Osun gov ready for business, sets up fresh MOUs with federal agencies
The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has revived the move to transform the economy from being a civil service motivated state into an industrial driven one.
This was activated with the kickstart of the Osun State Business Growth Initiative and review of MOUs with the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).
The public relations officer for the governor, Mr Rasheed Olawale, stated this on Friday, August 4, 2023.
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Governor Adeleke deliberated with NEPZA on transforming the Osun free trade zone into agricultural processing facilities to promote local food production through value addition.
With his delegation team led by Senator Akogun Lere Oyewumi, the Governor also engaged SMEDAN on how to strengthen SMEs growth in the state.
Other team members are the Chief of Staff, Hon. Kazeem Akinleye; the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Rev. Bunmi Jenyo; and other directors and top management of the agency.
While speaking to the SMEDAN officials, Sen. Oyewumi maintained that the present Osun government is ready to partner in every programme that will boost the state’s business sector.
He said, “You can see our delegation is strong and this demonstrates our readiness to grow the Osun business potentials. We seek revival of previous agreements and the creation of new ones. Our government is business friendly.”
In response to the team leader, the SMEDAN DG, Olawale Fasanya, unveiled that the agency had allured the state government with its various initiatives, including the proposed training facility within the Industrial Development Centre, Osogbo, ongoing identification for the development of small cluster business zones, matching fund programme advertisements and the conditional grant scheme.
“We have had several MOUs with previous Osun state governments. Now is the time to build up a new one that will be very comprehensive”, Mr Fasanya stressed.
“At NEPZA, both parties agreed to accelerate the revival of the Living Spring Free Trade Zone which has been moribund for years.
“The Osun Government team led by the State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry and the NEPZA team led by the agency Managing Director, Prince Adesoji Adesugba agreed on the following; resuscitation of the Livingspring free trade zone, partnership on the development of the Special Agriculture processing Zone and development of the state investment promotion agency,” the statement reads.
“Speaking on the ongoing partnership deals which cover the United Nations Training agency, Governor Adeleke noted as follows : “Our administration is working hard to develop the state business sectors, we need new partnerships with several federal and international agencies,” it added.
“I have the sense of urgency to change this label of civil service state. We want our industrial sector to grow. Therefore, we have to develop the abandoned free trade zone, this will drive inflow of investment. We hope to get the SME industrial clusters off the ground, need mini-industrial parks all over the Senatorial districts. We are reviewing the Omoluabi economic zone to make it truly functional.
“With the state cabinet in place, I seek to quicken the pace of our delivery. That is why we are hosting several delegations locally and internationally. That is why we are targeting national and global agencies. As a businessman before now, I am convinced that developing our business is the best way to grow the state,” Governor Adeleke noted.
