The Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, has again won a good governance award.
The Nigerian 62nd Independence Anniversary and Global Award Gala was held in London, United Kingdom, on Saturday, where the governor received the honor.
The event was presided over by dignitaries including the President of National Trade Promotion Organizations (TPOs) in ECOWAS, Segun Awolowo, and the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Amb. Sarafa Tunji Ishola, according to a statement released on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kunle Somorin.
Gov. Abiodun spoke at the occasion and reaffirmed that his administration will keep working with people and businesses that have genuine investment interests to further its development objectives targeted at raising the level of life and well-being of the populace.
The governor, who was represented by Mrs. Ronke Soyombo, his Special Adviser on Basic Education, said that his administration’s goal was to make the state more attractive to legitimate investors and to use public-private partnerships to benefit the populace.
He stated that Ogun has the finest environment for investment in the nation due to its proximity to the busiest air and seaports in the nation, active road networks to neighboring states, and limitless potentials for investors.
“Since the inception of our administration, our approach to governance was anchored on the theme of “Building Our Future Together”. Our vision remains to give Ogun State focused and qualitative governance and to create the enabling environment for a public-private sector partnership, which is fundamental to the creation of an enduring economic development and individual prosperity of the people of Ogun.
“In Nigeria today, our policies and programmes have become reference points to other States and for which we have been honoured by the government, non-government and independent agencies with numerous awards”, Abiodun stated.
He stated that his administration has run an inclusive government providing even development of all areas and sectors and ensuring that no section or sector of the state is developed at the expense of the other.
“Our dear state has witnessed a new vista in all sectors of our state’s economy. Our words are our bond with the people of Ogun State”, the governor pointed out.
He continued by saying that additional road infrastructure connecting industrial hubs, neighboring states, urban areas, and rural areas would receive all the necessary attention. He also said that the development of the Agro Cargo International Airport was a component of a comprehensive plan to build out air transportation infrastructure, which would support his administration’s agenda for agricultural development.
“We are unfolding our power infrastructural project that will guarantee stable power to most of our cities and industrial clusters. Our approach towards a sustainable economic development, resulting in
employment generation, poverty alleviation and food security has continued to yield bountifully.
“We have continued to reposition the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as part of our industrial revolution. This we have achieved through the empowerment of small businesses in our dear state”, he stated further.
Abiodun who dedicated the award to the people of the state for their support and cooperation, said “we are happy that this award is in recognition of our modest efforts in our approach to governance and which has continually demonstrated in concrete terms, the commitment towards a wholesome and sustainable development of our dear Ogun State”.
“Before today, we have had several awards in recognition of our contributions in different areas of human endeavour since the inception of our administration on 29th May, 2019.
“We have the awards as the Most Improved State on Security Infrastructure by Business Day Awards; Most Improved State on Agriculture and Economic Empowerment by Business Day Awards; Best State in ICT Penetration and Adoption; best State in ICT Infrastructure Development by the National Council on Communication and Digital Economy; SMEs Most Supportive Governor by Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria, ASBON.
“We have also won the 2020 Best Governor on Education in Nigeria by the National Parent-Teacher Association, PTA; Best Education-Friendly Governor by All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, ANCOPSS; 2020 Governor of the Year Award by the Nigeria Agriculture Awards, NAA; Best Governor on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs); and so on”. Abiodun added.
However, he made use of the opportunity to encourage both domestic and foreign investors to profit from the state’s many potentials, saying that his administration was prepared to provide them with the support they needed.
