Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state has begun vigorous search for seasoned investment banker to head the soon-to-be established Ogun State Investment Promotion Agency for further attraction of local and foreign direct investments.
The search for investment banker and establishment of Ogun State Investment Promotion Agency are coming on the heels of earlier declaration and move by Governor Abiodun to develop industrial hubs in the three senatorial districts of the State, thereby, building on industrial drives of the past governments.
BusinessDay reports that Ota, Igbesa and Agbara in Ogun West, have already hosted largest number of manufacturing industries in the state, followed by Ogijo, Sagamu and Ikangba in Ijebu-Ode, all in Ogun East as well as Flowergate estate at Sagamu-Abeokuta road, Arepo, Mowe, Ibafo, Ifo and Abeokuta in Ogun Central.
Speaking at inauguration thanksgiving held at St Peter Cathedral Church, Ake Abeokuta in honour of Governor Dapo Abiodun and Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Deputy Governor, on Sunday, Governor Abiodun declared that tangible effort to attract more investments to the State could only be successful if Ogun State Investment Promotion Agency is created and the seasoned investment banker is appointed to lead the team.
Governor Abiodun, who acknowledged the influx of investments to the State in recent but attributed it to a ‘push factor’ caused by non availability of land in the country’s economic nerve centre; Lagos state and its proximity to Ogun state, noted that all efforts would be channeled towards changing the narratives of the State’s economy for better.
“We are indeed going to have Ogun State Investment Promotion Agency that will be headed by an investment banker not just someone who doesn’t understand what it takes to bring investment to Ogun state.
“Ogun State has benefited largely from what we call ‘push factor’, meaning that people have found it convenient to come to Ogun state and invest, perhaps it is next door to Lagos and there is non availability of land in Lagos, so, that is a ‘push factor’.
“We are committed to changing that to become ‘a pull factor’, we will actually do all it takes to endear people to come here, we will create that enabling environment for them to come, so that Ogun State, as we have said, will become number one economy in this country”, he said.
RAZAQ AYINLA, Abeokuta
