Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado-Ekiti
Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has unveiled an bold industrialisation blueprint for his second time period in workplace, declaring that his administration will shift from constructing infrastructure to driving industrial progress, increasing native worth addition and supporting small companies as a part of efforts to remodel the state’s financial system.
The governor mentioned the following part of his administration would give attention to guaranteeing that agricultural produce grown in Ekiti is processed domestically into completed merchandise able to producing greater financial worth, creating jobs and stimulating personal sector-led improvement.
Speaking on his second-term agenda throughout an interview in Ado Ekiti, Oyebanji mentioned the inspiration for financial enlargement had already been laid via huge investments in roads, electrical energy, agriculture and different essential infrastructure throughout his first time period.
According to him, the precedence now could be to transform these investments into productiveness and shared prosperity via industrialisation.
“Our next major focus is industrialisation and support for small businesses. That is the only way we can deepen our shared prosperity agenda,” the governor mentioned.
He defined that whereas infrastructure improvement would proceed, larger consideration would now be dedicated to empowering small and medium-scale enterprises by enhancing entry to inexpensive financing for welders, tailors, hairdressers, barbers, artisans and different entrepreneurs to increase their companies and create employment.
Oyebanji mentioned his administration would additionally strengthen agricultural worth chains by guaranteeing that farmers produce at scale and are linked to dependable off-takers and processing corporations that might convert uncooked agricultural merchandise into completed items for native consumption and export.
To appeal to funding into the state, the governor mentioned the federal government was implementing reforms to enhance the benefit of doing enterprise via simplified approval processes, streamlined taxation, reforms in land administration and the institution of a one-stop funding centre for buyers.
The governor famous that these initiatives had already begun attracting vital personal funding into the state’s agriculture sector, notably inside the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone, the place buyers have dedicated billions of naira to agribusiness tasks.
Oyebanji cited Agbeyewa Farms, described as one of many world’s largest cassava farms, alongside Arog Agro-Allied and different agribusinesses as proof of rising investor confidence in Ekiti’s financial system.
He added that the African Development Bank’s choice of Ekiti as a Tier-2 State underneath the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone Programme would additional strengthen the state’s industrial ambitions via irrigation improvement and expanded agricultural manufacturing.
The governor confused that the federal government’s duty was to not set up industries however to create the correct surroundings for companies to flourish.
“Capital flows to places where it is treated well. Our responsibility is to provide infrastructure, guarantee security, improve the business environment and create policies that encourage investors to establish industries and create jobs,” he mentioned.
Beyond industrialisation, Oyebanji disclosed that his administration was accelerating efforts to place the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport as a 24-hour facility via the set up of an Instrument Landing System, airfield lighting and a privately developed aviation gas depot.
According to him, the airport would turn into a strategic hub for funding, cargo motion and agricultural exports as soon as the continuing tasks are accomplished.
He additionally revealed plans to increase the state’s transportation system via the deployment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered and electrical automobiles, saying the initiative would cut back transportation prices, enhance mobility and help financial actions with out disrupting current transport operators.
Oyebanji mentioned the industrialisation agenda can be mirrored prominently within the 2027 funds, expressing confidence that the technique would speed up productiveness, create sustainable jobs and place Ekiti State because the main vacation spot for funding, agro-processing and manufacturing in Nigeria.
“Our central objective in this second term is to catalyse productivity and ensure that our economy becomes more productive. Everything we are doing is geared towards creating opportunities for businesses to thrive and for our people to enjoy greater prosperity,” the governor mentioned.
