L-R: Jiwar Lalwani, Member of the Team from Foreign Investment Network (FIN); Olayinka Fayomi FIN Chairperson; Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Ahabue Borha, Regional Representative, UK and Ireland at the presentation of Distinguished FIN Visionary Leadership Award to the governor at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan in Abeokuta on Friday.
…to showcase Ogun economic potentials in Oman
…plans to host Ogun Economic Summit
The Foreign Investment Network (FIN), a United Kingdom-based investment scout, that serves as a driver of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for the Africa and other developing economies, has rated Ogun State highly in terms of foreign direct investment so far attracted, saying the State has witnessed a tremendous economic growth and development in the last six years.
Consequently, the Foreign Investment Network (FIN) has presented a Distinguished Visionary Leadership Award to Governor Dapo Abiodun for his robust economic strategies and untiring efforts in attracting foreign direct investment to the State and turning the South-western State to an industrial hub of Nigeria.
Speaking during award presentation on Friday at the Governor’s Office in Abeokuta, Olayinka Fayomi, Chairperson of Foreign Investment Network (FIN), who was accompanied by Jiwar Lalwani and Ahabue Borha, United Kingdom and Ireland Regional Representative, Fayomi commended Governor Dapo Abiodun for the business and economic accomplishments.
Fayomi noted that apart from promoting and facilitating investments in African countries, especially Nigeria, over the last 45 years, FIN is involved in magazine publication in English, French and Chinese as part of efforts to expose business opportunities on the continent to the outside world, pledging that FIN would further boost the State’s brand and marketing strategies.
She said, “The governor has done well. Two years ago when we saw what the governor had accomplished, we decided to promote him further. This award is to acknowledge his efforts in expanding business frontiers in the State.
“Investors outside are noting what Ogun is doing, especially in health, education, agriculture, and infrastructure. The governor has made the State a significant business destination. We are attending a business summit in Oman, where we will present the business opportunities that exist in Ogun State.”
Responding, Governor Dapo Abiodun said that his administration had intensified efforts to provide basic infrastructure and create a conducive business environment, noting that more industries had flocked to the State in six years than in previous administrations.
The State, Governor Abiodun noted, is one of the six States where Special Agro Processing Zones (SAPZ) were created in the Country in collaboration with the Federal Government, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), adding that his administration decided to partner with private sector players for the prompt take-off of the zone.
Speaking on the steps taken to promote the ease of doing business in the State, Governor Abiodun said that apart from establishing a Business Environment Council to act in collaboration with the Ogun State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency (OgunInvest) as a one-stop shop, tax payment had also been digitised to eliminate multiple taxation.
“This administration has improved the transportation sector by constructing over 1,200 kilometers of roads in six years. We have built the best-equipped airport in Nigeria, and this airport is centrally located.
“We have adopted a multimodal transport system that incorporates air, road, sea, and rail lines. We are extending a rail line that stopped at Agbado to Ogun State,” he said.
The State, Governor Abiodun further explained, is blessed with a large population and natural resources, and it is strategically located to take advantage of the biggest market in the Country. He noyed that the Government is working to ensure that the State has the cheapest and most reliable electricity for industries and the people.
While calling on investors to take advantage of the numerous opportunities that abound in agriculture, power generation, manufacturing, and other sectors, the State helmsman urged the Foreign Investment Network (FIN) to intensify efforts in showcasing the State’s potentials to the outside world and assured that the organisation would be involved in planning the proposed State Economic Summit to make it a grand event.
The governor, however, expressed appreciation to the Foreign Investment Network (FIN) for the award, emphasising that it was an indication that the modest efforts of the administration in developing the State are being recognised, just as he called on the organisation to continue to attract more invsstments and investors to come for business in the State and in Nigeria at large.
