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.
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.
The State Governor who drummed support for the state's industrial investment summit commencing this week at Osogbo told the dignitaries that his administration is focussed 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.
“We invite you all to the Osun industrial investment summit. As the most peaceful state in Nigeria, we are ready to be the hub of agro-industrialization in Southern Nigeria”, the Governor told the top business and opinion leaders at the side event.
