The Governor of the State of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola, has expressed his unalloyed support at a two-day workshop on sensitization and awareness for stakeholders organized by Osun Rural Access and Mobility Project (Osun RAMP). The workshop, held on Tuesday and Wednesday, 25th and 26th August 2020, aimed to promote and disseminate Low Volume Road Manuals and improve rural mobility. It took place at Ulli Beier Hall, Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, Osogbo.
Governor Oyetola, represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Adebayo Adeleke, stated that RAMP has improved the transportation and marketing of farm produce, thereby reducing the trauma experienced by rural dwellers, especially the direct and indirect beneficiaries. He noted that the project has indeed reduced rural-urban migration as farmers now stay where their jobs are, thus increasing productivity. He further mentioned that the cost of transportation and vehicular maintenance has also decreased compared to when the roads were in deplorable conditions.
The Project Coordinator, Prince Adesola Adewumi, presented the welcome address and explained that RAMP was established to ensure that rural dwellers have easy access to their communities, especially their farmlands, and to nearby markets to reap the fruits of their labor. He emphasized that the workshop would help farmers understand the essence of the Low Volume Road Manual as a tool for planning, managing, and maintaining the created access. It would also inform stakeholders that the manuals are available for their use. Improved rural mobility is another major aspect of the project, ensuring the optimal use of the created access concerning relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, and available Intermediate Means of Transport that could stand the test of time in rural areas. He encouraged participants to use the workshop to brainstorm and bring out the best options to achieve the main objectives.
The National Coordinator of the Second Rural Access and Mobility Project, Engr. Ubandoma Ularamu, representing the Federal Government, commended Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s administration for being proactive and meeting the requisite conditions provided by the Project. He stated that Osun is the second state to conduct this important workshop among the RAMP participating states to disseminate the rural road manuals. These manuals serve as a tool and guide for engineers and other stakeholders in planning, designing, implementing, using, and maintaining rural roads in Nigeria, particularly in the State of Osun.
In his speech, he emphasized that promoting rural mobility is crucial due to the unprecedented growth in agricultural activities, leading to increased economic and social activities. Underpopulated areas have become more populated, with more homesteads increasing. Previously unutilized good agricultural lands have become viable, cultivated, and productive. Social service points such as clinics and schools are now accessible, and new ones have been established. Several developmental projects are springing up in project areas, bringing life to the communities. Farmers can move their produce to markets and processing centers, reducing post-harvest losses to the barest minimum while increasing employment opportunities.
Engr. Ubandoma encouraged the state government to join the new RAAMP, having constructed about five hundred and twenty-two kilometers (522 km) of rural roads with twenty-six river crossings across the state. Additionally, the project has an agro-logistics component in its mandate.
Supporting the National Coordinator’s speech, the Consultant, Prof. M.K. Yahaya, stated that Osun RAMP has been active for the last five years, bringing relief to the rural population across the state with Low Volume Roads (LVR) to alleviate the transportation burden. He explained that Osun RAMP activities across the state are like a “golden fish that has no hidden place.” This addresses the second leg of these activities: to sensitize and mobilize stakeholders to improve transport conditions and provide sustained access to the rural populace through rehabilitating and maintaining key rural transport infrastructure in a sustainable manner in Osun. Prof. Yahaya mentioned that to further deepen Osun RAMP’s activities, the project is prospecting for possible further assistance, including establishing agricultural hubs, buffer stocks, farmers markets, and enhancing various livelihood enterprises across the Senatorial Districts of the state.
Papers were presented at the workshop on Osun RAMP’s achievements, Low Volume Road Manuals, Improved Rural Mobility, and other topics. Participants were divided into syndicates to brainstorm, comment, and suggest solutions to three major issues for the purpose of arriving at a conclusion. Recommendations were made for further implementation and management.
The vote of thanks was presented by the Master of Ceremony, Prince James Oladoja Adedokun, the Development Communication Specialist for Osun Rural Access and Mobility Project.