terms of the investment.
3. A bond is a fixed income instrument that represents a loan made by an investor to a borrower (corporate or governmental) to raise money for public works/projects like the construction & maintenance of roads, hospitals, schools, water & other infrastructure.
4. As a regulator, @SECNigeria is mandated to inspect the projects funded by the N25bn bond secured during Dr. Kayode Fayemi’s first term (2010-2014) in order to confirm that the projects were executed and conclude the documentation required post-disbursement
5. Due to the economic realities & Dr Fayemi’s passion to develop Ekiti, N25bn bond was obtained in 2 tranches; N20bn in 2011 & N5bn in 2013. (As at this time, President Jonathan withheld the refund of N20bn FG owed Ekiti State for executing FG projects until Dr Fayose became Governor in 2014.)
6. *As at the end of his 1st tenure, Dr. Fayemi paid N14bn out of the N25bn bond. Since 2014, N6bn was paid out of the remaining 11bn. This means that the 1st tranche of N20bn has since been paid up in full while the 2nd tranche will be fully paid by 2020.*
7. This exercise should have been concluded between 2014-2018 but the succeeding administration of Governor Fayose refused to cooperate with the regulator to conclude the verification process since he abandoned most of these laudable projects for the duration of his tenure.
8. The N25bn bond was channeled into infrastructure, finance, agriculture, education, health and other large-scale projects to create jobs, improve livelihood and standard of living, accelerate access to markets and enhance inclusive economic growth including
9. *ROAD CONSTRUCTION *: 11 intra-township & inter-township roads totaling over 170km were either reconstructed, dualised or expanded to improve social and economic activities. Some of these are: Ewu Bridge Ado-Ilawe-Igbaraodo-Ibuji Ijan-Ise Old Garage-Ojumose Atikankan Omisanjana
10. *THE CIVIC CENTER :*:This ongoing project was abandoned by the PDP Administration for 4 years. However, Dr Fayemi has since remobilized contractors to complete the project for increased commercial, tourism & social activities of the State. It will include a Shopping Mall, Cinema, Museum, Library, Art Gallery, Entertainment and other facilities.
11. *IKOGOSI WARM SPRING & RESORT DEVELOPMENT*: Due to its popularity, Dr. Fayemi increased the tourism potentials of the State by reviving and enhancing the Resort. As at 2014, it was one of the most attractive destination for relaxation and holidays in Nigeria until 2014 when Gov Fayose arrived. For more on the precipitous destruction of Ikogosi Warm Spring & Resort by the Fayose-led administration, check the tweet below: https://twitter.com/mrtosindurodola/status/1059459463906803712?s=21. For more on Dr. Fayemi’s efforts to revive Ikogosi Warm Springs & Resort, check the tweet below: https://twitter.com/mrtosindurodola/status/1128353645626568704?s=21
12. *EKITI PARAPO PAVILION*: The 12,000-seater State Pavilion was built by Dr. Fayemi during his 1st tenure to host social, sporting, religious events, parades, rallies as well as other outdoor occasions. The Pavilion facilities were however damaged and equipment looted due to neglect by the PDP Government. It is also undergoing renovation.
13. *WATER PROJECTS *: Water shortage & open defecation are major issues in Ekiti State. In order to address this, Dr Fayemi took the bond to also: Expand Ado Water Works & Rehabilitate Ero Dam so as to enhance productivity & improve availability of water to residents in the State. Unfortunately, the project was also abandoned Open / Comment