Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has declared that the state is now ready for transition to an agro-industrial society with ongoing multi-sectoral infra upgrade and real sector policy frameworks currently being put in place.
According to the statement released by the Governor’s
spokesman, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, said the Governor made the remarks while
updating industry captains and leading Nigerian businessmen at the 60th
birthday of the wife of the former Senate President, Mrs Bukola Saraki
yesterday in France.
Governor Ademola who drummed support for the
state’s industrial investment summit commencing this week at Osogbo told the
dignitaries that his administration is focused on infrastructure upgrade as a
strategy to ease the business environment and attract businesses into the
state.
According to the Governor, the huge infra deficit
he inherited from his predecessor was a strong disincentive to business and
investors, both local and foreign, noting that his administration therefore
decided to massively address that yawning gap to improve the economic fortunes
of the state.
He narrated how his administration is constructing
several kilometers of rural roads to achieve rural trade connectivity, the
construction of inter – city roads to ease rural-urban linkage and the
construction of dualised roads and flyovers bridges to ease congestion at major
towns centers.
Governor Adeleke explained that the massive infra
projects are also designed to deepen local and grassroots economy through the
implementation of the state’s local content policy, noting that “we source
materials and personnel locally to stop capital flight as was the case in the
past.
“We are using local contractors; we are sourcing
materials locally. By doing so, Osun money is staying in Osun. We are equally
boosting the local economy”, the Governor posited.
On developments within the real sectors of the
economy, the Governor explained his plan to expand Osun economy through new
attention to digital economy, announcing that Osun now has a world class ICT
policy and a State’ tech innovation policy that are set for implementation.
“For the power sector, we now have a state
electricity bill to create an electricity regulatory body, to regulate power
generation and distribution. Like I said before, the state will take a leading
role in power generation and distribution to back up our plan to become an
agro-industrial economy.
“For the agricultural sector, we have launched our
agric revolution with tractor and input distributions. Value addition through
agro processing is a focus. We look towards an export oriented agricultural
economy. We will soon commence the state agropreneurs initiative across all the
local governments.
“For the sport sector, we are ready to unveil our
landmark initiative, the creation of the Osun State Sport Commission to develop
various games in the state. My deputy who supervises the sport sector is doing
so well and has taken all necessary steps to ensure that the sport sector grows
and that the state participates in the upcoming sport games.
“I also have good news for the creative industry
sub-sector. Culture, tourism and entertainment are critical components of the
creative industry. My government is implementing a robust actualisation plan.
That sector has huge potential to employ thousands and to generate billions of
naira. We are tapping into those opportunities.
“Our administration is also working on a diaspora
housing project in each local government under a public private partnership
arrangement. We are looking at affordable and sustainable housing projects for
our people”, the Governor explained.
While describing Osun as an investment friendly
state, the Governor said Osun has also completed plans to build an
international airport with cargo terminal and a free trade zone for Osun state,
assuring that full details will soon be unveiled by the airport committee after
due approval from the State Executive Council.
“We are doing so much in the social sectors like
education and health. We are also empowering small businesses through loans and
trade support. Our market team has introduced several measures to check price
manipulations across the markets even as we are currently distributing
palliatives to our people.