Osun State Targets Modern Agro-industrial Driven Economy

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has announced intentions to shift the state’s economic focus from relying on civil servants’ salaries to establishing a modern agro-industrial and creative industry-driven economy.

The plan includes the establishment of a functional cargo/commercial airport to propel Osun towards becoming an export-oriented economy and a global tourist destination, leveraging its significant Yoruba cultural assets.

In his New Year statewide broadcast, Adeleke highlighted his administration’s achievements, emphasizing the successful elimination of financial leakages, tackling corruption and revenue diversion in the solid mineral sector, and revitalizing local government administration for grassroots development.

According to him, in the outgone year, the government also embarked on mass water project provision, executed 91 kilometers of road construction, and implemented free medical surgeries with over 50,000 beneficiaries, among others.

On his plans for 2024, the governor said the “dream is for an Osun economy that gradually moves away from its civil service status to a modern agro-industrial based, creative industry-focused economy, stressing that such,

“diversification with a functioning cargo/commercial airport will grow Osun as an export-oriented economy as well as a global tourist destination, being the host of important Yoruba cultural assets.

“We are implementing an ambitious state agenda which targets infrastructure upgrade, diversifying the state economic base and deepening the revenue structure of the state.

“For the infra upgrade, we are convinced that the state economy cannot attract the required investment to realize its industrial potential unless the problem of infrastructure deficit is addressed. Hence, we have started the implementation of the multi-billion naira infra plan that I launched a few months ago.

“For economic diversification, we are growing the creative industry; we are opening up the industrial sector; we are attracting investors in key sectors; and we are re-skilling our youth through the soon-to-be-unveiled Imole Youth Corps. To deepen the revenue base, we are tapping into the solid mineral sector; we are reforming the tax sector to eliminate multiple taxation while widening the tax base.”

In a statement by the spokesperson to the governor, Olawale Rasheed, obtained in Osogbo on Monday, Adeleke, who commended President Bola Tinubu for his efforts towards economic restoration, noted that his administration was in collaboration with the National Economic Council, to support federal initiatives targeted at reducing inflation, cost of living and stabilizing the national economy.

Governor Adeleke, as conveyed by spokesperson Olawale Rasheed, expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for economic restoration efforts.

Adeleke highlighted his administration’s collaboration with the National Economic Council, aiming to support federal initiatives focused on curbing inflation, lowering the cost of living, and stabilizing the national economy.

Agro Nigeria / Foluke Ibitomi