Ekiti State Government has partnered the Africa Development Bank with  a view to fast tracking the growth of the state, especially in the area of infrastructure.

The partnership followed the visit of Governor Kayode Fayemi to Abidjan, Cote D’voire where he held a high level meeting with the President of AfDB, Dr Akinwumi Adesina.

The bank expressed its readiness to provide technical and financial support for Ekiti State Government to upgrade its infrastructure, including fixing the Ado Ekiti- Akure road, which is currently in a terrible state.

Other projects to support are the Ekiti Airport, the Ekiti Knowledge Zone (a smart city to promote knowledge economy)  and the agriculture processing zone project, all geared towards improving infrastructure and socio– economic development of the state.

As a follow up to the meeting, a team of technical experts from AfDB headquarters would be in Ekiti State in the next few weeks for further discussion and assessment of the various projects.

The visit and other activities that would follow would prepare the ground for the bank’s final decision.

Speaking at the meeting, Governor Fayemi, said his administration decided to seek AfDB’s support for the projects that are crucial to the infrastructure and industrial development of Ekiti.

He added that setting up a smart city to promote knowledge economy is also crucial to the administration.

On his part, the host, AfDB President, Dr Adesina, said the bank was excited about the plans for job creation, especially for the youth and the plans to improve the stock of infrastructure.

He said the menace of kidnapping and banditry in the country would be addressed with more investments and job opportunities for the youths.

Dr Adesina said government must find a way to create jobs for the teeming population of unemployed youths, in order to secure the future of the country.

Tope Bamidele

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