The Executive Governor of Osun state Senator Ademola Adeleke has described himself as the Chief Marketer of Osun economy and her potentials.
While speaking at the just concluded Osun State Industrial Investment Summit 2024 on Friday, held at the Osun state University Multipurpose Hall, Governor Adeleke stated that he is a businessman and Osun is no doubt a destination of choice.
He, also disclosed that his agenda to Industrialize Osun is not a joke as the current administration is multitasking on various fronts to achieve it’s goal.
He said, “I’m here to say thank you to all guests and investors, both locally and internationally. As you can see Osun is open for business.
“Several speakers have pitched Osun to potential investors. I’m however the Chief marketer of Osun economy and her potential. As a businessman myself, Osun is no doubt a destination of choice.
“I read Aree Dele Momodu’s presentation where he robustly promoted the Osun case from the perspective of an investor. That brilliant submission and many others correctly paint the reality of Osun state.
“Our agenda to industrialize Osun is not a joke. We are multitasking on various fronts to achieve that goal. This investment summit is a first step. There will also be a future investment summit which will directly involve development partners, donor agencies, global leaders of the private sector, multinational companies and investment arms of western and Asian governments. An inter-ministerial panel will soon be put in place to work on this next phase.
Adeleke also commended the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry Hon. Bunmi Jenyo alongside his team for organizing this summit, while stating that, the summit has placed Osun on the map of the business community.
In his goodwill message at the grand-finale of the summit on Saturday, Governor of Ondo state, Lucky Aiyedatiwa who was represented by his deputy, Olayide Adelani emphasized that, the summit is a clear definition of Governor Adeleke’s commitment to enhancing growth and productivity in the state.
He said, “Investment doesn’t go where it is needed, but it goes where it is wanted. This event is a clear testament to Your Excellency’s administration’s mission of enhancing productivity, creating wealth, increasing social amenities, and generating more ideas for Osun State.
“Our presence here today is to identify with the people and government of Osun State in their industrial development effort we all shared across Nigeria in Southwest. The founding fathers of our region saw industrialization as the fastest means to rapid development, and most of their policies reflected this vision. For example, the free education program that propelled our region to the forefront of development was for the purpose of providing skilled labor for industrial development.
“We are not here today to teach Osun State how to attract investment, but rather to share some of our ideas we adopted in our determination to encourage investment. We are on the same journey.
“Additionally, from the deliberations at this summit, we have gained valuable insights that will help us in our own ambition to further industrialize Ondo State.
“This is not a competition. As more candles are lit in a room, the brighter it even becomes. The more economic hubs we can create in our country, the closer our people will be to prosperity. Given our common history and shared goals, the prosperity of Osun State is also the prosperity of Ondo State. Many Ondo State residents make their living in Osun, and vice versa,” he explained.
Aiyedatiwa, however added that Osun State is not only endowed with potential in agriculture and gold deposits, but it also excels in aquaculture. Your state is rich in culturally-based art, rooted in the Yoruba heritage. This should be better advertised to the world. The pride of being the source of the Yoruba race needs to be celebrated and showcased globally, as is being done with the Osun-Osogbo Festival. An annual Yoruba heritage event could attract Yoruba descendants from the Caribbean, Brazil, the United States, and other parts of Africa.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Hon. Bunmi Jenyo restated that the the Osun state Industrial Investment Summit 2024 was aimed at improving the living standards of the people of Osun state without solely relying on civil service jobs.
He, also disclosed that the summit is first of it’s kind in the history of Osun State since 1991.
He said, “Since the beginning of this week, we have all been engaged in conversations across various sectors and from nearly all works of life to key in to the vision and mission of this administration to change the economic narrative of Osun State.
“As I have boasted earlier in the course of this meeting, the Osun State Industrial Investment Summit 2024, our efforts are targeted at improving the living standards of the people of Osun State without solely relying on civil service jobs or other limited economic avenues for survival.
“It is obvious that this Industrial Investment Summit 2024, the first of its kind since the creation of Osun State in 1991”, he noted.
Jenyo, continued by appreciating the state Governor for providing an enabling environment for the program to take place in the state.
“It is unprecedented and successfully executed by Mr Governor’s administration enabling environment and sealed for industrialization of Osun State, as the State of the Living Spring.
“There is no doubt that the Governor, who has been performing wonderfully since the inception of his administration, is not treating this industrialization drive with hands of levity. With the level of engagement thus far, from the Osun State Government, global investors, industrialists, the diaspora, the community digital diaspora, the business experts, and local communities, we can be rest assured that new industries, investments, corporate organizations, and MSM will emerge. This will not only benefit the economic resilience of this generation but also the future generations yet to come”, he added.
