As part of efforts to improve on economic growth and attract more investments to Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun has concluded plans to establish business advisory council which is expected to work closely and report to the Office of Chief Economic Adviser.
Recall that Abiodun had established the Office of Chief Economic Adviser and appointed former Partner and Africa Head, Deal Advisory and Private Equity, KPMG Nigeria, Dapo Okubadejo as its head, with a broad economic portfolio that covers finance, agriculture, external relations, budget and economic planning, commerce and industry, public private partnership as well as investment promotion.
Going by the aggressive economic drive being pursued by Governor Abiodun-led administration in the state, an external relations liaison office has been created in the state which will oversee external grants, loans as well as other economic services meant to improve ease of doing business, promotion production-driven economy and attract more foreign direct investments to the state.
Speaking on the responsibilities of business advisory council, Governor Abiodun said that the council would be saddled with the duties of monitoring and evaluating the framework to actualise the agenda of the administration, saying the council was established having “considered fundamentals to the creation of an enduring economic development and individual prosperity of the people of Ogun State”.
The governor said that the government’s economic blueprint provides for a conducive and competitive environment for business enterprises to thrive, adding that the soon-to-be inaugurated business advisory council would work within the framework of name economic growth and development as government’s focus is basically on activities that improve on ease of doing business.
While explaining that business advisory council would set clear predictable standards of engagement that would apply to all development partners in form of the public private partnership sector arrangement, Governor Abiodun noted that a public-private partnership office had already been created with the aim of ensuring that the business environment and partnership are system-driven rather than being personality-driven.
“We are sincerely committed to a public-private-sector partnership approach in ensuring our resolve to have a sound PPP approach.
“We now have a business advisory council that comprises stakeholders and focuses on ensuring that the business environment remains conducive and competitive for investments to grow in Ogun State.
“Aso, in promoting our PPP agenda, we have created a public-private partnership office, which will enable us set clear predictable standard of engagement that will be applicable to all our development partners.
“We believe that in doing this, the business environment and partnership will be system driven, rather than personality driven,” he said.
He also said that the state government is committed to attracting and retaining investments and engendering the prosperity of its citizens, adding that he had already signed into law the Ogun State Investment Promotion Agency Bill (Ogun Invest), with the purpose of boosting the facilitation required to invest in the State.
“We are deeply committed to attracting and retaining investments, creating wealth, generating employment and engendering prosperity of our citizens,
“In this regard, we have signed into law Ogun State Investment Promotion Agency Bill (Ogun Invest).
“The purpose is to boost the facilitation required to invest in our dear State and commence operations e.g. land acquisition and ownership, community relations, statutory documentation, and linkages with the suppliers, especially farmers,” he said.
As regards the Micro, Small and Medium -scale Enterprises (MSMEs), the governor expressed government’s determination to boosting their capacity as major producers of raw materials as well as distributors and marketers of finished goods and services.
He however, assured MSMEs operators that he had engaged off-takers made up of big industries to which they could serve as distributors, explaining that the necessary incentives would be provided as there would be an establishment of enterprise development agency to assist in the facilitation of all available intervention funds from the Federal Government.
“We have also established, by an Executive Order, Ogun State Enterprise Development Agency which is to strengthen the MSMEs and boost their capacities as major producers of raw materials and off-takers of the big industries as distributors, wholesalers and retailers.
“The Agency will assist in the facilitation of all available intervention funds from the Federal Government through the Central Bank of Nigeria and monitor compliance with all requirements in order to achieve its objectives. As these MSMEs thrive, big industries will flourish,” he said.
Razaq Ayinla
