The new Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun has declared a state of emergency on education, health, unemployment and rural roads in the state.
Abiodun who was sworn in on Wednesday alongside his deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, by the state Chief Judge, Mosunmola Dipeolu, said the poor condition of education, high rate of unemployment, lack of access to health and poor road network in rural areas across the state prompted an urgent action by his administration.
Speaking shortly after he took the oath of allegiance and oath of office and inspected the guard of honour mounted for him as the new governor of the state at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, Abiodun promised to serve the people of the state diligently.
Abiodun said the legacy of the enviable position of the state in education sector was being gradually eroded with the declining standards of education system in the state.
He said, “Consequently, the administration will commence the process of convening an Ogun State Education Summit that will bring together experts, educationists, organised labour, professional groups, students and other critical stakeholders to examine the causes of the declining outcomes and proffer far-reaching solutions.”
He said his government would ensure that each of the 236 wards in the state had a befitting primary school in the first 100 days of his administration.
“This will be achieved either through establishment of a new school where none exists, or rehabilitation of an existing school,” he said.
On health, the governor disclosed that his administration was planning to provide easy access to health through a number of initiatives.
He said his desire was to make health care services close to the grassroots.
Abiodun promised to embark on mass employment of youths in the state through his initiative, tagged Employment Trust Fund.
He lamented the rate of unemployment in the state, saying such had made able-bodied young men and women prone to criminal activities.
“In the next two weeks or so, a portal will be unveiled to register unemployed persons in the state with details of their qualifications and skills. The resultant database will be available for employers of state and new investors to recruit from,” he said.
The governor said the state of rural and township roads in the state was deplorable across the three senatorial districts.
He said he had directed the deputy governor to coordinate the coalition of all township and rural roads across the state.
Dignitaries at the event were former governors of the state, Chief Segun Osoba and Gbenga Daniel; a former deputy governor, Gbenga Kaka; Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in the state, Chief Yemi Sanusi and President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, among others.
