– Blessing Oladunjoye
The Permanent Secretary of the Ogun State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Engr J. Onajobi has disclosed that within seven years, the state has risen to become one of the top 3 Nigeria states with ease of doing business.
According to the Permanent Secretary, the state has witnessed the establishment of 304 new companies within 2011 and 2018.
Onajobi made this disclosure at a Cross – learning programme on ease of doing business between the Ogun State and Kano State which held in Abeokuta and featured a tour of Ogun State Business environment reforms.
In his speech, Onajobi stated that the Ogun State government has embarked on various activities and implemented numerous policies to attract and retain investors in the state.
He also mentioned that the state has provided infrastructure and tighten security in order to attract investors to the state.
“The Ogun State government has taken it as its priority to improve the security of lives and property, provide basic infrastructural facilities to woo investors to the state; renewable energy projects; Ogun light rail project; improved land policy, Funding Support to Small Businesses and OSAMCA loan.
“Beyond these things that were done to ensure businesses thrive in Ogun state, the state government partnered with the Organized private sector by supporting its annual trade fair and thereby attracting more investors to the state”, he added.
Engr Onajobi also highlighted other platforms which have boosted a robust relationship with investors as the Ogun Investors Forum and OPS Breakfast meeting with the governor.
Alhaji Wasiu Olaleye, first Deputy President of Ogun State Chambers of Commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture stated that the continuous synergy with the government has helped in improving the state’s IGR and generate employment for its people.
For his part, Mr John Sowunmi, the OGUNCCIMA Desk Officer of the Dual Vocational Education and Training where employees of member organizations are trained on various skills to make them competent at their various professions.
He noted that the chamber is trying to widen its scope from about 100 trainees so that more employees in the state can be more knowledgeable.
Vice President of KACCIMA Umar Lydo asserted that the agency would build a synergy with Kano State Government to ensure constant interaction with investors.
“We want to commend OGUNCCIMA for its continuous engagement with the public sector and with this, we would build a synergy with the government in Kano State. We will replicate the Investors forum and Breakfast meeting with a view to ensuring constant interaction with the investors, the private sector and public sector in Kano state.”
The learning sharing session witnessed visits to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, One stop shop on ease of Doing Business, DVT centre and OGUNCCIMA.
The representatives of the two chambers appreciated DFID – PERL for facilitating the learning exchange programme which they believe would help in increasing SMEs and in turn the Ease of Doing Business in their respective states.
While giving his remarks Mr. Josiah Aramide, Partnership Facilitator Southwest also commended OGUNCCIMA which has proved its sustained and good relationship with the government and urged them to continually ensure a high-level participation with the public sector.
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