The Ogun state governor, prince Dapo Abiodun has assured that his administration will continue to support all genuine enterprises by individuals or add on organizations that promote and support all measures affecting industry trade, commerce, and agriculture that will be of benefit to the people.
The governor also noted that his administration will continue to create an enabling environment for public private partnership.
Abiodun disclosed this on Thursday during the 36th Annual General Meeting/2019 Report and Accounts.
The governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Hon. Mrs Kikelomo Longe explained that OGUNCCIMA remained an exceptional organization that will improve business activities within related sectors of economy in Ogun state.
According to him, the organization has grown over period with more than 3, 000 corporate members across the state, accounting for an estimated 60%industrial output and 65%of general commerce and about 25% of financial services in the state in particular and Nigeria as a whole.
He added that OGUNCIMMA has become a narrative point of ideas that has brought about progress into Ogun state.
The governor said, ”OGUNCIMMA has become a narrative point of ideas that has impacted positively in bringing about progress to Ogun state and beyond. The activities of individual members and indeed the cummulative contribution of OGUNCIMMA has continued to be exemplary in the important areas of employment generation, poverty alleviations ,and above all food security.
”It is no longer a news that the organization has recorded a lot of achievements considering the calibre and reputation of its member who have also made a significant contributions in there respective trading sectors.
”Over the past decades, OGUNCIMMA has also remained one of the leading voices of the private sector through its sustain public policy advocacy, stakeholders engagement and trade promotion activities”.
Abiodun congratulated the executive committee and entire members of OGUNCIMMA for hosting its 36 annual meeting, and investitures of Alhaji Abdul Wasiu Babatunde Olaleye as 18th President of OGUNCIMMA.
”No doubt that the investiture of Alhaji Olaleye which symbolizes his assumption of mantle of leadership of OGUNCIMMA is in recognition of his active participation and steady leadership quality and immersed contributions to the growth and development of the chamber.
”I will use this opportunity to tell the new president that this is a call to higher duty and more responsibility”
Meanwhile, the new president of OGUNCIMMA, Alhaji Wasiu Babatunde Olaleye in his speech noted that since inception, OGUNCIMMA has been fortunate to be under the leadership of exceptional leaders who have distinguished them selves and made good impact towards the progress of the noble association.
He said his focus as new president is to continue to look inward in order to harness local resources and encourage the growth of their value chains both locally and on the global scale.
He said, ”We shall concentrate on agricultural value chain, because this area has continued to show that its potential is unlimited both crop production and livestock farming.
Currently, the world as we know it is facing a pandemic that is known as Corona virus that has infected over 14 million of the world population and more than 600,000 have passed on. Various countries implemented different strategies which placed constraints on some aspects of life; analysts have been calling the attention of the world to impending food scarcity if proper measures are not taken.
”Fortunately, Ogun state is blessed with arable land, teeming and hardworking population in agriculture. In addition, geographically we possess international border and proximity to seaports.
”Our focus will be on poultry farming which has been developing in the past years. It has been identified that there is demand for poultry products from neighboring countries. Tapping into this opportunity will be good for our members and citizens at large.
”We will look into promoting pig farming, this aspect of farming has untapped potential in this country. Findings have shown that the market for pork produce is majorly dominated by China, America and European countries.
” Here in Nigeria, we have what it takes to compete on a global scale. What we are proposing to do is to initiate and facilitate setting up pig farm clusters this will not only enhance our production capacity, it will also generate employment opportunity for our youths.
”We will start by getting large market share from our neighboring countries, Benin Republic, Togo and some part of Nigeria that are huge consumer of Pork meat and expand to exportation in future.
”Lastly, under agriculture we want to intensify our efforts on our locally produced rice popularly known as Ofada rice. Ofada rice has been the dominant stable food here in our state before our markets were saturated with imported of rice.
He commended the relentless effort of our Immediate Past President, Adele-Oba Kolawole Lawal and other officers who directed the affairs of the Chamber in the last two years, saying that there is no doubt that his tenure has also raised the bar of the Chamber’s progress.
