Okpebholo courts investors as Skyewise unveils N9bn investments in Edo

The Edo State Government has inaugurated Skyewise Group’s N9 billion investments, assuring investors of a business-friendly environment backed by improved local security measures aimed at attracting more investments into the state.

The State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, who commissioned the South-South regional corporate office of the company in Benin City, Edo, yesterday, described the investments as a boost to economic growth and job creation.

Okpebholo represented by Denniss Idahosa, his deputy opined that the decision of the Skyewise group to invest in the State is a vote of confidence in the Edo people, policies and the state’s economy.

He assured that his government is positioning Edo State as a destination for economic growth.

“Edo State is safe for business. We have strengthened community policing by equipping and training regularly the Edo State Security Vigilante Network personnel on global best practices and also to work hand in hand with federal security agencies”, he said.

Okpebholo who commended the management of the company for choosing Edo State as its investment destination noted that they are not just building offices but building prosperity for the people of the state and Nigerians.

Earlier, in the address of welcome, Elvis Abuyere, the Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Skyewise Group said that, besides the commissioning of the South-South regional office, the management is also marking 11 years of existence of the company.

Abuyere, who described 11 years as no mean feat in the life of any organisation, added that over N9billion investments have been attracted to the state.

He said the investments spanned across automobiles, investment, credit facilities, real estate and hospitality, youth empowerment and social development.

“So far we have invested over N 9 billion in Edo state at the moment. We are still going to expand the scope of our business here in the state.

“Our plan to establish an automobile assembly plant in the state is in the pipeline and our partners are already in China. When we have the go-ahead, we will definitely commence that. This will increase the financial volume of our investment in Edo state”, he stated.

He added that apart from meeting the obligatory taxes to governments, the organisation is also contributing to reducing unemployment with the engagement of over 100 indigenes of the state as staff.

He also added that in the past 11 years, over 2000 youths have been empowered while millions of youths have also been inspired.

He noted that the youths who are doing well in their various fields of endeavour are currently contributing meaningfully to the development of the country.

Abuyere, however, urged other investors within and outside the country to be patriotic enough to also invest in their various states and Nigeria, stressing that “nobody can develop the country for us except we the people of Nigeria”

“I am actually using this opportunity to also invite my friends, my brothers, my sisters within and outside Nigeria to look back home because when you see what is actually going on out there in the world today you will realise that every country is building, closing their borders for people to go back and invest in their hometown or in their country and so on.

“So I believe that we at Skywise Group, for us to take it to the next level, we want to start from our region which is our state, Edo State. And if we can come here, I believe that it is a testament for other people also to see an opportunity for them to come here and also do the same thing.

“And doing that we will begin to develop the state and make Edo State one of the best and enviable states in Nigeria”, he added.

On his part, Usman Sarki, chairman, Board of Directors of Skyewise Group said the inauguration of the Benin office represented an inroad into the economy of the South-South region of the country.

Sarki, who commended the Federal and the Edo State Governments for providing the enabling environment for the organisation to thrive, assured Governor Okpebholo of the company’s commitment to develop the economy of the State.

He also promised to improve the welfare of the people of the State, employ young people and bring investors not only in the automobile industry or the real estate but in the area of Fintech, finance, media and technology.