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Tag: Senator Abiola Ajimobi

  • Nation building: Ambode, Ajimobi, Aregbesola harp on Role of family

    Nation building: Ambode, Ajimobi, Aregbesola harp on Role of family

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, his counterparts in Oyo and Osun States, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Monday said that if the nation must make meaningful progress, the family, which is the mirror by which any society is measured, must be strengthened.
    The trio, who spoke at the opening ceremony of the 16th National Women Conference, organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), said as much as the family is the reflection of the society, government at all levels must give priorities to issues as it affects the women, who are the bedrock of the family must also be empowered to flourish in her career and the home front.

    In his goodwill message, Governor Ambode said while the importance of the family unit to the overall development of the nation was not in doubt, much emphasis must be placed in the commitment towards strengthening the family unit and building strong moral values.

    “The importance of the family unit to the overall development of any nation is not in doubt. The family is the foundation and smallest unit of any nation. The heart and conscience of a nation is formed, to a large extent, in the family. However, the issue is the amount of commitment we, in our individual capacities and as a nation, have shown towards strengthening the family unit.

    “With Strong Families, we can build a Strong Nation. But Strong Families will only exist in a society where nobody is left behind, where everybody has a voice and a stake. This is one of the toughest challenges facing governments – “to build an all-inclusive society”, the Governor said.

    He said his administration recognizes the critical need for societal inclusion and thus has initiated policies aimed at guaranteeing equal opportunities and participation for all Lagosians.

    He said that his administration remains totally committed to empowering women as well as protecting the girl-child against all forms of negative vices, while creating viable platforms for families to bond and recreate.

    “Women are the glue that hold families together and we believe strongly that an empowered woman, with a sense of self-esteem, will be better positioned to make a success of her career and at the same time be a pillar of strength for the family,” Governor Ambode said.

    He said the decision of his administration to resuscitate the famous Apapa Amusement Park while speeding up work on Ipakodo Park in Ikorodu, Badagry Recreational Park and Ajako/Alimosho Park was beyond boosting the tourism potential of the State, but to serve as meeting points for families to relax and have fun together.

    In his goodwill message, Governor Ajimobi said the family as the building block of the nation must be given top priority, therefore, according to him, women who holds the chord that binds the family together, must be empowered to thrive both in their career and the home front.

    Corroborating him, Governor Aregbesola said that if the family must be strengthened, the women who are saddled with the responsibility of building the home front must be encouraged and celebrated.

    Declaring the conference open, wife of the President, Hajiya Aishat Buhari, said that COWLSO has emerged as of the many things that have put Lagos in the unique class of excellence.

    “What strikes me the most about the committee is that, it is an intellectual and philanthropic association, established to complement the efforts of the Lagos State Government to improve the welfare and well-being of the good people of this state,” she said.

    The President’s wife who was represented by the wife of the Governor of Imo State, Mrs. Nkechi Okorocha, said the importance of strong family values must continue to be emphasized, saying that the absence of it gives rise to the challenges of poverty, crime and declining school performance.

    Earlier in her remarks, Wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode said the theme of the Conference, ‘Strong Family, Strong Nation’, was carefully chosen in recognition of the fact that the strength of a nation is linked to the strength of its family units.

    Mrs Ambode, who is also the Chairman of COWLSO, traced most of the social challenges currently confronting the nation, including drug addiction, cultism, teenage pregnancy, kidnapping, child abuse, domestic violence, armed robbery and others have their foundation in dysfunctional family units.

    “When family units are bound together in love and children are raised in the fear of God and high socio-moral values, it begets a good and peaceful society and country, where social vices are reduced to the barest minimum. To build a strong and virile country therefore, we must go back and build strong family units,” Mrs Ambode said.

    Highlight of the event was the presentation of the Inspirational Woman of the Year Award to Mrs. Tara Fela-Durotoye and the investiture of Senator Oluremi Tinubu as the Grand Matron of COWLSO.

  • LAUTECH Crisis: Ajimobi, Aregbesola pledges irrevocable commitments

    LAUTECH Crisis: Ajimobi, Aregbesola pledges irrevocable commitments

    • As Olanipekun heads visitation panel‎

    Following the lingering crisis rocking the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology(LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and his counterpart from ‎Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola on Wednesday evening pledged their irrevocable commitment to the joint ownership of  the institution in accordance with establishment laws.

