Nigeria a Viable Investment Destination, says VP Shettima

By Funmi Ojo

The Nigeria Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima says Nigeria is ripe for investment in all sectors.

Vice President Shettima stated this while declaring open the Osun State Industrial Investment Summit at the Osun State University, UNIOSUN, Oke-Baale, Osogbo, Osun State.

Vice President, Shettima represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs, Dr. Tope Fashua noted that the Federal government has embarked on critical reform of all sectors for a long term development.

In his address, the Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke says his administration’s mission is to make Osun the preferred destination for investment, business and tourism in the South West. 

Governor Adeleke represented by his deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi said the summit is based on five key pillars which are Agriculture, Mining, ICT, Commerce and Tourism with an objective to set an agenda for accelerated industrial investment in Osun State, identify opportunities and strength of the various sectors in the State to attract investors.

“We want to accelerate the pace of industrialization because we are on a mission and that is why we have embarked on several initiatives across different sectors of the Osun economy which include the revitalization of  the Free Trade Zone which is planned to provide over 1,000,000 direct and indirect jobs for the people, Establishment of Farm Produce Aggregation Centres with Cold and Dry Storage Facilities and Processing Units, Encouragement of Youths to key into Skills Upgrade and Entrepreneurship Development Training Programmes and Revival of Moribund Industries among others.

“It is my hope that after this summit Osun State will become South West/Nigeria’s most remarkable success story in terms of industrialization, economic transformation, trade, investment and infrastructural development.

It is also my hope that discussions at this summit will give the state insights on the strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats to our economic growth and development. I am sure that our keynote speakers, speakers, panelists, moderators and participants will share their varied experiences which will help us in formulating people oriented policies and plans for the industrial sector and by extension the good people of Osun State.

“Let us use this summit to shape the state’s development agenda and forge long-lasting bilateral and multilateral alliances for mutual prosperity. This will ensure that in the final analysis, when the story of Osun’s emergence as an economic giant is written, history will reserve for us a commendable mention and a glorious front seat”.

Governor Adeleke added that Osun State is Open Beyond Borders and Across Space for Industrial Investment to Investors, Manufacturing Industries, World Business Leaders, Private and Corporate Investors.

In a remark, the Israel Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Micheal Freeman noted that Israel do not have oil but developed it’s economy through Drip Irrigation Farming, which the country is ready to partner and invest in agriculture in Osun State to solve food insecurity in Nigeria.

Earlier, the Commissioner, Ministry of commerce and Industry, Reverend Bunmi Jenyo, had explained that the State planned the Industrial Investment Summit to bring together Investors, to make Osun state a hub of commercial, industrial and economic activities in the South Western Nigeria and beyond. 

“We want Osun to be a hub of commercial, industrial and economic activities in the South Western Nigeria and beyond. We are hopeful this summit will open up the industrial and business landscape of Osun and many investments will spring up in the State with multiplier effects.

Osun State is Open Beyond Borders for Investments from Osun indigenes, Nigerians and all persons in the Diaspora. The State, through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is ready to support investments by providing enabling environment for businesses to thrive”.

Reverend Jenyo maintained that the summit would open up the industrial and business landscape of Osun and many investments will spring up in the State with multiplier effects.

The Olufon of Ifon Osun, Oba Peter Ipadeola, in his goodwill message, assured investors of availability of land and viable environment for establishing manufacturing industries and Agribusiness in Ifon-Orolu town.

Our Correspondent report that the summit with the theme “Connecting Progress with Purpose” have investors from all sectors in attendance.

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