Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has stated that the state’s vision of unlocking prosperity, creating employment, and boosting trade volume is well on course with the launch of the Oyo State African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) sub-national implementation strategy.
Gov Makinde, who spoke during a post-engagement meeting on the AfCFTA implementation, held at the Local Government Service Commission Training School, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, stated that his government would like to be remembered as one that put in place institutions and structures that will enable the state’s smooth transition into the future.
According to the governor, his administration became emboldened to engage in the agreement given the sheer size and population of the state and the huge investments it has made on infrastructure development, noting that the agreement would culminate into massive employment creation, opportunities for entrepreneurs and business owners and boosting of trade volumes.
”We want to be remembered as an administration for the institutions that we are building, which will ensure good governance and sustainable development in Oyo State well beyond the tenure of this administration.
”Natural resources alone will not take anybody out of poverty. They have to be backed by knowledge and productivity. You have to be productive.
”And, after being productive, you need a channel to ensure that you can earn foreign exchange for all those efforts. Oyo State is well on that path.
”We have done all the hard work. So, our vision for sustainable development of our state is well on the way.
”We believe that being part of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement as a sub-national and the first sub-national on the continent of Africa to achieve that, will give us access to great economic opportunities,” Makinde said.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on AfCFTA and International Trade, Ms Neo Tlhaselo, explained that the post-launch engagement is a statutory administrative process that follows the launch of the implementation strategy, which pronounced Oyo State as a party to the AfCFTA to engage within the African continent on the agreement’s framework.
She stressed that the governor’s visionary leadership has led to massive economic development in the state.
The event had in attendance, the Chief of Staff, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; the Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni, mni; Deputy Chief of Staff, Honourable Kazeem Adeniyi Bibire; Senior Executive Assistant to the Governor on General Duties, Chief Bayo Lawal; and Director-General, Oyo State Public Private Partnership Agency, Hon. Tilewa Folami, among other dignitaries.
