James Ogunnaike – Abeokuta

As the country continues the struggle to flatten the curve of coronavirus pandemic, an Information Technology expert, Engr. Gbenga Akinwande has charged the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun to create a new strategic roadmap for the state development of the state.

Akinwande, who gave the advice in a letter he personally signed and sent to Abiodun commended him for his commitment to developing the state in all ramifications.

The letter partly reads, “Considering the current economic hardship in the country and the consequential effects on the well-being of our people arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative for Your Excellency to fashion out ways to mitigate the devastating effects of this pandemic on the future of our state”.

READ ALSO: 10months after: Why Gov Dapo Abiodun may be Nigeria’s hardest working governor

“There is no doubt that things are very hard at present for our people, but Your Excellency must not lose focus in providing the right response to the various challenges at hand”, Akinwande said.

“Although, your government has started very well with your agricultural development initiatives as the basis of your government’s economic recovery policy.

The Anchor Borrowers Program (ABP) as it is currently structured might not really achieve all the desired results, thus there is a need for more additional robust programs to create wealth for our people, not currently captured by the existing schemes”.

Akinwande suggested that farming machinery and high yielding inputs should be made available to rural farmers in the agrarian communities in the state.

He added that the government should make available soft loans to these rural farmers and people through the various local Co-operatives and Development Associations or their traditional councils.

He noted that other major challenges being faced by the rural farmers are the issues of herdsmen attacks, theft of farm produce in the rural communities, and bad roads in all the rural areas in the state that require urgent attention to create access to markets.

Akinwande, therefore, appealed to Governor Abiodun to deploy the bulk of the Amotekun Security Outfits recruits to the rural communities to stem the tide of the recurring herdsmen attacks and theft of farm produce in the rural areas; while mobile courts should be set up in all the 236 wards in the state to deal with these issues.

He recommended the implementation of extant laws to regulate the activities of herdsmen in Ogun state.

READ ALSO: Half of my cabinet may be women ― Gov Dapo Abiodun

On education, the philanthropist said “Although, I know your government is doing a lot in this regard, there is a need to expedite action in this sector, adding that the governor should make education top priority of his administration policy.

“It might interest you to know that our secondary schools today are shadows of what they were 20 years ago, particularly in Ogun West, where most schools are at 30-50 % manpower’s capacity utilization”.

“All laboratories and sporting activities are almost non-existent in most secondary schools in Ogun state. The sector is in need of comprehensive reform to position it for global competitiveness”.

vanguard