*Says his administration will improve economic fortunes of state
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Governor Ademola Adeleke has hinted that Osun State is 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 dropped this hint while updating industry captains and leading Nigerian businessmen at the 60th birthday of the wife of the former Senate President, Mrs Bukola Saraki in France on Saturday.
Stressing that his administration inherited huge infra deficit from his predecessor, which was a strong disincentive to business and investors, both local and foreign, the governor said his administration therefore, decided to massively address that yawning gap to improve the economic fortunes of the state.
Gov Adeleke pointed out that his administration is focussed on infrastructure upgrade as a strategy to ease the business environment and attract businesses into the state and that on developments within the real sectors of the economy, his plan is 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”, he said
Gov Adeleke added, “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”.
He stressed further, ” 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.
Soliciting support for the state’s industrial investment summit commencing this week at Osogbo told the dignitaries, he said,” 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”.
While narrating 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,Gov Adeleke said 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”.
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, he assured 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.
