Osibajo praises Utomi for $136m agric investment
(Nigeria) Vice President Professor Yemi Osibajo has praised Chairman Integrated Produce City in Edo State, Prof Pat Utomi for investing $136 million in the agricultural sector.
The Vice President, represented by Governor Adams Oshiomhole
said “the timing of the project couldn’t have been better.
“Not just because it confirms what we have been saying to
people over the past two or three months. We have said to our people that we
could create jobs over two hundred thousand jobs, God giving our candidate,
Godwin Obaseki the mandate.
He said, “So, what you have come to do in Edo, we cannot thank you enough, and we want to
appreciate all your foreign partners who have shown confidence in our economy
at this point in time. And it is instructive that you are not lobbying
corridors of power in Abuja for an oil block. You are just looking for a piece
of land that is idle. The next phase of our development must be to focus on job
creation, and that we must also have a sensible land administration, that we
will give land to genuine investors.”
He continued, “When there is no place for youths to work,
once they grow up, they will leave the village for the city to look for jobs.
So, to bring those children back, we need jobs around here. So, when they work
here, they will be with us. I am glad that you have seen the link between this
effort and your security, and even those hoodlums will see that it is better to
work than to be engaged in kidnapping and other vices they have been
committing.
“On our part, we want to assure you that every support that
you need, it is in our own self-enlightened interest to bring it. For now, our
attitude is to provide all the incentives that government can provide, both at
the federal and at the state level. The one by the state, you can take it for
granted.
“The one by the federal level, if you have any difficulties,
I know the President is also very committed because he is saying to us we must
return to the farm. Therefore, I believe we will match words with action. But
should you have any difficulties, you can count on us because you are helping
us to deliver on one of the key primary purposes of government which is to keep
the citizens busy, create prosperity and spread happiness in communities so
that people have the basis to be loyal to their motherland.”
He added, “To the community, this is your project. You must
defend it the way you defended the kingdom because this will provide jobs for
you. And it will create prosperity and it has already put you on the world map.
You will be described more as a product city where people will come from Lagos,
from Abuja, from Iyamho to come and find jobs. That is the way nations grow.”
Earlier in his address, the investor and initiator of the
Integrated Produce City, Prof. Pat Utomi said, “It is not every day that one
has the privilege of being part of history.
A sense of gratitude, therefore, overwhelms us as we break
ground today to usher in a combination of agriculture and an industrial
complex. I should begin therefore with this sense of gratitude with
thanksgiving to the creator that gave us dominion over the earth and the
privilege to be co-creators with him, moving creation towards his perfection,
to the government and people of Edo State for being diligent partners in this
endeavour and we expect they will transform Edo State for good in more ways
than they realize. My boast, my private boast, and with God’s grace will come
to pass that within this complex, ten to fifteen years from now, more will come
to Edo State.”
He continued, “I am confident that Nigeria’s long advertised
desire to diversify the base of the economy will truly begin with this concept
of an integrated produce city. What we initiate today is a combination of farm
settlement with several modern farms and outgrower’s scheme reaching out into
six states around here: Ekiti and Ondo, Delta, Anambra, Kogi, all those states
are part of the catchment areas for this integrated complex of modern farms
with their out-growers schemes and an industrial part in which we expect at
least fifty factories, the commodities market, the commodities exchange plus
incubator to stimulate entrepreneurial activities across the agro-allied value
chain.
“It offers us an opportunity for the young of our country to
understand what entrepreneurship is. Entrepreneurship is dreaming big and with
literary nothing creating awesome value. This is what enterprise is about.”
Prof. Utomi said, “I want to assure the governor who showed
great leadership in supporting our initiative that history will remember him
kindly for his efforts. I want to thank particularly the leader of the economic
team who managed this process through, Mr. Godwin Obaseki. They were all part
of lighting the fire of revolution. This initiative and allied activities will
bring real change to the lives of many.”
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