Vice
President Professor Yemi Osibajo has praised Chairman Integrated
Produce City in Edo State, Prof Pat Utomi for investing $136 million in
the agricultural sector.
The Vice President, represented by Governor Adams Oshiomhole said “the timing of the project couldn’t have been better.
“Not
just because it confirms what we have been saying to people over the
past two or three months. We have said to our people that we could
create jobs over two hundred thousand jobs, God giving our candidate,
Godwin Obaseki the mandate.
He said, “So, what you have come
to do in Edo, we cannot thank you enough, and we want to appreciate all
your foreign partners who have shown confidence in our economy at this
point in time. And it is instructive that you are not lobbying corridors
of power in Abuja for an oil block. You are just looking for a piece of
land that is idle. The next phase of our development must be to focus
on job creation, and that we must also have a sensible land
administration, that we will give land to genuine investors.”
He
continued, “When there is no place for youths to work, once they grow
up, they will leave the village for the city to look for jobs. So, to
bring those children back, we need jobs around here. So, when they work
here, they will be with us. I am glad that you have seen the link
between this effort and your security, and even those hoodlums will see
that it is better to work than to be engaged in kidnapping and other
vices they have been committing.
“On our part, we want to
assure you that every support that you need, it is in our own
self-enlightened interest to bring it. For now, our attitude is to
provide all the incentives that government can provide, both at the
federal and at the state level. The one by the state, you can take it
for granted.
“The one by the federal level, if you have any
difficulties, I know the President is also very committed because he is
saying to us we must return to the farm. Therefore, I believe we will
match words with action. But should you have any difficulties, you can
count on us because you are helping us to deliver on one of the key
primary purposes of government which is to keep the citizens busy,
create prosperity and spread happiness in communities so that people
have the basis to be loyal to their motherland.”
He added, “To
the community, this is your project. You must defend it the way you
defended the kingdom because this will provide jobs for you. And it will
create prosperity and it has already put you on the world map. You will
be described more as a product city where people will come from Lagos,
from Abuja, from Iyamho to come and find jobs. That is the way nations
grow.”
Earlier in his address, the investor and initiator of
the Integrated Produce City, Prof. Pat Utomi said, “It is not every day
that one has the privilege of being part of history.
A sense
of gratitude, therefore, overwhelms us as we break ground today to usher
in a combination of agriculture and an industrial complex. I should
begin therefore with this sense of gratitude with thanksgiving to the
creator that gave us dominion over the earth and the privilege to be
co-creators with him, moving creation towards his perfection, to the
government and people of Edo State for being diligent partners in this
endeavour and we expect they will transform Edo State for good in more
ways than they realize. My boast, my private boast, and with God’s grace
will come to pass that within this complex, ten to fifteen years from now, more will come to Edo State.”
He
continued, “I am confident that Nigeria’s long advertised desire to
diversify the base of the economy will truly begin with this concept of
an integrated produce city. What we initiate today is a combination of
farm settlement with several modern farms and outgrower’s scheme
reaching out into six states around here: Ekiti and Ondo, Delta,
Anambra, Kogi, all those states are part of the catchment areas for this
integrated complex of modern farms with their out-growers schemes and
an industrial part in which we expect at least fifty factories, the
commodities market, the commodities exchange plus incubator to stimulate
entrepreneurial activities across the agro-allied value chain.
“It
offers us an opportunity for the young of our country to understand
what entrepreneurship is. Entrepreneurship is dreaming big and with
literary nothing creating awesome value. This is what enterprise is
about.”
Prof. Utomi said, “I want to assure the governor who
showed great leadership in supporting our initiative that history will
remember him kindly for his efforts. I want to thank particularly the
leader of the economic team who managed this process through, Mr. Godwin
Obaseki. They were all part of lighting the fire of revolution. This
initiative and allied activities will bring real change to the lives of
many.”
Osibajo praises Utomi for $136m agric investment
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