Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has assured investors, who already have their investments in the state and intending ones, of his government’s commitment to securing life, property and businesses.
The governor also stressed that his administration would continue to ensure that there is a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.
He stated this on Thursday, during the commissioning of an entertainment investment hub in Ibadan.
The governor added that he would continue to do his best in supporting investors whose vision aligned with his administration’s policies and also create an enabling environment for their businesses to thrive.
He said: “I want to say congratulations to my brother, Dr Adesina Adedeji, who is the brain behind this edifice. It is what we are doing in Oyo State. We create the enabling environment and businesses will thrive.
“I am particularly thrilled to come in here and be a part of this ceremony. It fits into the vision that we are trying to create. After we had spent four years, we realised that tourism and solid minerals development would contribute immensely to the Gross Domestic Product of Oyo State and we added them.”
The governor also said that as part of measures to make the state conducive to businesses, the state government has been reconstructing inner roads in the state and that the Ojoo-UI Highway, where the new entertainment hub is located, will also be fixed.
“This business is a testament that our vision for adding tourism and hospitality to our pillars is actually working. For this corridor, we are fixing the road from Dugbe through Mokola, Premier Hotel, to Sango and to UI. From UI, you turn left and from that place, all the way to Beere, they are all being fixed. I want to promise that it will be the same thing from UI to Ojoo.
“We realised that Ibadan is fast becoming the playground for Lagos people, because you can hardly get a hotel room to book here in Ibadan at the weekend. People are trooping in. That is a validation that our economy is actually improving and we will continue to do our best to create the enabling environment that will ensure that businesses thrive in Oyo State.
“For Dr Adedeji, let me say that your investment is in a good place and a good environment. We will ensure that either Operation Burst or Amotekun is stationed close to this location.
“Let me commend you because you told me that this business is employing 100 people.
“When we say that we want to create employment opportunities to ensure that our youths are engaged, this is what we are talking about. Truth is, there is a limit to how many people the government can employ but there is no limit to what a business that is expanding can employ.
“So, this is also a validation that if we do what is right to make businesses thrive, a lot of our youths will have something to do.
Thank you for creating opportunities for our youths.”
Earlier in his remarks, Dr Adedeji, commended Governor Makinde administration’s commitment to economic development and for prioritising tourism development with various infrastructure projects that could help investors to maximise profits in their businesses.
He promised to support the governor to achieve his vision of expanding the economy of Oyo state through tourism and hospitality development.
The governor was accompanied to the event by top government functionaries.