The developmental drive of the Dr Kayode Fayemi-led administration in Ekiti State has received a major boost, following plans by the African Development Bank (ADB), to partner with the state in the area of infrastructure development.
This is even as the American and Swedish governments have shown considerable interests in working with the administration in the realisation of some aspects of its eight- point agenda for
development. These are the fallouts of series of meetings by a delegation led by Governor Kayode Fayemi and representatives of the foreign governments and the ADB in Abuja and Lagos last week.
development. These are the fallouts of series of meetings by a delegation led by Governor Kayode Fayemi and representatives of the foreign governments and the ADB in Abuja and Lagos last week.
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to theGovernor, Mr Olayinka Oyebode, in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday, the meetings which started on Wednesday in Abuja and continued in Lagos till the weekend, succeeded in highlighting areas of opportunities for foreign investments as well as areas of technical support for the state. The Country Representative of ADB, Mr Ousmane Dore, assured Governor Fayemi of the readiness of the financial institution’s to assist the
state in the area of infrastructure development.
Specifically, Dore said the ADB would assist the state government in its rural roads project with a view to boosting agriculture in the state.
Following a request by Governor Fayemi that ADB should strife to surpass the record of the World Bank in the state, Dore, who admitted Ekiti had two of ADB’s 29 projects in Nigeria, assured the governor that Ekiti would also be among the eight states that would benefit from the Capacity Building Fund being planned by the institution.
Following a request by Governor Fayemi that ADB should strife to surpass the record of the World Bank in the state, Dore, who admitted Ekiti had two of ADB’s 29 projects in Nigeria, assured the governor that Ekiti would also be among the eight states that would benefit from the Capacity Building Fund being planned by the institution.
Dore said “Infrastructure is key. We will be willing to partner with other development partners in the area of access to rural road project. This, we believe will boost agriculture in the state. Anything that can enable us to help accelerate the development on the ground, we will do.”
At a meeting with the American Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Terence McCulley, said health and educational institutions in the state would benefit from technical support from their counterparts in the United States. He also hinted on the possibility of Private Public Partnership (PPP) with some American companies.
Hailing the innovation which Dr Fayemi had brought to governance, the American Ambassador said Ekiti State remained one of the few states in the country where governance is taken seriously.
Hailing the innovation which Dr Fayemi had brought to governance, the American Ambassador said Ekiti State remained one of the few states in the country where governance is taken seriously.
According to Ambassador McCulley, “Governance is taken seriously in Ekiti. We can point at your state as one where governance is taken seriously and we can partner with you.” ;
Governor Fayemi’s meeting with the United Kingdom Secretary of State for International Development, Mr. Andrew Mitchell, in Lagos also explored areas of support for the administration’s developmental effort.
The Swedish ambassador, Per Lindgarde at a meeting with the governor also hinted on the possibility of collaboration with Swedish companies in the areas of agriculture and environmental sustainability.
Governor Fayemi had emphasised the government’s preference for big players in terms of trade as opposed to aid.
Fayemi said huge investments in the areas of agriculture and tourism in the state will help revive the agrarian life style, boost the economy and create employment opportunities. He assured the envoys of the safety of foreign investment in the state, stressing that the state is noted for its peaceful atmosphere.
Governor Fayemi’s meeting with the United Kingdom Secretary of State for International Development, Mr. Andrew Mitchell, in Lagos also explored areas of support for the administration’s developmental effort.
The Swedish ambassador, Per Lindgarde at a meeting with the governor also hinted on the possibility of collaboration with Swedish companies in the areas of agriculture and environmental sustainability.
Governor Fayemi had emphasised the government’s preference for big players in terms of trade as opposed to aid.
Fayemi said huge investments in the areas of agriculture and tourism in the state will help revive the agrarian life style, boost the economy and create employment opportunities. He assured the envoys of the safety of foreign investment in the state, stressing that the state is noted for its peaceful atmosphere.
On the governor’s delegation were the , Senator representing Ekiti Central, Mr Babafemi Ojudu and the Special Adviser to the Governor on MDGs , Mrs Bunmi Dipo-Salami.
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