By Eric Elezuo
Osun State governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has said that his government is poised to transform the economic fortunes of the state.
The governor made the vow while speaking on one of the fora of the 4-day Industrial Investment Summit 2024, hosted by the state, with a solid pledge to transform the state’s economy while identifying opportunities and strengths of various sectors that will attract investors, and add more value to the state.
In his speech as the Osun Investment Summit got underway, at the opening ceremony of the Osun Investment Summit held at the Olagunsoye Oyinlola Auditorium hall, UNIOSUN, Osogbo, the governor said his administration would further provide a platform for discussions and agreements on actionable strategies for accelerating the pace of industrialisation and economic growth in the State with the investors.
According to him, “Our vision is also to make Osun State one of the top ten revenue-generating states in Nigeria, ensure relative peace and security and grow the economy.
“Osun State is Open Beyond Borders and Across Space for Industrial Investment to Investors, Manufacturing Industries, World Leaders in Business, Private and Corporate Investors, Tourists and people in the Diaspora. We are open to investments from Osun indigenes, Osun in the diaspora and indeed everyone from across the globe. Osun is home to everyone irrespective of tribe, race, language, colour or background.
“We want to accelerate the pace of industrialisation because we are on a mission and that is why we have embarked on several initiatives across different sectors of the Osun economy which include the revitalization of the Free Trade Zone which is planned to provide over 1,000,000 direct and indirect jobs for the people, Establishment of Farm Produce Aggregation Centres with Cold and Dry Storage Facilities and Processing Units, Encouragement of Youths to key into Skills Upgrade and Entrepreneurship Development Training Programmes and Revival of Moribund Industries among others.
“Let us use this summit to shape the State’s development agenda and forge long-lasting bilateral and multilateral alliances for mutual prosperity. This will ensure that in the final analysis, when the story of Osun’s emergence as an economic giant is written, history will reserve for us a commendable mention and a glorious front seat.”
In his speech, the commissioner for Commerce and Industry Revd. Bunmi Jenyo stated that the Industrial Investment Summit 2024 is a platform for opportunities and strategic matching for stakeholders in Osun industrial ecosystem to facilitate partnerships and investments.
According to him, “We want Osun to be a hub of commercial, industrial and economic activities in the South Western Nigeria and beyond. We are hopeful this summit will open up the industrial and business landscape of Osun and many investments will spring up in the State with multiplier effects.
“Osun State is Open Beyond Borders for Investments from Osun indigenes, Nigerians, and all persons in the Diaspora. The State, through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is ready to support investments by providing an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
He however affirmed that, “the state planned the industrial investment summit to bring together investors, business and corporate giants, industry experts, academia, government officials and entrepreneurs to explore industrial and business investment opportunities across Osun.”
Additional info: The Tribune