My project for Ogbomoso will empower industries, generate employment – Soun

Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, the Soun of Ogbomoso land, has stated that his 25- year developmental project for Ogbomoso will empower industries, generate employment and improve the quality of life for residents of the city.

The monarch, who stated this at the third edition of the Ogbomoso Digital Economy Summit held at the Great Hall, Ladoke Akintola University, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso on Wednesday, emphasised his resolve to make Ogbomoso the Silicon Valley of Africa.

Acknowledging the potential impact that the summit would have on Ogbomoso , Oba Olaoye, reiterated the need to reposition the ancient city to unlock the potential of the people and transform the land to a hub of excellence in agriculture, education, infrastructure, health, tourism and commerce.

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He announced that the Ogbomoso International Economy Summit scheduled for April 2025 would showcase the resilience and ingenuity of Ogbomoso land and partner with relevant investors to make Ogbomoso a source of pride to the whole world.

Dotun Oyelade, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, said the relationship between Government and traditional institutions must of necessity be cordial and the onus of such relationship rests more on the traditional institutions.

Oyelade said while the Government needs the traditional rulers to assist in consolidating its policies and activities at the grassroots, the State law that governs the existence and emergence of the traditional ruler is tilted in favour of the State government, thus, traditional rulers who want to accelerate development in their communities must find a synergy.

Identifying the symbiotic relationship between Government and traditional institutions, Oyelade urged the Soun of Ogbomoso land, to further prioritise a functional relationship with the Government to actualise a sustainable development of Ogbomoso land.

“It is therefore incumbent on us to realise that to achieve this objective, there has to be a *paradigm shift* in our quest for the bigger picture.” He said.