Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki said the vision of his administration was to make the state the first economy in the country in the next seven to ten years.
BusinessDay reports that the state governor gave the hint at the opening of a three-day strategy policy dialogue workshop with permanent secretaries, political leaders and critical stakeholders in the state with the theme, ‘’Setting Agenda for the New Administration’’ in Benin- City.
‘’Let me be very clear about where we want to be in the next three years. In the next three years we want to be the most prosperous economy in South- South, Nigeria. In the next seven to ten years, we want to be the number one economy in Nigeria and in the next 15-20 years we want to be the number one investment destination in the continent’’, he said.
Obaseki noted that to achieve the vision, the state must build world class institutions capable of nurturing and implementing transformational policies, deliver on infrastructure better than the best available in the Federal Capital Territory, aimed at generating more revenue than Lagos state without putting an unbearable tax burden on the people.
The governor also enumerated policies to make the state the most viable and vibrant economy in the country to include developing and motivating human resources in such a manner as to prepare them to deliver on scale never before witnessed in the state.
He also tasked the participants and the resource persons to formulate socio-economic and human oriented policies and programmes that would endure the test of time of making the state the number one economic, socio, and human capital development hubs of the country.
The governor listed the areas the participants would on to include economic revolution, infrastructural development, institutional reforms, social welfare enhancement, environmental sustainability and culture and tourism.
According to him, how do we ensure institutions are reformed so they can deliver? How do we ensure that we can create a state that is socially conscious and create emphasis on the welfare of our people?
“How do we ensure that our culture which is world class acclaimed is displayed and made available for the world to enjoy our tourism as well as sustain our environment”, he stated.
Obaseki noted that in the case of the economy revolution, the thematic group should focus on how the State would establish investment bureaucracy that could begin to attract world class investment.
He added further urged the groups to focus on strategic plan that could create minimum of 200,000 jobs as well as many small scale and medium enterprise that was sustainable.
He assured that the recommendations and resolution of the session would be his administration working document for developing the state.
Earlier, the chairman of the occasion, Justice Samson Uwaifo (retired) who described the workshop as revolutionary approach to governance noted that effective leadership required good decision making.
The former Supreme Court Judge however urged the people not to misunderstand or abuse the dialogue platform as it was a sign that the governor was ready to serve with the best of intentions.
“I think the move to set the Agenda for the new administration in Edo state is well conceived. No doubt it is the first of its kind and the essence of it is revealed in the vision and mission set out. The vision for the thematic pillars so systematically analyzed is quite attractive and demonstrates a revolutionary approach to change in the art of governance.
“This is a practical exhibition of this administration to ensure inclusive government. Let me sound an admonition that this new era of governance should neither be misunderstood nor abused by any one in whatever sense. Let it be taken with gratitude that it is a sign that the Governor has offered to serve the people of the state’’, he added.
