Youth Enterprise With Innovation in Nigeria - Application date extended.

Qualification for Participation in YouWiN!

All applicants for the Business Plan Competition will be required to satisfy all of the following criteria to be eligible for consideration: The applicant is a proven citizen of Nigeria, no older than 40 years (proof of identity international passport/voters card) The applicant is proposing a business venture within the national borders of Nigeria, and with the intention of employing Nigerian citizens.  The proposed venture does not entail the production and distribution of weapons, alcoholic beverages, tobacco or/and gambling, or any activities that is in contradiction with the Nigerian constitution Applicants have prepared an innovative business concept summary The promoter should be willing to make an equity contribution in kind, but does not need to have long experience in managing a business  The applicant must choose to participate in one award pool. There are 6 regional pools on the basis of geo political zone as identified by market in which the applicant  wishes to do business.  Application deadline extended until the 25th of November HOW TO APPLY

FG Commends Ogun on Road Projects - News

The Federal Ministry of Works has lauded Ogun State government for its massive investments in road construction and its intervention on failed portions of the federal roads in its domains.

Members of the Presidential Audit Team, led by the Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Engr. Ejike Egbemena, stated this during a courtesy visit to the governor in Abeokuta. The team commended the state government for its palliative work at Sango-Ota, which has since eased the traffic gridlock on the Ogun State end of the Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway and its reconstruction of the completely dilapidated portion of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway at Mowe, opposite the Redeemed Christian Church of God Camp.

The team stated that the effort of the state government on these two federal roads had ameliorated the untold hardship being experienced by commuters.

Members of the Presidential Audit Team were, at the request of the state government, on assessment tour of the federal roads in Ogun State, with a view to encouraging co-operation on the rehabilitation of the roads.

“We are impressed with what we have seen,” remarked the head of the delegation, “and we are happy to inform the governor that the Federal Government has awarded the contract for the construction of Lagos/Ota highway, which is to start in 2 weeks’ time. We are scrapping and putting up a new road with emphasis on drainages in order to ensure durability of the road.”

The team also said palliative work had been approved for the Ikorodu/Sagamu road and urged the state government to partner with the Federal Government to ensure that funds invested on the roads were protected.

In his reaction, Governor Ibikunle Amosun, said “the people are not interested in which road is federal and which one belongs to the state. Road is one of the most important social amenities. The Abeokuta/Ibadan road is not good. A lot of lives are lost on the road on a daily basis. The Ikorodu/Sagamu road is a big shame; petrol tankers had to embark on strike because of the terrible state of the road. This does not augur well for the economic well-being of the country.”

The governor reiterated the need for Nigerians to develop the culture of maintenance. “Once you do not maintain a road, it collapses. If you go abroad, roads stand for up to 30 or 40 years but here they collapse within three years.”

The governor also urged the Federal Government to always award construction contracts to firms that “have the competence, capacity and capital” to carry out such a project.

“You don’t do try and error with roads that are of strategic importance to the national economy; they must be awarded to companies that are tested and have track records,” he said.

The governor commended the Federal Government for the visit and requested for prompt reimbursement of funds expended by Ogun State on federal roads.

In a chat with newsmen shortly after the parley, Engr. Ejike Egbemena commended the quality of work done even on roads where the state government used direct labour approach and called for partnership between the states and federal government to ensure that commercial activities that lead to encroachment of the right of way and result in blockage of drainages were curtailed.

He re-emphasised the commitment of the Federal Government to provide a good road network in Nigeria.

The governor, in company of the Secretary to the state government, Barr. Adeoluwa Taiwo and a host of commissioners, had earlier hosted the team to a ‘break-your-fast’ dinner.

It will be recalled that a few weeks ago in the print and electronic media, many Nigerians expressed profound gratitude to the new administration in Ogun State for its interventions on the two major federal highways in its territory -Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway and Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.

Profile of Shagamu Local Government, Sagamu

Sagamu Local Government was under former Political Administration network of Remo division of the defunct Western Region of Nigeria. The Geographical entity called Remo Zone became divisible on the 23rd September, 1991 when the Federal Military Government of Nigeria created more Local Governments. This led to the creation of the Local Government form the then Remo Local Government Area namely; Ikennc and Sagamu Local Governments. Long before this, Sagamu Township stands at the apex of Political, Cultural and Economic activities and for a very long time to come, Sagamu will remain as a very important settlement in rendering of higher Order service to other newly created Local Government.

The present Sagamu Local Government includes the Territory of the Older divisions of Offin, Makun and Ode-Lcmo Local Councils. The Local Government by the virtue of its geographical location lies within the tropics. It bounded in the East by Ikenne Local Government, in the North by Remo North Local Government, in the West and South Obafemi Owode Local Government in Ogun State, and Ikorodu Local Government in Lagos State. 

The Local Government is peopled by all tribes in Nigeria though Remo dialect of Yoruba Language is the main Local Language. The Sabo Area of Offin, Sagamu, can be mistaken for any typical Northern Town for language, culture and setting. The main occupation of the people is farming while few engage in, Industrialization and Civil Service job.

Sagamu Local Government produced the best farmer of the year 1993 at both state and national levels. Similarly, in 2005, the Local Government was adjudged the best farmer in the state and overall best Local Government 2005. Also, best in the South-West zone in 2009. However, the Local Government has the largest Kolanut Market in Nigeria. This is an indicator of the fact that majority of the people are Kola-nut Farmers.

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
Sagamu Local Government in its Geographical and Political Administrative Extension Spans a Total Area of 68.3 Square Kilometres. The climatic pattern of the Local Government is a subset of the humid tropical region, characterized by relative high temperature, apparent absence of cold session, Low Pressure and High relative Humidity.

POPULATION
As at 2006 Population Census, Sagamu Local Government Area has a total Population figure of about 253,421 people.

