In the days of the late Adekunle Ajasin as the first Executive Governor of Ondo State between 1979 and I983, he established many industries that unfortunately were no more functional.

Successive administrations did not deem it necessary to sustain the projects as all the companies became moribund.

However, topmost campaign promises of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who is also an Owo indigene as Ajasin, was to transform the state through industrialisation.

The governor also promised to revitalise abandoned industries and even establish new ones.



After he assumed office in 2016, the governor made good his campaign promise by negotiating with some foreign investors on the need to invest in the state.

He also visited some foreign countries, including China, United Arab Emirates and United States of America where he lobbied some investors to come and invest in the state, which he said is blessed with abundant mineral resources, especially bitumen and crude oil.

These mineral resources are capable of attracting both foreign and local investors; hence the continuous drive of Governor Akeredolu for industrial and economic development.

However, the vision for investment drive of Akeredolu is gradually materialising within the two years of his taking over the mantle of leadership.

No fewer than five new companies are ready to begin operations in Ore Industrial hub, Ore in Odigbo Local Government Area.

Available records show that Oluwa Glass Company and the Okitipupa Oil Palm were the pride of the state at that time. But four decades on, the sites of the companies are overgrown with weeds.

Sadly, the once-beautiful and buoyant state became a shadow of itself. It now depends on the paltry monthly allocations from the Federation Account, almost three quarter of which goes into the payment of salaries of workers.

However, the state is gradually coming back to life in terms of commerce and industry and gradually occupying a place of pride in the country in general and the Southwest region in particular.



Already, five companies, including a paper mill, ethanol plant, medium density fibre board, high density fibre board, ply wood and textile companies have sprouted from the mustard seed that was planted when the state signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Linyi Municipal

Government of Shandong Province of Peoples Republic of China.

Determined to ensure a solid economic base for the state, Governor Akeredolu had embarked on an investment tour to China in June, 2017.

That tour has given birth to what is now known as the Ore Industrial Park.

Governor Akeredolu had earlier inaugurated the 10,000 hectares forestation project, where Gmelina Arborea has been planted on 1,500 of the 10,000 hectares.

The industrial revolution in the state has taken a very strong foothold with the ethanol plant at about 95 per cent completed and set to roll.

According to the Business Development Manager of Weewood Limited, Mr. Sun Peng, special specie of cassava is being planted in-between the Gmelina which will be used to feed the ethanol plant.

While conducting reporters round the factory recently, Mr Peng said the ethanol factory is almost ready, with works at 95 per cent completion, saying that “we were expected to begin test-run of the machines before the end of April.”

Already, about 1,000 people have been employed to work in the ethanol factory for direct jobs. The plant is also expected to provide jobs for more than 10,000 people, particularly cassava farmers and traders.

Local farmers are excited about a ready and lucrative market for their goods as cassava, which is the major item for the production of ethanol will be sourced directly from them.

Shehu Oladapo, a cassava farmer in Odigbo Local Government Area said: “I thank Governor Akeredolu for this initiative. Farmers like me now have a ready market for our cassava. It has encouraged us to increase the number of hectares that we will prepare to grow cassava for the next harvest season.”

The WinWin Textile Factory located inside the park is another factory which has commenced production of textile thread a few months ago.



With 300 workers already employed, WinWin Textile has helped to ease the problem of unemployment on the people, especially the residents who, for the first time, found a worthwhile venture outside the civil service.

According to Ahmed Adeyinka, the Manager of WinWin Textile, the textile factory is, at present, producing polyester sewing thread.

He said the factory will move to the next stage of producing textile materials such as lace and Ankara, among others.

“Currently, we have 300 people working for us. We now produce all kinds of sewing polyester threads for the local market. In a couple of months from now, the factory will begin to run at full capacity with the production of textile materials of all kinds,” Adeyinka said.

Peng said: “The Wewwood Plywood/HDF Factory has also commenced production. Young men and women, who would have been roaming the streets, are busy with one task or the other. The company’s products, high quality fibre board plywood are already in high demand in local markets across the country, while the state is being positioned to earn foreign currency through the export of the product.”

He added that the paper mill factor will, on completion, employ more than 3, 000 direct workers, while many more are expected to benefit from jobs created down the value chain.

He said the paper mill, like other factories in the Ore Park, is structured to create more indirect jobs for the residents, adding that “long before the machines for the mill began to arrive at

the shores of the country, Weewood commenced preparations by planting the trees that will form the primary raw materials for the mill.

“At present, the almost 10,000 hectares of land allocated for the Weewood afforestation project by Governor Akeredolu is beginning to yield the expected result, as the trees continue to grow into maturity.

“The governor deserves commendation for this initiative. This is a win-win situation for Ondo State and its people. The company will employ our people on the farm to plant the trees, it will go on to employ our people in the factory and other auxiliary jobs that would be created.”

The Commissioner for Information, Mr Yemi Olowolabi who led reporters to the industrial park said: ‘The Ore Industrial Park is fashioned after that of Linyi Municipal Government of Shandong Province in China. Investors under Shandong group have made good their promise to make Ondo State a model for one-stop industrial park in the country.

“The administration of Governor Akeredolu has set a standard by which governance would be measured in the country with the elaborate investment and the revenue that will accrue to the coffers of the government.

This is in addition to the jobs that will be generated through the project,” Olowolabi said.

SOURCE: https://citadelng.com/residents-excited-as-industries-sprout-in-ondo/

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