    This was part of both governments resolution at the end of a four-hour meeting held at the Oyo State Governor’s office in Ibadan.

    The institution had in recent times faced the challenges of funding from its owner states, which they hinged on the economic challenges bedevilling the nation.

    Ajimobi, who addressed journalist after the meeting, appealed to the institution’s academic staff to resume academic activities while they address their grievances.

    He also disclosed that a visitation panel to be headed by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) will review the current terms of engagement with a view of consolidating the joint ownership.

    Other members of the panel are Hon Rasheed Afolabi(Osun), Prof. (Mrs) Akinola (Osun), Prof. Sola Fajana (Osun), Dr Tunji Olaopa (Oyo), Prof. Ayo Salami (Oyo) and Mr S. A Raji(Oyo).

    The panel has Mrs A. O. Makanjuola, the Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology as Secretary.

    The Olanipekun panel was expected to conduct an audit into the institution’s sources and application of funds while proposing strategies for overall improvement of its quality of education and service delivery.

    The governor said they regretted the current challenges of funding and management confronting the institution and restated their commitment to moving the institution forward.

    “We have both agreed on the necessity for a comprehensive restructuring of the institution to ensure fair and effective development.We also agreed on the distribution of academic resources, physical structures and other assets of the university across the two states to achieve national, regional and global reckoning,”he said.

    Ajimobi said that they have both resolved to rededicate their efforts towards the development of mutually beneficial goals that would further cement their bond of friendship and brotherhood.

    He said both governments enjoined residents, stakeholders, students, teachers and workers in the respective states to go about their lawful duties.

    The owner governments urged them to resist any temptation to take laws into their hands, saying anyone that does otherwise would face the full wrath of the law.

  • Ajimobi places N5m bounty on Oyo lawmaker’s killers

    Ajimobi places N5m bounty on Oyo lawmaker’s killers

    The Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has placed a N5million bounty on the heads of the three gunmen responsible for the gruesome murder of a member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Gideon Aremu.

    A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka, on Thursday, in Ibadan, announced the reward for any member of the public with credible information that might lead to the arrest of the criminals.

    Ajimobi appealed to members of the public in possession of any useful information to immediately contact the following telephone numbers: 0802 343 1079, 0803 653 6581, with assurances that such tips would be treated in the utmost confidence.

    Aremu represented Oorelope constituency in the House of Assembly until he was murdered on July 1 by three gunmen that allegedly trailed him on motorcycle.

    The governor said that he was still saddened by the ghastly incident that shattered the serenity the state had enjoyed in the past five years and would be prepared to reward anybody with clues that would assist the police to apprehend the culprits and their sponsors.

    Ajimobi said, “This is to further demonstrate the government’s commitment to the ongoing investigation of the immediate and remote causes of the murder of the parliamentarian who was allegedly gunned down in front of his home in Alakia, Ibadan.

    “The governor, once again, wishes to reiterate his administration’s relentless pursuit and defence of the security of lives and properties of all citizens of Oyo State, without let or hindrance.

    “The government wishes to assure such volunteers of absolute secrecy, confidentiality and protection of the law. Please, help to find those behind the murder of Hon. Gideon Aremu so that he and his family can get justice, and on time too.”

    Ajimobi promised members of the public that the police and other security agencies would not relent in their efforts at maintaining peace and orderliness, and assured the deceased family that a crack team of homicide detectives were already working hard to apprehend the suspects.

    He advised residents to embrace community policing by working with law enforcement agencies to curb crimes in the society and arrest suspected criminals before they wreak havoc.

  • Education Policy Initiative: Council boss, community leader call for Understanding

    The Labour union Movement in Oyo State and concerned stakeholders in the education sector have been called upon to see the recent education policy initiative that called for private intervention in development of public schools as the major source of funding from the federal purse has been dwindling overtime.

    The Caretaker Chairman, Iseyin local Government, Alh saheed Adejare  Alaran said this at his office while answering questions from reporters on the proposed public-private partnership on education in Oyo State as, according to him, education is so vital and with the current financial situation in the country, should not be left to the government alone.

