Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has declared open a three-day strategic policy dialogue workshop with a view to coming up with policies that will make the state the economic hub of the South-South in the next three years. The event, attended by Permanent Secretariats, APC leaders, artisans and industrialist afforded the governor to unveil come of his economic policies to the people of the state, vowing to ensure that Edo becomes one of the greatest economies in the country in the next six years.
Other leaders at the event include the deputy governor of the state, Comrade Philip Shaibu, Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie, and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Taiwo Akerel. Speaking at the event, Obaseki stated: “In the next fifteen to twenty years, we want to be the number one investment destination in the country, and to achieve that vision for the state, we need first class institutions capable of nurturing transformation policies.
We must deliver on infrastructure that is better than what is available in the Federal Capital Territory. We must aim at generating revenues much more than Lagos without putting unbearable tax burden on our people.We must therefore aim at developing our institutions because in the cause of this workshop, we shall be working on six thematic areas, which are the key pillars of our goal for the state.”
According to him, the workshop would address issues such as how the state would achieve economic revolution that would translate to having a developed world class infrastructure. “How do we ensure institutions are reformed so they can deliver? How do we ensure that we can create a state that is socially conscious and create emphasis on the welfare of our people? How do we ensure that our culture which is world class acclaimed is displayed and made available for the world to enjoy our tourism as well as sustain our environment”.
He added that the state would establish investment bureaucracy that is capable of attracting investment in the state, asserting that focus should be on strategic plan that could create minimum of 200,000 jobs as well as many small scale and medium enterprise that was sustainable. Obaseki further urged other thematic groups on their expectations from the government at the end of their three-day brain storming session, adding that their resolution would be the working document for developing the state.
Earlier, the chairman of the occasion, retired Justice Samson Uwaifo, stated that effective leadership required good decision making, describing the workshop as revolutionary approach to governance.
