By Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
Keynote speakers at the one day retreat of the Ekiti State House Assembly, Former Governor of Ekiti state, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi and a former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the 9th National Assembly, Senator Olubunmi Adetunbi have emphasized the need for tapping the untapped Economic assets of the state.
The Seventh Assembly under the leadership of Rt Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, as part their legislative agenda had organized a 1 day retreat in conjunction with the Cavista Holdings at Ikogosi Ekiti on the roles of legislature on Enhancing Socio-Economic development in the Southwest States with regards to Ekiti State Nigeria where Fayemi and Adetunbi spoke.
The event was presided over by the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji who was ably represented by the Secretary to the State Government Alhaja Habibat Adubiaro at Ikogosi Ekiti.
Delivery his keynote address at the event, Dr Fayemi who was also a special guests at event described Ekiti State as knowledge capital of Nigeria and intellectual hub of Africa.
Speaking on how to tapped the untapped resources in the State and convert it to economic asset, Fayemi charged Ekiti people to see all government projects as government project not as individual particularly when there is change of government from one government to another.
Second keynote speakers at the retreat, Senator Adetunbi who educated the lawmakers and other participants on the Legislative Framework for private Sector and Foreign Direct investment.
Adetunbi in his paper pointed out that it is important for people to have the knowledge of their economic, he equally advised the stakeholders to transit from political entity to economic entity through the rightful application of (ICT) noting that government cannot continue to develop the propensity of begging to survive in our country.
Also, delivering the Lecture, the lead Speaker at the event, Mr John Olajide Chairman, Cavista Holdings and the sponsor of the programme talked on the journey of the Cavista Holdings to Ekiti State and how he harnessed the underlying potentials of Ikogosi warm resorts some years ago before he got to its present height in the comity of tourist centre in Africa
Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperative Mrs Adeola and former Commissioner in Ogun State and the Chairman Odua investment Otunba Bimbo Ashiru in their submissions said the residents should be ready to make use of the available resource in their purview for economic purpose and to stop depending on government, Mrs Adeola reiterated that immigrants are the highest beneficiaries of resources and the need for proper documentation of properties by all and sundry in State should be encouraged.
Earlier while declaring the event open, the Governor in his remark said the retreat gave the Lawmakers the opportunity to showcased their legislative potentials and to prove to the world that the duty of legislature has gone beyond the business of lawmaking and there is need for the legislative arm of government to encourage investors to the State through the enactment of law that can make the State conducive for Investment.
Oyebanji described the event as unprecedented in the history of the State Assembly, adding that the Executive arm of government would work in tandem with the vision & mission of the legislature to realised their goals and that the event showed clearly that the Seventh Assembly members are passionate about the development of the State going by the theme of the retreat and their commitment Enhancing Socio – Economic Development of Ekiti State through the private sector and foreign direct investment: The roles of the legislature”
The Governor used the occasion to called on investors from home and abroad to see Ekiti State as a viable place for investment, the event which had in attendance the United States Consulaire General to Nigeria, Mr Will Stevens, Political dignitaries, Captain of Industries, Chairman Cavista Holdings Mr Niyi John Olajide, former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr John Kayode Fayemi and other keynote Speakers.
Other eminent personalities include Senator Olubunmi Adetunbi, Chairman Odua Group of Companies Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperative, Mrs Adeola, Commissioner for Finance Akintunde Oyebode, Vice Chancellor Afe Babalola University and Chairman and Board Members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly Service Commission, representative of Ekiti State Business roundtable and host of others.
The event was another avenue for the Conference of Southwest Speakers to lend their voices to the topical issues such as regional integration, Insecurity harmonization of House of Assembly rules in the Southwest.
Contributing to the topic on behalf of the Conference of Speakers in Nigeria, the Chairman National Conference of Speaker and the Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon.Debo Ogundoyin said he was elated to be part of the success stories initiated by the Ekiti State House of Assembly and wish that all other states in Nigeria would replicate it, particularly in the Southwest States, he admonished the Ekiti State House of Assembly urging them to sustain the tempo.
Meanwhile, proceeding this one day retreat, the Chairman Conference of SouthWest Speaker and the National Vice Chairman of Conference of Speakers Rt. Hon Adeoye Aribasoye with the U.S Consulaire General has earlier visited Agbeyewa Farm in Ipao Ekiti area of Ikole Local Government, the visit which was aimed at Enhancing Socio-economic development for the State, he was as well hosted the other SouthWest Speakers while issues of revitalisation of our collective heritage was discussed.
The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, in his remarks at the one day retreat, said he was motivated by the former Governor of Ekiti State Dr Kayode Fayemi barely three months ago and thanked the former Governor for his leadership roles, however he specifically commended the sponsor, Mr Niyi John Olajide, Chairman Cavista Holdings for shouldered the responsibility that involved in the course of doing such retreat of magnitude.
Rt. Hon. Aribasoye appreciated his colleagues in the Seventh Assembly, National Assembly member in attendance, the State Attorney general and Commissioner for justice Barrister Dayo Apata (SAN) for their support and passion for the development of Ekiti State adding that the retreat would be one of the programmes in the legislative arm which will be observed annually, he acknowledged the roles of the legislative bureaucrats through the Clerk of the House and other management staff.
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