Osun, US Plan Devt Conference, Targets Multi-sector Donor Support
Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo
The Osun State Government and the United States of America have agreed to host a development and donor conference in support of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s governance agenda for the state.
The donor conference is expected to have in attendance all United Nations agencies, USAID, DFID, German Development Agency (GIZ), and Japanese Development Agency, representatives of multilateral institutions and development agencies of the G20 nations.
According to Governor Adeleke’s Spokesperson, Mr. Olawale Rasheed, the conference would enable him to present the development agenda of his administration to development partners who are presently operating in Nigeria.
“My goal is to match the developmental plan of my government with that of development partners. We then build a synergy for an expanded inflow of development support for Osun State.
“Areas of specific interest that are already articulated for the conference include education, health, agro-industrial growth, youth and women development, digital economy, climate change agenda and green infrastructure. My team is working on the details,” Adeleke opined.
Confirming the support of the United States’ government for the conference, the Consul General of the United States Embassy in Nigeria, Mr. Will Stevens, said that the embassy is ready to support the novel initiative.
According to him, there is an existing development partners’ platform that would be activated in pursuance of the conference.
Stevens said: “We are elated to be part of this initiative. We are prepared to support Governor Adeleke to realise his developmental aspirations for Osun State.
“We have programmes in health, ICT, education, climate matters, gender development and green infrastructure. We are elated to support Mr. Governor on this commendable step.”
The Chief of Staff to Governor Adeleke, Hon. Kazeem Akinleye, who is coordinating the conference, described the programme as “a smart way to deliver on the government’s promises to the people of Osun State.
Akinyele said: “As Mr. Governor had noted, we will submit our agenda to the partners. We will discuss the relationship between our plan and the agenda of the development partners. We then join hands. Osun will benefit greatly from this event. A special desk is working on this plan.”
