WHILE WE COUNT OUR BLESSINGS ONE BY ONE.

Today is yet another great worship day. This day afford us as a people to count our blessings, one by one and reflect on the future of our state, the land of virtuous.

There is no doubt that the state of Osun is blessed with vast untapped mineral resources. These include gold: clay, limestone, kaolin and granite. It also has many agricultural resources. Our people are generally industrious and highly articulate.

The thirst for western education has always being a thing of pride in the state, making the literacy level to be on the high side. It is not by accident that our state host high number of higher institutions of learning. We love education. This is why we are blessed with schools like: Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; Osun State University, Osogbo; Bowen University, Iwo; Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji; Fountain University, Oshogbo; Oduduwa University, Ile-Ife; Adeleke University, Ede; Kings University, Ode-Omu and Redeemer University, Ede.

Others are Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke; Osun State Polytechnic, Iree; Osun, The Federal Polytechnic Ede; Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun; Osun State College of Education, Ilesha and Osun State College of Agriculture, Iwo.

In fact, Africa’s first community-funded Polytechnic is in Osun - Igbajo Polytechnic, Igbajo.
It is also worthy of note that notable religious leaders have their roots in the state and this includes; Pastor E.A Adeboye of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Prophet S.K Abiara of Christ Apostolic Church, Sheik Ajisafe the Chief Imam of Osun, Chief Priest Yemi Elebuibon, Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo of Kingsway International Christian Center and the London-based Muslim cleric, Sheikh Dr. Abu-Abdullah Adelabu, who hailed from the state's capital city, Osogbo and various legendary faith based organisations who have brought pride to the state.

The social relationship existent in Osun is a plus to the economic aspect because businesses and economy grows in an atmosphere of peace. This affords indigenes and foreigners the opportunity to carry out their commercial activities in a conducive environment - devoid of violence and arson.

No state in Nigeria is as culturally rich as Osun. The state has produced cultural icons like Chief Duro Ladipo, Twin Seven Seven, Nike Art Gallery and the famous Susan Wenger popularly known as Adunni Olorisa. The state is famous for festivals such as Osun Osogbo International Festival, Olojo Festival in Ife, Iwude Festival in Ilesa. Osun is also blessed with numerous tourist attractions like the Kiriji War Museum, Erin Ijesa Waterfalls, Oranmiyan staff at Ife Ife Museum, Obafemi Awolowo University Zoological Gardens, Ayinkunigba water falls, Mbari-Mbayo Cultural Heritage, Idi Baba Cultural Centre, Igbo Sango at Ede. 

These tourists’ sites are potential sources of revenue generation.

Osun is a multi-religious environment with inhabitants practicing unhindered Islam, Christianity and traditional worship. The diverse nature of their faiths and the peaceful nature characterising the way everyone goes about it harmoniously, is a lesson in tolerance. The state has never witnessed a religious crisis - whether minor or major -since its creation.

I can go on and on, counting our blessings because nature has been so good to us. But I want us to reflect and rethink on how we can turn these huge potentials to wealth. It is high time we all come together and resolved to exert ourselves and produce the required wealth that will make our people prosperous.

We must provide answers to these questions forthwith:
1 How do we build a virile and strong economy upon which our ambitions for a better life depend?
2 How do we make sure that the economy benefits every citizen, at every stage of their lives?
3.How do we provide affordable medicare to the new-born, growing and aged population?
4. How do we give excellent education to our children and youth; irrespective of their social status?
5. How do we provide housing for our people?
6. How do we ensure that our senior citizens have dignity in retirement?
7. How do we make sure that whenever anyone falls ill, he will always be able to depend on our health service to give him the care he need?

It is only by coming together as a people, that we can provide answers to these questions. And that is why Tiwn n Tiwa L'Osun, a grassroots socio-political movement is mobilizing Osun people for greater participation in the determination of their existence and overall well-being. 

The group is ably led by 'Kunle Rasheed Adegoke (K-RAD), a renowned legal luminary.
Join us today, as we chart a new course for the future.

The future starts today!

By Sola Fanawopo