When President Muhammadu Buhari spoke last week ahead of Nigeria’s 60th Independence Anniversary, he referred to the citizens of the country as the most ‘’prized resources’’ of the nation. Although Mr. President alluded to several other sources of what stimulates growth and development for Nigeria, such as our vast mineral riches, he rated the human factor as the greatest. The president is on the same page with classical development economists who say that the first port of call if you want to speed up your economy is to load the citizens with employment choices or options. They call it ‘’strategic economic thinking’’.
Governor Adegboyega Oyetola
of the State of Osun is relentlessly pursuing this track with recent policy moves by his administration.
The remarkable perspectives about this economic weapon is that it doesn’t only benefit the regnant generation; it goes beyond today into tomorrow to secure the future.
Oyetola is focusing on the typical approach: creating mass-job generating centres of industrial production swarming with huge human capacity. His government is stimulating ‘’ the economy of the State through a robust and mutually-benefitting Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) as part of efforts to place the State on the path of socio-economic growth, development and sustainability.’’
He revealed this as he flagged off the Osun Ethanol Bio-Refinery Factory at Ayekale, along Egbeda-Iragbiji Road, Iragbiji in Boripe Local Government of Osun State. An elated Oyetola said: ‘’Today is an important day in the life of our administration and the annals of this state as it marks the groundbreaking of another project harvested from the Osun Economic and Investment Summit which was convoked in November last year to reposition the economy of the state and deliver prosperity to the people.’’
The hub is spread across 21 hectares of land conceded as equity. When fully operational, it will absorb 10,000 workers and rake in a whopping $70m into the till of the government. All this is in addition to improving the environment because ethanol is one of the safe energy source that prevents global warming. Its value chain is limitless as it employs thousands of persons planting, harvesting, and transporting and converting cassava, the raw stuff, into ethanol for final marketing.
Still looking into more dynamics of strategic economic emancipation for the people of Osun, the Oyetola Administration has launched a 250 million-litre capacity water project to ‘’provide potable water in reliable quantity for … 2.5 million residents across the state.’’ According to the Memorandum of Understanding for the scheme, there will be 256-modular water treatment system … (to be) shared among villages and communities, so that there will be no need to transport water across long distances.’’
Again, this project, the first of its type in the history of Osun State, will open up other opportunities like job creation for the citizens. This is besides the fundamental point that water is essential to life and to all economic and social activity.
Now all these ventures are aimed at human capacity building, which, as we learned from our president in our opening remarks, represents the highest form of contribution to the progress of society. A leader who has a passion for this mission can’t fail to have his name written in gold.
The All Progressives Congress is winning. Oyetola till 2026, by His Grace.
OYATOMI is the spokesperson of the APC in the state of Osun