…..ODSG REMAINS COMMITTED TO JOB CREATION THROUGH AGRICULTURE, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INDUSTRIALIZATION, SAYS SSG ODU
The Secretary to Ondo State Government, Princess Catherine Oladunni Odu has stressed that the present administration remains committed to job creation through Agriculture, Entrepreneurship and Industrialization.
The Secretary to State Government who was addressing participants of the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC)-16 from the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), Abuja emphasized the efforts of the Government at creating enabling environment for SMEs and stimulation of a private sector-led agenda.
She analysed various achievements such as massive infrastructural development and maintenance; promotion of functional education and technological growth; provision of accessible and qualitative healthcare and social service delivery, rural development and community extension services.
The Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC) -16 participants had converged for a One-Day paper presentations by some members of the State Executive Council as part of their on-going study tour of the state.
The theme of the lecture was Globalization: Implication for Regional Integration and Sustainable Development in Africa.
The Secretary to State Government delivered the first Paper titled: “Ondo State at a glance” as she enumerated the abundant natural resources, vast forest resources, extensive fertile soil for Agriculture, sub-savannah forest for cattle grazing, tourism attractions amongst others in the state.
Speaking further, Odu stated the various Tourist sites and locations likewise the major Traditional festivals necessary for future research on the State’s rich culture and heritage.
Odu also pointed the attention of the participants to the governing philosophy of the State, the “REDEEMED” agenda of the Akeredolu-Led Administration and maintained that the Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN, CON is resolute in tackling insecurity and so championed the course for the establishment of a home-grown State Security Network Agency code-named “AMOTEKUN”
“The Agenda, a concept of the Southwest region, was designed to compliment the operational effectiveness of the security agencies across the 18 Local Government Areas, Arakunrin took it more personally because he believes lives and property of the citizens must be adequately protected”, she said.
In his contribution, the Head of Service, Pastor Kayode Ogundele delivered a paper on “The Role of Public Service in Promoting Good Governance.”
Ogundele acquainted the visitors on the roles and functions of the civil service, stating that the public service has always been the tool used by government for the implementation of development goals and objectives.
“Government’s quest to entrench good governance is enhanced by the crucial input of the public service through the promotion of good values and ethical conduct for effective and efficient service to meet the aspirations of the people”, the Head of Service stated.
Ogundele opined that certain measures must be put in place to regulate and check activities of Government for better service delivery ditto the strict adherence to the provision of Public Service Rules for fairness and probity.
Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju’s paper was on “The Impact of Globalization on Regional Development”.
In her words, “Immense opportunities abound in increasing integration with the world economy through globalization, but it comes with risks and vulnerabilities; the answer to the risks and vulnerabilities, is regional integration and development”.
Ademola-Olateju revealed that “our greatest asset as a nation is our population, pointing out the need for the Federal Government to invest massively in infrastructure, support youth development and mobilize internal capital as a precondition for attracting International capital funding and equity participation.”
“It is of utmost importance for policy makers to specialize and develop areas in which comparative advantage can be achieved; the leadership of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, CON has focused on Entrepreneurship development, Blue economy, Energy sufficiency, Agriculture and Technology” she added.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Entrepreneurship development, Dr Summy Smart-Francis, Spoke on “Youth Empowerment Initiatives and Sustainable Development in Ondo State”
He emphasized the importance of engaging youths in entrepreneurship, saying that it is the door to poverty eradication, job creation and sustainable growth.
“Under the Leadership of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, CON 18,000 youth empowerment initiatives have been achieved in three years; street-to-skills programme created to transform youths on the streets to become productive and more are some ways the State Government has engaged youths for development which would have diverse positive effect on nation at large”, he explained.
Akogun Ade Adeleye DCG (Rtd.) Special Adviser Security Matters and Corps Commander, Ondo State Security Network Agency, AMOTEKUN Corps, spoke on “Grassroot Security: An Imperative for good governance”.
Adeleye explained that the main idea behind globalization is a world without borders, free flow of goods and services driven by high level of information technology.
He called for better collaboration between African countries in terms of accountability, participation and rule of law, noting that when the principles are applied in governance, the chances of achieving sustainability are much higher.
A communique was later presented at the end of the Study Tour Lecture.
Debbie Funmilayo
Media Officer (Office of the SSG)
