Nigerians in Diaspora to support transformation agenda in Ogun with Mini Smart City

The transformation agenda of the Senator Ibikunle Amosun led administration in Ogun State has received another boost, as a group, made up of Nigerians, based in the United States, has signified interest to partner with the government.

Coordinator, Nigeria Initiative for Economic Development (NIED), Dr. Alfred Tofade, who gave this indication Friday, said the group is set to build a top class estate, which will be a Mini Smart City in the state.

Tofade had led his team, which joined a delegation of the Nigerian-American Chambers of Commerce, to pay a courtesy visit to Governor Amosun in his Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta office.

He spoke about the passion of the NIED to contribute to the development in Nigeria, especially in Ogun State, adding that the proposed city will include medical facilities of international standard, institutions of learning, recreational centres and professional libraries.

National President of the Nigeria-America Chambers of Commerce, Chief Bintan Famutimi, in his contribution, noted that the bane of Nigerian businesses and business men is the fact that they have goods, which are unknown, urging the government to incorporate the private sector in all its programs, in order to make it work.

Responding, Amosun emphasised the need to tap into the experience of Nigerians in Diaspora, for development back home.

He urged Nigerians in Diaspora to intensify their support for the state, because, “nobody will come and develop the country for us, except Nigerians themselves show the commitment to play critical role.”

The governor further stated that before the inception of his administration, Ogun State was on the last rung of the ladder in terms of ease of doing business, but that now, it occupies between the first and fifth position.

He attributed this to his government’s efforts at creating an enabling environment, not only in the ease of doing business, but also for the businesses to thrive.

In a related development, Ogun State government, in collaboration with the Africa Export Import Bank (AFREXIM-BANK), is to build an Industrial Park and an International Certification Centre in the state.

Governor Amosun made this known while receiving a team from the bank in his office in Abeokuta on Friday.

He said that the park and the centre, which will be situated on five hectares of land, when completed, will add value to Nigerian products, as they will meet food and safety export standards.

Amosun added that the initiative, will in the long run, create wealth for the people and by extension, solve the nation’s security challenges, because the citizens will be gainfully employed.

Expressing delight over the citing of the centre in the state, he noted that the government cannot do it alone without the collaboration of the private sector.
He assured of his administration’s commitment towards creating the enabling environment for the private sector to thrive.

Speaking earlier, Regional Manager, Anglophone West Africa, Mr. Abdoulaye Kone, said the bank, through the park, will serve as Trade Finance among Ogun, ECOWAS states, other countries and worldwide.

Kone added that the target is to generate more export from Nigeria and Ogun State in particular, which will provide assistance in terms of trade, industrialisation and export management.