ADMINISTRATION
The Political Administrative seat of the Local Government is located in Sagamu Township. By all standard, Sagamu Local Government is an Urban Settlement given the available evidence of physical, Human Economic Development Com Social Infrastructure forming part of the familiar landscaping of the Local Government.

For Administrative convenience, Sagamu Local Government is divided into (15) Fifteen Political Wards, namely.
 Ward 1  Oko, Epe & Itunla 1  Ward 2 - ,Oko, Epe Itunla II
 Ward 3 -  AiyegbamijIjoku  Ward 4 - Sabo 1
 Ward 5 -  Sabo II  Ward 6 - ItunsokunjOyebajo
 Ward 7 -  Ijagba  Ward 8 - Latawa
 Ward 9 -  Ode-lemo  Ward 10 - OgijojIkosi
 Ward 11 -  Surulere  Ward 12 - Isote
 Ward 13 -  Simawa  Ward 14 - Agbowa
 Ward 15 -  Ibidojitun Alara

MARKETS
The following are the available markets within the Local Government Area. They are:
• Sabo-Offin Market
• Falawo Market
• Awolowo Market
• Oja-Oba Market
• Sonariwo market and Gateway International Market, Sagamu, built by the State Government. However, the Local Government forms the main Market for the Kolanut business within the Southern part of the country.

MOTOR PARKS
The Motor Parks includes:
• Isale Oko Motor Park
• Awolowo Motor Park
• Oja-Oba Motor Park
• Sabo Motor Park
• Ijokun Motor Park Kara Trailer Park

ROAD NETWORK
Sagamu Town, the headquarters of Sagamu Local Government Area. Its Urban nature has facilitated and encourages the establishment of both small and medium-scale industries in the Area. The following are some of the available Local and major industries operating in the Local Government Area.

Among the Local industries are:

• - Black Smithing  
• - Block moulding
• - Traditional (Cloth Weaving (Aso-Oke)
• - Pure-water making   
• - Dyeing
• - Mat making
• - Gold smithing
• - Bread Bakery
• - Soap making
  
  The major Industrial Establishments include: 
• • - West African Portland Cement PIc Portland electrical repairs
  • - Nulec Industries Limited
  • - CPI Moore Limited
  • - Temitope biscuit and Conventional Limited
  • - WESTCOM PLC., Ode-Iemo
  • - Pefac Associates Limited
  • - Olusola Paper Industries Limited
  • - Balufon Animal Feed Limited
  • - Monarch Steel, Ogijo
  • - Phoenix Steel, Ogijo
  • - Mayor Steel, Ogijo

NATURAL MINERAL RESOURCES
Sagamu Local Government is blessed with numerous and abundant natural/ mineral resources that could earn foreign exchange to the country, if properly and adequately tapped and enhanced. Among these are lime stone and Gypsum.

AGRICULTURE
The people of Sagamu Local Government Area are predominantly farmers hence the Local Government is endowed with Agricultural Resources distributed all over the Area. Some of the major cash crops/food crops in the Local Government Area are Kolanut, Cassava, Melon, Maize and Water yam.

EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
Sagamu Local Government could boast of 53 Public Primary Schools and Secondary Schools. Similarly, there are also Private Primary and Secondary Schools located across the Local Government Area. The Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital is located in the Local Government Area.

HEALTH INSTITUTION
Presently, the Local Government could boast of 23 Health Institutions that spread all over the Local Government Area as well as one (1) General Hospital situated at Ode-Iemo in Sagamu Local Government Area.

SECURITY
Among the Security available in the Local Government Area include Divisional Police Offices at Sagamu and Ogijo and the State Security Service (SSS) with Headquarters in Sagamu. There is also a vibrant Vigilante Groups that compliment the activities of the Law Enforcement Agencies in the Area.

TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS
The Institution of Obaship and Traditional Rulers occupy a prominent position in the Local Government Area. Currently, the Local Government has Twenty-five Traditional Rulers with Akarigbo as Paramount Ruler of Remo Kingdom.

His Royal Majesty -  Oba (Dr.) Michael Adeniyi Sonariwo (CON)
Akarigbo & Paramount Ruler of Remo Kingdom

Defence

Objectives

The party’s objective on defense shall be consistent with the provisions of the constitution. Specifically, our objectives are to:

1. Create a highly trained, highly mobile and highly motivated military corps.
2. Create and maintain Armed Forces capable of discharging their constitutional role at all times and in all circumstances.
3. Use the Armed Forces to support our foreign policy objectives.

FOREIGN POLICY
Objectives
In conformity with the provision of the constitution of our party shall:
1. Pursue friendly and reciprocal relations on a bilateral and multilateral basis across the world, especially within the West Africa sub-region and within Africa as a whole.
2. Observe conventions and obligations of regional and international organizations of which Nigeria is a member.
3. Maintain and strengthen Nigeria’s membership of regional and international organizations to facilitate the attainment of Nigeria’s national interest.
4. Resist all forms of discrimination, domination and aggression against Nigeria and against any other state.

The Civil Service

Objectives

1. Development of a patriotic and efficient civil service characterised by the initiative, quality and commitment of its personnel, and by the speed and proficiency with which it discharges its responsibilities.
2. Development of measure to eliminate corruption, inertia and unnecessary red tape.

The Judiciary and the Administration of Justice

Objectives

The objective of our party in the administration of justice are:

1. To facilitate the complete independence of the judiciary from intimidation and external influence.
2. To strengthen the processes of administration of justice.
3. To uphold the principles of separation of powers as enshrined in the constitution.
4. To defend the principles of social justice, equity, equality and human rights.
5. To insulate the judiciary from all form of parochial interests and to ensure that the national interests and objectives are always upheld.