Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has declared that there is hunger in the country.

Makinde noted that what is happening in the country does not reflect where the country and its people should be as a nation.

He used the opportunity to appeal to leaders across the country to create a framework to harness our potential through mobilisation, sensitisation, and advocacy.

Makinde made these assertions on Tuesday while speaking during the signing of the Executive Bill establishing the Oyo State Mobilisation Agency for Socio-Economic Development (OYMASED).

The governor noted that his administration will continue to prioritise economic development in order to solve major challenges in the state.

He used the opportunity to announce the appointment of a former Commissioner for Education in the state, Dr. Morohunkola Thomas, who is his Special Adviser on Socio-Economic Development, as the Director General of the agency.

Makinde noted that the establishment of the agency is in line with his stance that the administration will not only be defined by the massive infrastructure it has built but by the strong institutions it has put in place.

The governor, while speaking further, maintained that a government can’t win the people’s trust if it does not clearly communicate where it is taking the people.

Makinde further said that the agency will play a big role in the continuous mobilisation and sensitisation of the various demographics in the state.

“We are here today to sign one of the most important laws that will shape the future of this administration and our dear state; the Oyo State Mobilisation Agency for Socio-Economic Development Bill (2004).

“I want to thank Prof. Jerry Ghana, who held a pioneering role as the Director of the Mass Mobilization for Self Reliance, Social Justice, and Economic Recovery (MAMSER), after which we have designed OYMASED. Sir, I thank you so much.

“I also thank the members of the Assembly for the timely passage of this Bill and for continuing to collaborate with this administration to deliver good governance to the people.

“With OYMASED, we have an agency that will clarify abstract ideas in our state economic policies and educate our people about the law and the political process. This agency we are creating today will serve as a rallying point for several key MDAs of the government.

“As a country, we have to prioritise production, and we cannot be productive without mobilising our people behind what we want to do. When we broaden our productive base, that is when we know we are tackling the issue of taking our people out of poverty and into prosperity.

“There is hunger in the land, which does not reflect where we should be as a nation. So, we must create a framework to harness our potential through mobilisation, sensitisation, and advocacy. This agency is a key part of that framework.

“Also, when economic development is prioritised, continuous education is needed. You cannot win people’s trust if you do not clearly communicate where you are taking them. OYMASED will play a big role in the continuous mobilisation and sensitisation of the various demographics in Oyo State for the pursuit of social, economic, political, and environmental development.”