Ambode Seeks Partnership for Hospitality Devt

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has invited the business community to partner with government in the tourism, hospitality, recreation, transportation and agro-based sectors to harness the abundant potentials across the State. 

The Governor stated this while speaking as the Special Guest of Honour at the 2017 ‘Exemplary Leadership in Business’ awards ceremony organised by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Channel 10 in collaboration with Business Executives Forum (BEF) at the NTA station, Ahmadu Bello way, Victoria Island, Lagos. 

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr. Fola Adeyemi, the Governor said that the doors of the Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment (Lagos Global) were open to provide necessary support to both existing and potential investors. 

While using the opportunity to appreciate the business community for the improvement in tax compliance, he urged them to continue on this path, saying the State government was relying more than ever before, on revenue generated from taxes to meet its obligations to the citizens. 

Commenting on the recession that earlier plagued the Country,  Ambode affirmed that the challenge posed by the global economic recession was not confined to Nigeria, noting that in spite of the fact that the ripple effects were harsh on developing economies of the world, the State still managed to survive and grow her economy as well as explore new frontiers. 

He said, “Our administration was able to counteract the effects of the recession by implementing programmes and projects that reflated the economy. 

By increasing capital expenditure, we were able to improve the purchasing power of the people which in turn impacted positively on the turnover of the manufacturing sector”.

 

Ambode, however, expressed his confidence that as Nigeria emerged from the economic recession, the entrepreneurs would have acquired new skills in piloting turbulent economic waves.

 

Commending the awardees, the Governor described them as front-runners who had provided leadership in challenging circumstances within their various fields of endeavour, thus motivating upcoming entrepreneurs that there was “light at the end of the tunnel”.  He advised them to step up their game by expanding the frontiers of leadership in the business world as mentors to the younger generation of entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

 

While urging the awardees to conduct themselves as “Ambassadors” of a new generation of entrepreneurs, he assured them that Lagos State was adequately prepared to harness the available resources and potentials of this technology era to build a thriving socioeconomic and commercial platform that will make Lagos a preferred destination for investment and tourism.

 

The Governor also congratulated the management of NTA Channel 10 and the leadership of Business Executives Forum (BEF) for providing a common platform to promote and reward excellence in entrepreneurship.