Bodex Media, a subsidiary of Bodex Group International, has presented the governor of Osun State Rauf Aregbesola with the award of the most outstanding and creative governor of the year 2018. The presentation was made over the weekend at the Osun State Government House, Oshogbo.
This honour comes against a backdrop of mounting criticism of the governor in several quarters over his alleged gross mismanagement of the state coffers and non-performance since he assumed office.
While defending its choice of the under-fire governor for the coveted award, the group’s managing director Ms Florence Hungbo declared that its decision was made after wide-ranging consultations with stakeholders in the south-western region of the country. She said the group’s findings indicated that Governor Aregbesola was consistently rated the best performing state executive out of all his peers in the South West.
“People made us to understand that with the meagre allocation earmarked for the state of Osun, the government has done extremely well in education sector, health sector, youth empowerment and mass infrastructure,” she said.
However, in his acceptance speech, the governor commended the organization for going against the grain in picking him for the recognition at a time when the media narrative is heavily slanted against him.
“If people like you who are not from the state could recognize that drastic transformation is going on in my state, I thank you,” he said. The governor added that he hoped that more people would in the future come to appreciate the work he has been doing to place Osun on the world map.
The Governor also endorsed some other activities of the group, among which is the dream of promoting made in Nigeria product which he proudly wore different ones during the presentation. He acknowledged the production of high quality shoes, garnished with different embroidery, and other adornments of various brands, which are finished products of train the trainers programme of the group. He further implore the group to work with the State in training the youths who are core indigenes on the handiworks.
The incumbent government at all levels are aggressively on the crusade of promoting made in Nigeria products, the Governor added.