Kogi Gov Inaugurates High-powered Economic Advisory Council

By Daniel Agada

The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, yesterday inaugurated the state’s Economic Advisory Council.

The high-worth council was inaugurated virtually.

While inaugurating the Council, the governor challenged members to “guide the state into prosperity,” tapping into the abundant human and mineral resources available to her.

He said the members were carefully selected based on their pedigree and track record, saying their main responsibility is to work with the state to “open new doors of opportunities towards economic diversification”.

The governor said the way out is for the nation to go back to the days of agricultural boom as well as devise a way of optimising the abundant mineral resources in the country.

His words: “As you know, agriculture was the pride of the nation before the discovery of oil, in the 60s, but the coming of it, utterly neutralised the gains in Agriculture and stalled the progress in other sectors, as well. The entity called Nigeria is so naturally blessed, with the potential to be one of the leading country in the world but the circumstances of oil and all the issues around it, has made this very difficult to realise.

“Ladies and gentlemen, there is no doubt that, crude oil, in Nigeria, is suffering declining relevance and may actually become extinct, with the passage of time or become totally irrelevant, due to improvements in renewable energy over environmental concerns.

“In 2016 and 2020 respectively, Nigeria was ushered into a recession over the collapse of the price of crude oil. This, for me, underlines the fragility of our economy and, indeed, a wake-up call, that we must begin to think beyond oil, if we are to be sustainable, as a nation and, by extension, if we are to survive, as a State.

“As you know, Kogi State is vastly blessed with human and natural resources that are yet to be optimally harnessed for the good of our people. The available data indicates that, we have over 29 solid minerals in commercial quantity. In addition, we are blessed with the confluence of Rivers Niger and Benue, we are a gateway to the FCT, we are bordered by 10 States including FCT, we are blessed with considerable arable land, we are blessed with potentially world class tourist sites, we are blessed with leading cash crops such as cashew, cassava, rice etc, we are blessed with high profile industries such as Ajaokuta, Itakpe Iron Ore, Obanaja Cement Company, we can go on and on. We cannot and must not, therefore, be complacent, in the face of these enormous blessings and see our people, our State struggling with basic necessities of life”.

He informed the Committee that the rational behind the establishment of the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara was to create local capacity and strategically position the state to take advantage of the abundant mineral resources she boasts of.

The Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council, Mr. Aliyu Nda Salami while responding on behalf of the other members, thanked the governor for the intrinsic confidence reposed in them, saying they have resolved to hit the ground running and change the fortunes of the state for good.

He said the governor has taken the right step by bringing together, a crack team to move the economy of the state forward.

The Council’s membership is testament to the intimidating profiles of Kogites in different spheres of endeavors.

While Salami is the chairman, Ambassador Olusiji Godwin Aina is the Alternate Chairman.

The members include: Chief Joseph Makoju; Chief Kola Jamodu; Dr. Aheruvoh David Ohiku; Dr. Emmanuel E. Onoja; Chief Abdulrazaq Isa Kutepa; Mr. Segun Adaju; Prof. S .I. Ocheni; Mr. Ola Oyelola; Musa Itopa Jimoh; Mr. Isah Shaibu; Prof. Seidu O. Muhammed; Mr John Obaro; Mr. Lawal Itopa Lamidi; and Dr. Isah Abdullahi.

Other members include: Prof. Sule Jafaru; Dr Audu Dangana; Prof . John O. Alabi; Amb. Shola Rafiu Enikanolaye; Mr. Tunde Ayeni ; Prof. Suleiman A. S. Aruwa; Ismail Akaba; Mr. Thomas Etu; Alhaji Abubakar Sanusi Gamji, Member;

Ebi Atawodi; Dr. Ronke Bello; Mr. Tony Okpanachi;

Mr. Korede Adedayo; Hajia Dr. Halima Alfa; Mr. Gimba N. Baba; Dr. Suleiman Adejoh; Dr. Michael Abuh; Hajia Ladi Ibrahim; and Dr. Joshua Okpanachi.

Mr. Abdulateef Bello is to serve as Recorder.