    Alh. Alaran who called on the leadership of Nigerian Labour Congress {N.L.C} to see reasons in having a roundtable approach to the current feud between workers and government to foster solutions to the problem of salary and other allowances owed workers by government, stressing that no amount of bickering could bring solution unless the two parties meet to draw up leeways to facilitate ways forward adding that the only way to help restore education glory in the State is for private bodies, alumni, corporate organizations among others to intervene.

    “The education sector in our State has received so much attention that one would not have envisaged the present conditions of our schools and their infrastuctures but the cause is in the number of schools in the State, Iseyin here alone has about two hundred primary schools that are also jostling for attention like the secondary schools that are in the middle of discourse everywhere.

    “It is not possible for government to say it would abdicate its responsibility in this area despite the humongous requisites for maintaining them which call for understanding between government and other stakeholders so as to bring about leeways out of the present situation, I promise you, no amount of bickering will give us solution to the problem at hand unless the labour agrees to truce terms and a middle channel is forged so our children can go back to school.”he said

    On the proposed public-private-partnership to develop some public secondary schools in the State, Alhaji Alaran said the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi had at various fora put the record straight that the administration had no intention of selling public schools under any guise but to call for the private bodies and individuals to intervene.

    Using a community school in his domain, Iseyin District Grammar School, Iseyin as example of how such intervention had worked, Hon. Alaran said the school which has about twenty-three blocks of classrooms, a huge hall, air-conditioned computer centre among others enjoyed a total structural revamping as a result of the intervention of the school’s alumni and the State government.

    He said the school enjoyed this opportunity because the old students were called upon and they heeded the call which led to the total facelift of their alma matter, making it their pride and the envy of others.

    “The example of I.D.G.S in Iseyin can be used to explain the point of view of government on the proposed policy, all the twenty-three structures there, except one which also has gotten somebody to help in its renovation have received quality facelift and some alumni have even come to build and equip the ICT center with full air-condition system, we have to take a cursory look at this and see ways to replicate same in other schools.

    The Chairman, Iseyin Development Union (I.D.U), Iseyin Chapter, Pa Gbadebo Ogundiran reiterated the stand of the council Chairman, advising the government to as a matter urgency, find a solution to the industrial crisis in the State so as not to jeopardise the future of children in public schools who, according to him are the future of Nigeria.

    Pa Ogundiran advised that government should work more on sensitizing the public on the proposed intervention as the present impasse was caused by infiltration of the oublic space with rumor which has caused disaffection in the State and allowed politics to enter into an important aspect of public development as education.

    The Vice-President,  Federation of Iseyin Local Government Students (FILGS), Comrade……. appealed to the labour movement to dialogue with government on the education policy and allow their members go back to work, adding that the students in public secondary schools have missed many activities like examinations which might be difficult to regain.

    He said since the Governor has said at a radio interview program that he monitored that his administration was not selling public schools but working on the policy to facilitate the growth of education and in consequence help the students achieve qualitative education, the people should see reason with him and allow peace to reign.

     

  • NLC directs Oyo workers to proceed on indefinite strike

    The National Headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) in conjunction with the Oyo State Chapter on Monday have ordered workers in the state to begin an indefinite strike‎ from Tuesday.

    The NLC led by Mr Solomon Adelegan, the union’s National Vice-Chairman gave the directive after a congress held at the labour secretariat in Ibadan shortly after the seven labour leaders detained since Friday regained their freedom Monday.

    Adelegan said that the strike action would continue until the underlistd demands are met.‎

    Their listed demands includes:,” Immediate withdrawal of all trump-up charges leveled against the incarcerated labour leaders, Government must rescind its decision to sell-off any public schools in the state, Proper and adequate funding of the education sector including payment of living wages and other incentive for educational workers and Immediate Payment of 6 months outstanding salaries and all pension arrears‎ withdrawal of all trump-up charges leveled against the incarcerated labour leaders.”

    “The National Secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, is quick to bring to the notice of the general public of how the Oyo government went ahead early hour Monday 6th June, 2016 to mobilise hundreds of armed thugs  to Iyaganku magistrate court with a directive  to allegedly  attack innocent and law abiding workers whom are expected to be at the same magistrate court this morning to ensure the adequate perfection of bail conditions given towards the release of  the labour leaders who  had been incarcerated since Friday 3rd of June 2016 at Agodi prison, in Ibadan.

