The Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) has lauded the administration of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for its commitment to the advancement of the state’s economy.
NIPC also commended the administration for being resilient and relentless to business and investment promotion since inception.
This is also as the state government has reaffirmed its vision to rescue and stimulate the economy, and change the narrative of Osun from a civil service state to an investment, commerce and industry-driven economy.
Head of the NIPC Southwest Zonal Office, Ibadan, Hassan Lawal, stated this on Wednesday at a stakeholders’ forum organised by the Osun Investment Promotion Agency (OSIPA) in collaboration with the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), tagged “2021 investment recertification exercise and stakeholders’ engagement forum”, held in Osogbo.
The forum was aimed at drawing a workable investment roadmap and business strategy to further attract potential investors to invest massively in Osun.
Addressing journalists shortly after the forum, Lawal said Osun had proved its readiness to turn a new leaf in turning the state to an investment destination.
The NIPC Zonal boss, who described the forum as a necessity to further assess the state’s readiness for business and investment promotion, said the commission was impressed by the level of commitment geared towards sustaining the state’s economy and enhancing its productivity and economic profile.
He lauded the government for the prompt and timely creation of Osun Investment Promotion Agency (OSIPA), which he said had really helped in boosting the capacity of the State to foster a better investment and business partnership with local and foreign investors.
“What we are doing here has been done in many of the states of the federation and our attention is focused on Osun State as part of efforts to take the state out of its seeming ‘civil service status’ and make it a business and investor driven economy, and this is the process to get there.
“We have been here since yesterday and we have been able to commence this project which we call NICPS i.e Nigeria Investment Certification Programme for states that was developed with the help of the World Bank.
“Our target is to make states better project their opportunities. We have gotten to a stage to profile the Osun economy. Osun is very wealthy, Osun is a very rich state as we have many mineral resources, arable land, and its people are very resourceful. Osun has all it takes to be a leading investment state in Nigeria. That is why we have commenced the assessment; and our target is to strengthen the capacity of the State in this regard.
Speaking, the special adviser to the state governor on Osun Investment Promotion Agency (OSIPA), Femi Adeniran, said the government was resolute in turning Osun to an investment and business destination.
Adeniran, who doubles as the CEO of the agency, noted that efforts were ongoing to take the state to its maximum investment rating.
