The Nation Newspaper

Tag: socio-economic development

  • ‘Traditional institution is vital to development’

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has said traditional institution is a critical segment in the nation’s quest for egalitarian society. He said traditional rulers always work towards creating opportunities for socio-economic development of their communities.

    The Governor stated this at the official installation and presentation of staff of office to Oba Olusegun Oludolapo Ogunye (Ilufemiloye Koko 1), as the new Ojotumoro of Abigi Kingdom.

    He was represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Jide Ojuko. The event was held at Abigi Comprehensive Grammar School, Abigi in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area.

    Police and other security agents were present to ensure security of people and their properties. Traditional rulers, political stalwarts, dignitaries, family members and well-wishers who dressed gorgeously from across the country were present to rejoice with the Kabiyesi.

    Governor Amosun congratulated the people of Abigi on maintaining peace and tranquillity during the interregnum, adding that their patience had led to the successful completion of events leading to the official installation of the oba.

    “Kabiyesi, to whom much is given, much is expected. I enjoin you to collaborate with other obas within Ijebu Traditional Council and mobilise your subjects for effective discharge of their civic and social responsibilities such as prompt payment of taxes and other levies, ensure peaceful co-existence with others in order to maintain law and order,” Amosun said.

    Speaking at the event, the Awujale of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Adetona,  who was represented by the Dagbure of Idowa, Oba Yinusa Adekoya, advised the new monarch to use his wealth of experience as a legal practitioner to transform the community, even as he urged him to put tradition first in the scheme of things in order to have a successful reign.

    In his welcome address, the Chairman of Ogun Waterside Local Government Area Hon. Femi Onanuga, described the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led administration as people-oriented, adding that the governor’s massive rural development agenda had ensured that dividends of democracy reached every nook and cranny of the state.

    In his speech, Oba Ogunye pledged to serve his people with fear of God, assuring that his tenure would usher in massive development. He urged all sons and daughters of the community at home and in the Diaspora to join hands with him to move the community forward.

  • Ogun, Vitafoam to partner on socio-economic development

    Ogun, Vitafoam to partner on socio-economic development

    Ogun State Government has commended Vitafoam Nigeria Plc for its visionary growth plan and reiterated its commitment to providing conducive environment and incentives for companies operating in the state.
    Top officials of the Ogun State Government were at the Dalemo, Sango-Ota factory of Vono Furniture Products Limited, a subsidiary of Vitafoam Nigeria Plc on a facility tour. The entourage included the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru; Commissioner for Helath, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye and Special Adviser to Ogun State Governor on Trade and Investment, Mrs. Babi Subair.
    Ashiru said the state believes in the private-public partnership approach to development as government needs the supports of the private sector to achieve its developmental agenda of job creation, good standards of living and infrastructure.
    He said the state would continue to support companies like Vitafoam Nigeria and its subsidiary Vono Furniture Products Limited, which are helping to develop the local value achieve in line with the local content programme of the government.
    He emphasised the importance of the “made-in-Nigeria, buy Nigeria” campaign as a bedrock of national economic development, assuring that the state government would continue to provide adequate infrastructure for businesses to thrive.
    According to him, in furtherance of its determination to enhance ease of doing business in the state, the government created a one-stop shop to assist companies with all regulatory processes while the state also has a bouquet of incentives for companies including tax waivers and concessions.
    “I am very impressed with what I have seen so far,” Ashiru said, urging the company to demonstrate commitment to corporate social responsibility by providing employment for citizens within its area of location. He said the state government would be willing to partner with the company in the area of such corporate social responsibility including construction of access roads.
    He noted that the state has the largest concentration of companies in Nigeria and it is also blessed with vast resources, urging companies to take advantage of the vantage position and resources of the state.
    Ipaye commended Vono Furniture Products for its commitment to enhancing the nation’s economic activities pointing out that the company is filling a critical gap in the socio-economic development of the country.
    The Commissioner for Health noted that for a state like Ogun with health and education, the products of Vono Furniture Products would help the government to achieve its objectives without depleting its scarce foreign exchange.
    He assured that the government would consider products from the company in its purchase orders, advising the company to also consider concessionary prices for government’s orders given that such purchases are for the overall good of the people.
    “We look forward to a relationship with Vono,” Ipaye said after watching a digital presentation and manual inspection of the company’s products.
    Subair said that with the investments already made in machineries and human expertise, Vono has been well positioned to take advantage of the market.
    She assured that government would continue to provide necessary supports to encourage the company.
    In his remarks, group managing director, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi, commended the Ogun State Government for its supports to the group noting that the presence of the top officials of the government was an encouraging testimony of the state’s continuous support towards the development of indigenous companies in Nigeria.
    He pointed out that the Vitafoam Group that started as a development experiment has grown over the years from just a foam-manufacturing company into a complete home solution company with five business subsidiaries that produce vast range of products including bed and beddings, pre-fab structures, insulation, foot wears and wood and metal furniture among others.
    He added that the group has subsidiaries in Ghana and Sierra Leone as part of efforts to extend its reach across the West African market.
    He said the company would in the next few years develop its ultra-modern new manufacturing complex at the flowergate estate at the Sagamu-Ibadan Expressway interchange area of Ogun State into a world-class facility with the full value chain for complete home solutions.
    He urged the shareholders of the company to continue to support the directors and management of the company, assuring that they will reap the rewards of their steadfastness.

