Osun Govt Partners With Donor Agencies To Fund Frojects Across State

….As Aregbesola’s Senior Technical Adviser Promises Complete Execution of World Bank Projects 

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

The Senior Technical Adviser to the Osun state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Development Partners and International Relations, Dr Michael Opeyemi Olugbile has vowed to explore the opportunities he has to continue to partner with donor agencies and other development partners to secure funding and technical assistance for projects across all sectors in the state.

Olugbile made the pledge while playing host to the Country Director of French Development Agency (AFD), Mr Olivier Delefosse in Osogbo, the state capital.

Dr Michael Opeyemi Olugbile

The Programs Delivery Unit (PDU) under  Olugbile is seeking  new developmental assistance for key initiatives of Governor Rauf Aregbesola in line with his six Point Integral Action Plan through the meeting with Country Director of French Development Agency (AFD), Mr Olivier Delefosse.

Olugbile said the AFD along with the World Bank and the State Government would be funding the highly successful second Rural Access Mobility Project (RAMP2) which has constructed/rehabilitated 214km of rural roads as well as 25 river crossings in the first phase and in the process of awarding another 307km rural roads.

He said apart from visiting some RAMP project sites, the visiting Country Director of AFD had pre-meetings with heads of MDAs relevant to the AFD operations in Nigeria and areas of possible support to the State.

Olugbile noted that since part of his duties was to supervise and coordinate all world Bank and other donor-funded projects in the state on behalf of Mr Governor, he would  leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all the world bank projects are well executed.

Commending Governor Aregbesola for creating the Program Delivery Unit (PDU), Olugbile said Aregbesola has set pace,  which according to him  Kwara and Plateau states have emulated.

He noted that Osun was the first state to appoint the Senior Technical Adviser on Development Partners and International Relations in the country.

The Okuku born technocrat explained that because of the success of the initial partnership through RAMP, new areas of support were identified and AFD will be deepening her partnership with the Government of Osun.

Olugbile further explained that the state government needs more support and partnership from French Development Agency for the maintenance of these roads and assistance in the area of protecting the roads from errosion, and pollution.

Welcoming Delefosse, Governor Aregbesola expressed happiness that Osun is the first among the five states the French Development Agency and World Bank are sponsoring their road projects.

Governor Aregbesola said his administration would not relent in its bid to transform the state to grater hieghts.

He appreciated AFD for the support on opening up rural roads and providing access to markets for farm produce.

Speaking, an official from the French Development Agency, Mr. Olivier Delefosse expressed satisfaction at the rural roads constructed by the administration of Governor Aregbesola, saying the roads would fast track the efforts of the state government in banning poverty in the state.

Official from the French Development Agency, Mr. Olivier Delefosse

He said the achievements of the government in road construction earned it sponsors and supports by the French government to be the first out of the five states in Nigeria.

Delefosse said the advantages of all these roads include easy transportation, traveling time reduction, enhancement of land value in the rural areas, banishment of poverty by giving access to farms where foods would be produced.

The foreign official therefore commended Governor Aregbesola for his efforts in developing the state especially in the areas of roads.

Also speaking, the state project coordinator, Adelere Adeyemi Oriolowo said all road projects in phase 1 totalling 214kilometers have been completed adding that 307kilometers of road in phase two would soon be completed.