Ogun State Government has said that its giant strides in various sectors of the economy are geared towards ensuring a legacy that would make Ogun the envy of other states.
This was disclosed by the Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, while receiving Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Adebola Sofela, a Fellow of Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIBN), in the company of a delegation of the Institute led by its National President, Prof. Pius Olanrewaju, to her office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Engr. Salako-Oyedele pointed out that the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led government had in the last five years, implemented policies that had made the state the preferred destination of choice for investors, adding that springing up of new companies in different axis of the state was proof that the policies were working and significantly improved the living standard of residents.
The Deputy Governor underscored the unparalleled achievement of the present administration in the agricultural sector with the recent flagged-off of rice harvest on 200 hectares of land, near the flood plane of Ogun River in Magboro area, which she said, would produce about 14,000 bags of rice in three months.
“His Excellency is working on expanding the programme to about 2,000 hectares and we are going to bring in more young people who have no history of farming. We will train them and give them support so that they can start in this agric-business.
“This is the type of activity where we need the support of bankers for the smaller scale sector, who to bankers, are risky businesses but they are the backbone of the economy because they employ thousands of people, improve food security and make our country a better place”, she said.
Tasking the bankers to increase their penetration in the rural areas, to reduce rural-urban migration, Engr. Salako-Oyedele noted that lack of access to facilities such as banks, can discourage rural dwellers, thereby compelling them to abandon their agricultural activities.
Earlier, the President of CIBN, Prof. Olanrewaju, who made the state his first port of call since his Investiture, lauded the present administration for its sterling performance so far, saying its efforts in increasing the presence of more industries in the state were in preparation for the future.
According to him, the Gateway Agro-Cargo International Airport being constructed by the government in Ilisan area of the state, remains a legacy project and a commendable one.
“I want to give credit to this administration for what they are doing. I saw companies springing up at Ogere, Sagamu-Abeokuta Road. An airport is also being built. It is not just an airport, it is a preparation for the future”, he said.