  • Diversification will boost socio-economic development – Waziri

    Diversification will boost socio-economic development – Waziri

    Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri, has called for drastic diversification of the economy through policies that will boost agricultural productivity and industrial output for the nation’s socio-economic development.

    Commissioning the World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence Project, Centre for Food Technology and Research  (CEFTER), located at the Benue State University, Makurdi, Mrs. Waziri said  the time has come to diversify the economy from being oil-driven to other sectors especially agriculture.

    The former EFCC boss, who was the chairperson at the official launch of the Centre, noted that the World Bank project is coming to Nigeria at the right time.

    CEFTER promotes teaching, research and extension in post harvest services.

    Fielding questions from journalists after the programme, Waziri said long years of over-dependence on oil revenue were one of the driving forces of public and private sector corruption.

    According to her: “No doubt, our over-dependence on oil revenue has brought us to the point where we are as a nation today.

    “As an anti-corruption czar, I have seen how some of those the nation entrusted with its oil resources in the past helped themselves more than the country,” she said.

    “With our focus on agriculture, the struggle by political office holders to steal oil fund would diminish while the national wealth will be in the hands of the people instead of a privileged greedy few.

    She added: “We cannot all dig oil wells in our backyard but we can all farm in our backyards. It is time to end oil-money induced corruption in our land by buying into President Buhari’s vision and take ownership.

    “I have made my contributions in the fight to discourage that and even recovered some of the looted funds in billions of dollars.

    “For daring to do that, I came under fierce attacks, slander, blackmail and threats but by God’s grace and long years of experience, I survived all. I am glad today that indeed, there is a new sheriff in town.”

     

  • ‘Town hall meetings important for socio-economic development’

    The window of town hall meetings to bring about evolution for democratic dividend, socio-economic crystallisation in the society by corporate bodies and policy makers are lacking in all facets of Nigerian life.

    This was the submission of Sir Chief Simon Asite, an executive member of Warri Chambers of Commerce, Mines, Industries and Agriculture, in his office in Effurun, Delta State, while speaking to journalists recently.

    Asite, who is also a member of the Nigeria Institute of Marketers, noted the massive disconnect of governance from the common man who is supposed to be the main stakeholder in his ward.

    According to him, their board of directors, management and staff are far from their primary stakeholders in communities they are generating huge profile for their multinational home country benefits. He said even the nationalised companies such as Seplat petroleum Development Company Ltd is yet to sign GMOU in their OML26 and 36 respectively with their primary landlords.

    However, Asite mentioned a few instances where town hall meetings were held by three governors: Delta, Edo, and Bayelsa states, which were publicly televised but declined the hastiness of their conduct when discussion on issues were not conclusive and fruitful and beneficiary to the common man.