Obaseki revs up industrialisation drive with new policy

…Prioritises employment generation, incentives for businesses

Efforts to deepen the ongoing industrialisation drive of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration received a boost on Thursday in Benin City, the state capital, as development experts met to review the Edo State Industrial Development Policy.

Welcoming stakeholders to the state’s ‘Industrial Policy Validation Workshop’ Obaseki noted that since he assumed duty, his focus has been on driving holistic development through policies that would engender sustainable economic growth.

He told the workshop participants that his administration is committed to developing a modern state where citizens will be empowered through initiatives that will prioritise employment creation, skills acquisition and entrepreneurship.

Obaseki, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Economic and Development planning, Mr. Joseph Eboigbe, maintained that the ongoing reforms in all sectors of the state were designed to eliminate barriers in the ease of doing business.

“Our administration will continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders such as the federal government and members of the organised private sector to achieve our set goals, like the reduction of unemployment to below 15 per cent and creating the enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the state.”

He assured that his administration is developing a modern state where citizens will be empowered to become employers of labour, adding that the state is well on her way to becoming a reference point in creating young entrepreneurs.

Dr. Omo Aregbeyen, one of the experts working on the Edo State Industrial Development Policy, described the industrial sector as a key driver for increasing growth rates, generation of employment opportunities and sustainable economic growth and development.

He said the workshop was put together to validate the proposed industrial framework for the state, and explained that the vision of the governor Obaseki-led government “is to transform Edo State from a producer of primary goods into a producer of processed valued-added goods for both the domestic and export market.”

The Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Employment and Cooperatives, Emmanuel Usoh, commended participants for their support for the government and urged them to produce a framework that will guide the state in her journey to becoming one of the richest states in the country.