The executives of the Odu’a Investment Company Limited have appealed to Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke to give the group land for agricultural investment.
In an effort to diversify into different economic sectors, the organisation has asked the governor for help in facilitating mining licenses and consents.
Bimbo Ashiru, the Group Chairman of OICL, briefed the Governor on the organization’s planned regional expansion. He hinted that OICL, which is jointly owned by the six South West states, including Osun State, is still dedicated to promoting economic prosperity for our shareholder states through partnerships and strategic investments.
Ashiru said, “To actualise our planned investments, we have recently incorporated a Special Purpose Company, SouthWest Resources Limited (SWRL), and we require Your Excellency’s gracious intervention in facilitating access to mining licenses, consents, and the necessary government support.
“We believe that with your backing, we can catalyze responsible mining operations that will generate significant revenue for the state and create meaningful employment opportunities for our people, while ensuring strict adherence to environmental and social standards.
In Agriculture, we recognise Osun State’s rich agrarian potential. OICL is keen to drive commercial agricultural initiatives through strategic investments in value-chain developments, ranging from crop production to processing and export. To this end, we humbly seek your support in allocating portions of the State’s agricultural land bank for use by Odua’s agribusiness ventures. We would also like to have an agricultural landbank in Osun State.”
Responding, Governor Adeleke described Odu’a Investment Company as a tool late Obafemi Awolowo used to create a future, saying his administration derives its service philosophy from the vision of the late sage.
He said, “The inspiration of Awoism is a strong motivation for me. That was why, in just two years, we implemented far-reaching developmental programmes. We are as ambitious as the Awoist cabinet of the First Republic. Hence, we are building flyovers, dualising roads and upgrading schools, health facilities and water schemes all over the state.“We venture into areas our critics see as impossible terrains.”
While we pay billions of naira in overdue pensions and wage debt, we have also started multibillion-naira infrastructure projects. We prioritise the well-being of our employees and provide free health insurance to retirees and pensioners.
Source: Vanguard
Image Credit: Osun state government