    Consequently, our members were beaten, harassed and intimated by these gangs of armed thugs.

    “This is a deliberate attempt to scare the workers away from the court premises with a view to frustrate the perfection of the bail conditions and ensure that our leaders continue to be incarcerated. It is also disheartening to state that students who also stormed the court premises in a protest against an attempt to sell off their schools to a handful of capitalist profiteers in the state were also tear gas by members of the Nigeria Police force.

    ‎We of the NLC, Oyo State council absolutely condemned this dastard and uncivilised approach of Senator Abiola-led government, at the same time, remain undaunted and no amount of persecution and intimidation is capable to deter us in the struggle to resist the sale of any of the public schools in the state.

    “Therefore, we call on the general public not to hesitate to hold Senator Ajimobi solely responsible should Oyo State be plunged into a state of uncontrollable anarchy as a result of his crude and uncivilised method of mobilising thugs and use of military force to silence the opposition voice against the anti-people plan to sell some leading secondary schools in the state under the pretence of private public partnership, PPP.,” he said

    Speaking after his release, Olojede said that the struggle continue, saying that their action was in support of the pronouncement of Education International, which orders that education was a social responsibility of government.

    He said that it is unfortunate that Gov. Abiola Ajimobi was planning to sell-off their schools to the political class, who had during their own time benefitted the free education initiated by late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

    Olojede cautioned the prospective buyers of the school not to waste their money, calling on market women and men to join in the struggle against the selling of schools in the state.

    He urged the general public to always be wary of those to be elected in position of authority, so that they would not wake up one and find the entire state sold.

    The union leader urged workers in the state to comply with the sit at home until the union demands are met.

  • Ajimobi deserves re-election-LG boss

    The Caretaker Chairman of Akinyele Local Government in Oyo State, Hon. Ope Salami, says the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, deserves re-election due to his verifiable achievements in the last four years.

    Salami spoke while moving round the 12 wards within the council area to solicit support for the governor in the April 11 governorship election.

    He advised members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to be united, steadfast and to avoid factions within the party to enable them achieve their aims.

    Stating that the state was in quandary before the governor’s emergence in 2011, the council boss said, “The leadership qualities of Senator Ajimobi could not be overlooked as he has revamped the state’s economy to an enviable position. He had also assisted rural communities in their self-help projects through provision of rural agro industrial equipment such as palm oil and cassava machines.”

    The council boss also commended the governor for what he described as his monumental achievements in virtually all the sectors of the economy, particularly the urban renewal programme, education, health care delivery, massive infrastructural development and youth empowerment.

  • Who is afraid of Ajimobi?

    Several years ago, the only reason I visited Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, was to attend “compulsory” social functions…mark the word: “compulsory”! And hardly did I spend nights there. The only hotel l felt safe in was Premier Hotel. As a matter of fact, to me it was the only “correct” hotel in the city. A city I rather referred to as a large village. It was too sleepy for my liking. The roads were terrible and the sights were an eye sore. You needed to see the heaps of filth that had become hills and mountains.

    That was the Ibadan I knew. Today, I know a new Ibadan. The beginning of the new Ibadan for me, started last year when l grudgingly embarked on a journey to the city for another social event.

    Confusion greeted me right from the toll-gate end of the city on the Lagos Ibadan Expressway. In the past, I needed not watch out for signboards that greeted “Welcome to Ibadan”. I only looked out for the filth, the decay and blood red eyed young men. But on this day, I was confused because the “signs and sights” of “Ibadan” were nowhere to be found? I wondered if I had wandered into another city. Where is the Ibadan that I knew? Behold, it was gone! At that point I recalled what I had been hearing about the activities of the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi. Transformation, Restoration, Urban renewal, I thought it was all “politricks” but here it was, staring at me like “politruths”

    Ibadan was wearing a new look – clean roads, good roads, new structures, orderly parks and befitting markets. I thought I was dreaming- the same dream I saw happen in Lagos. After having a pleasure drive round the city, I attended my function and still decided to find out what happened or better still, find out who this man, Ajimobi was. I suddenly envied the people of Ibadan for being blessed with such a visionary leader.

