Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, has urged manufacturers and Nigeria’s industrious youths to exploit the opportunities offered by the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement to create wealth and boost the country’s economy.
In a statement, Obaseki applauded the commencement of trading under the AfCFTA on January 1, 2021, describing it as a milestone achievement in boosting Africa’s economy amid the challenges of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and global economic challenges.
The governor said that his administration would continue to assist local manufacturers and youths in the state with capacity building programmes, conducive work environment and other incentives to make them competitive and position them to reap maximum benefits from trading under the AfCFTA.
According to Obaseki, “We are encouraging creative young talents and local manufacturers in Edo State to tap from the offerings from the AfCFTA. We are expanding capacity at the Edo Production Centre and the Edo Innovation Hub so that we can build an army of productive young people to grab the opportunities offered. We have success stories from these facilities already. “We have already initiated the Edo Tech Park project as another veritable launch pad. We are confident that these initiatives would empower our people to create wealth and employment opportunities to improve the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).”
With the production and innovation hubs, 24/7 power supply provided by the Ossiomo Power Plant and enabling business environment, manufacturers in Edo can benefit the most from the new trading agreement in Africa, he said.
“We are not relenting in providing support for individuals and groups to export their products and services and participate in the new continental trading agreement,” he stressed.
According to the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union, “The commencement of trading under the AfCFTA on the 1st of January 2021 is one of the most significant milestones in the continental integration project which will also improve the prospects of Africa as an attractive investment destination.”
Meanwhile, the Edo State government has partnered the German development agency, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), on strengthening the state’s private sector to ramp up productivity and drive growth in a post coronavirus economy.
The partnership involves the training of over 400 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in digital marketing to keep businesses afloat while the covid-19 pandemic blows over.
Kelvin Uwaibi, head of Edo State Investment Promotion Office (ESIPO), in an interview with journalists, said the training, which will help cushion the negative impact of covid-19 pandemic on businesses, will position the state as a business hub and empower businesses.
According to Uwaibi, “ESIPO is collaborating with the Edo State Skills Development Agency, (EdoJobs), the Ministry of Wealth Creation, Cooperatives and Employment and GIZ to facilitate the development of digital marketing prowess of MSMEs in the state.”
Uwaibi noted that plans are ongoing between relevant agencies of Edo State government and GIZ for the training programme which is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2021.
He stated: “As a government, we want to be able to act as an enabler to enhance the capacity of businesses in Edo State. We need to help these businesses survive the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. Before the outbreak of the pandemic, businesses were already gradually adopting digital facilities. We want to empower them to fully go digital, so as to improve their services and enable them stay afloat.
