Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State was agog on Tuesday 20th of March, 2018 as the city was stormed by captains of industries, politicians and investors across the globe.
Mr. Felipe Calderon, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo
The event which was themed; “Consolidating The Gains, Accelerating Growth” not only attracted business investors into the but also captains of Industries and world leaders.
The Vice – President, Prof. Yemi Osibajo who was present at event disclosed that the main goal of the federal government was to diversify the economy from over dependent on oil.
He said the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration saw that with the crashing of the oil market diversification is the way.
Osibajo assured that the federal government would continue to give the necessary support to every State in order to reach its full economic potentials, saying Buhari led administration is the most support federal government.
He added that the federal government has so far supported State governments to the tune of 1.1 trillion naira for them to settle financial obligations.
Osibajo disclosed that Lagos/Ibadan, Lagos/Abeokuta, Sagamu, Benin-Ore expressways was part of the roads the federal government have earmarked for construction, saying engineers are been mobilised.
He however called on the Ogun State government to collaborate with Lagos State as well as Benin Republic, which he said they could organised Sub – Region summit for economic advancement.
Former Mexican President and a keynote Speaker, Mr. Felipe Calderon said for any economy to grow it must first address the issue of corruption, saying a country where corruption thrives has no future.
He disclosed that Mexico overcame its recession in 2009 by investing in infrastructural development and opening up of the country’s economic potentials.
Calderon however cautioned the global community to be mindful of their environment while trying to improve their economies, urging that the protection of the climate is everybody’s duties.
He urged Nigeria to wake up to modern day realities by investing more in infrastructure and technology.
Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, in her address, said the country’s economy returned to growth in February, 2017, after five consecutive quarters of negative growth.
On efforts made so far by the federal government to reinvigorate the economy, Adosun, noted several economic and fiscal policies, which included rebuilding fiscal buffer, enhancing Forex reserve, improving the ease of doing business and focusing on import substitution, had been undertaken by the FG.
She also said the Federal Government focused on stronger recovery trajectory, with agriculture currently doing 26.2 percent, manufacturing, 9.0 percent and services, 53.4 percent.
The Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh stressed that agriculture is the best way the country must go in order to prepare for the growing population of the country, he added that Nigeria should wake up by setting up a ministry of the future.
Earlier in his address, the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun said his administration remain committed to infrastructural investments as a catalyst for economic growth and transformation, saying the through concerted efforts, the State has become reference point among comity of States.
He said the state was rated the second most viable state in the federation in terms of fiscal sustainability in the 2017 BudgIT report, insisting that plans of the government was to be the most viable in the next 10 years.
He assured investors in the State that his administration would ensure and provide an enabling environment for their businesses to continue to grow and thrive.
– Wale Adewunmi, Ogun State Correspondent