    I never got to meet him then but the impression was that he was not popular with the people. What! Why? A man who had so transformed the state and instituted peace, security and development that had long eluded the people? Something is definitely not right here, I said to myself.

    My curiosity got the better of me and l began to grab every opportunity that would help me get a better and perhaps true picture of how people really felt about this man. l got a few but the most recent one got me thinking the more. I had the opportunity of observing at closer quarters, the people’s feelings and perceptions during the governors recent tour of local governments in the state. My findings jolted me.

    First was the reaction of a people who from findings were skeptical of the administration since inception only to witness magical transformation within two years. I am not talking about the very evident Ibadan now. I am talking about areas other than the city that were hitherto forgotten territories – Ibarapa, Oke Ogun, Ogbomosho, Ono Ara and all the places visited.

    During this tour with the governor, the people trooped out in their thousands to see him. Based on what I had read about him not being popular with the people, I expected that as they trooped out in their thousands, the governor would also get a thousand stones and missiles hurled at him!

    But no, the joy on their faces was priceless! They were clearly happy to see their Governor. Men and women, old and young, professionals and artisans, everyone seemed ecstatic to see the Governor.

    At nearly all the rallies too, there was a semblance of cooperation between the security men and the crowd. Even the crowds from the notorious Bere area to Mapo hall were not as unruly as they used to. Agreed, everything could not have been very perfect because we live in a complex and heterogeneous society. An example of that were few cases where over-excitement almost marred certain aspect of the occasion, but these were quickly curtailed.

    All that joy and happiness said a lot to me. Why are the people so happy? If they did not like Ajimobi, why did they come out in all the local governments to welcome him? Why did they not stone him and curse him for whatever reasons were cited by those who wrote in various media that Ajimobi was not liked by his people?

    I tried hard to justify the unjustifiable. I tried to separate Ibadan from the other towns. Quite right, Ibadan had been lavished with new roads, a new bridge and infrastructural development as well as aesthetics. So, these other towns, these hinterlands, what did they get in infrastructure because there was obviously no flyover bridge like the one in Mokola Ibadan? I realized that these people were happy because their narrow and bad roads had been repaired and widened, thereby facilitating their movement with their agricultural products. Farmers now had access to tractors. Their children – university and secondary school graduates had been employed into the civil service while others were part of the 20,000 engaged in the Youth Employment Scheme of Oyo state (YES-O).

    So, who is afraid of Ajimobi in a new Oyo State? Definitely not the same people who feel so lucky to have such a visionary leader. Not the people who never knew that succor could come to them. Not the people who can now sleep with both eyes closed. Not the people who love him so much that they would cast their vote twice for his second term bid, if voting more than once was possible.

    These are the group of people who I think are afraid of Ajimobi: Unrepentant hoodlums whom the security forces have caged; unscrupulous politicians who want a return to the old order where money meant for infrastructure were shared among them; enemies of the state, physical and spiritual, who want the state to remain in perpetual darkness and backwardness!

    Who is afraid of Ajimobi? I believe this governor has out-performed the rest and performed beyond the people’s expectation. Ahead of the 2015 elections, the people’s choices have been easier because they only have to choose between governors who achieved nothing for the state and a performing governor. They have to choose between inexperienced leaders and a vastly experienced Ajimobi. They have to choose between conservative personalities and a progressive governor.

    Who is afraid of Ajimobi? Not those who are enjoying the new lease of life in the state. Those who are afraid of Ajimobi are those worried that the governor is educating the people so much now that they are better exposed and now know what true leadership means.

    I believe these are the elements that are afraid of Ajimobi and they are shaking really bad because the people are set to return the governor for a second term.

     

    • Shokanmi, is a consultant with Olsphere Investment Limited, Lagos.
  • Crisis looms in Oyo over non-payment of severance to ex-LG chiefs

    Crisis looms in Oyo over non-payment of severance to ex-LG chiefs

    Crisis is brewing between former members of local government caretaker committees, special assistants and the incumbents in Oyo State.

    Following persistent appeals after the dissolutions of caretaker committees in 22 out of the 33 local governments of the state, the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, sometime in October, directed the caretaker chairmen of the affected councils to commence payments of 40 percent of initial salaries of the sacked members.

    The decision was said to have been taken at the House of Chiefs in Ibadan, the state capital, at a meeting held with the 33 council chairmen, including Chairman of Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Commissioner for Local Government, Special Adviser to the governor on Political Matters, Dr. Gbade Ojo, among others.

    The governor, said sources, took the decision to avoid future friction and internal crisis within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

    However, only a few local governments were said to have complied with the directive by paying a half-month salary to the ex- officials, while others are yet to comply with the directive.

    Consequently, the forum of the former council officials met a few days ago in Saki where they alerted the governor on the impending crisis due to what they referred to as “flagrant disregard” of the current local government chairmen of his directive.

    At a media briefing jointly addressed by Mr. Abduwaheed Salako (ex- caretaker member, Ibadan North LG, Mustapha Kazeem, former Special Assistant, Iwajowa LG, amongst others, the forum while lauding the various unprecedented policy initiatives of the Ajimobi administration across the state, threatened to take an unpleasant action if all their entitlements are not paid on or before the end of December.

  • Beware of sycophants, Oyo LG committee members caution Ajimobi

    Beware of sycophants, Oyo LG committee members caution Ajimobi

    MEMBERS of the caretaker committees of the 33 Local Governments in the Oyo State have cautioned the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, to be wary of sycophants and mischief-makers.

    These people, they warned, pretend to be partners in progress but secretly connive with the opposition to sabotage his administration and truncate his re-election in 2015.

    They gave the advice at a media briefing held in Okeho, Kajola Local Government area.

    The briefing was attended by representatives of caretaker committees in all the 33 local governments in the state.

    The caretaker committee members gave this warning in reaction to moves by former members of the caretaker committees in the state asking the governor to reinstate them back in office.

    The current caretaker members berated their predecessors for their disloyalty to the governor despite the fact that they served in office for three years.

    “The former caretaker committee members, rather than being appreciative and remain committed to the success of the present administration, resorted to various untoward acts against their removal and replacement. And when all these failed, they started dishing out lies to members of the public that Abiola Ajimobi is unserious about his transformation agenda,” they alleged.

    While dispelling rumours that the state government has ordered deductions from salaries of members of the caretaker committees for payment to ex members, the LG caretaker committees urged the governor not to be intimidated and hoodwinked by the outbursts of the ex-caretaker members.

    They noted, “We want to state in unmistakable terms that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state remains intact and without any division whatsoever. The support and loyalty for the governor among party members and leaders are not only unalloyed, the generality of the people of the state are determined more than ever before to ensure a landslide victory for Governor Ajimobi’s second term ambition.”

     

  • Summit: Ajimobi woos private sector

    Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi yesterday sold the state to top players in the private sector, stressing that the state was ready to offer incentives and partnerships to investors willing to explore opportunities in the agriculture and industry sectors of the state.

    He gave the commitment while declaring open the state’s economic summit in Ibadan, the state capital.

    Reeling out verifiable data from both the private and public sectors, the governor unveiled the several opportunities that abound in various sectors of the state and efforts his administration has undertaken so far to make the state an investment destination of choice.

    The governor identified infrastructural development, urban renewal, peace and security, training and retraining of civil servants and political appointees and accountability among others as areas the government has improved upon.

    Ajimobi said his administration is continuously opening up investment opportunities in various sectors of the economy. He called on investors and private sector players to avail themselves of the opportunities. According to him, part of the attractions are large market, huge working population, peace and security, proximity to Lagos and good governance.

    He said: “You have listened to where we were, where we are now and where we are going. We believe that we have restored and transformed Oyo State. We believe that with your support, we can reposition Oyo State to an economically vibrant state that will be investors’ destination.”

    In his keynote address, the Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group and Executive Chairman, Philip Consulting, Mr Foluso Philips said the state already has a good leader in Governor Ajimobi.

    He identified good leadership as the crucial factors required to make organisations and governance succeed.

    But he urged the state to look inward by developing its people through trainings, focus on areas of comparative advantage, reduce risk, show ability to execute, make things happen, define competitive edge, identify and respond to opportunities and embrace global best practices.