₦airaland Forum

Dapo Abiodun, changing Ogun narratives through industrialization

By Olaniyi Ajibola

Many analysts have critically argued in the past that the proximity of Ogun State to Lagos, the commercial nerve centre and financial headquarters of Nigeria had not been optimally explored and made to transform the economy of the Gateway State in the most significant way it should be.

They averred that Ogun State, being strategically located in a very cosmopolitan arena of such should be the centre of attraction to both indigenous and foreign investors.

The story, however, changed with the emergence of Governor Dapo Abiodun in 2019. Abiodun, a board room guru of long standing with satisfactory experience in development economy and investment spanning decades came into the saddle with vision and vigour.

Working strictly in line with the tenets of his ISEYA mantra, the Governor changed the old order of policy summersaults that made Ogun State unattractive to both local and foreign investors, despite its inherent opportunities.

Abiodun, after stimulating the swift formulation and implementation of policies that changed the business environment in Ogun State, to make it more friendly and attractive then embarked on aggressive consultations with investors locally and globally, preaching the gospel of new Ogun with renewed business opportunities as the Chief Marketer of the Gateway State.

The Governor's strategy and efforts truly paid off, as investors around the world started coming into the state for massive investments in different sectors, thereby turning the state to a leading industrial hub in Nigeria.

A practical example from within is that of Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the African richest man and business mogul. After leaving the state for years with abandoned investments due to crude and cruel governmental policies of old in the state, the business giant was called back to the state by the Governor to reactivate his investments and start operations.

Consequently, construction works resumed immediately at the abandoned cement factory at Itori, Ewekoro Local Government Area of the State, which after completion would be one of the biggest cement plants in Africa, which was unfortunately abandoned out of frustration and intimidation by the immediate past administration of Ibikunle Amosun.

In addition to that, the Dangote Groups recently announced it's readiness to start work on the establishment of Olokola Deep Seaport, the largest of its kind in entire Africa. In all of these, Alhaji Dangote glowingly praised Governor Dapo Abiodun for his ingenuity, creativity and resilience in changing the business environment in Ogun State to make it extremely attractive to investors.

The latest achievement of Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration's efforts to attract foreign investors into the industrial hub of Ogun state is the partnership between the State and an India-based company, Arise Integrated Industrial Platform (IIP), a leading multinational company in textile industry. .
The company, in partnership with Ogun State is putting together a project implementation team for the takeoff of the biggest garment production company in Nigeria, in which the groundbreaking ceremony of the project comes up in September this year.

During a recent visit of the company 's delegation, led by its President, Mr. Gagan Gupta, alongside the representative of AFRIXEM Bank to the Governor 's office in Abeokuta, the Governor said the $2 billion investment would significantly contribute to the economy of Ogun State and Nigeria at large.

According to the Governor, with the capacity to produce 100 tons per hour, 1,000 tons per day, 40,000 tons per month, and about 350,000 tons per year, the factory would turn out about 4.4 million garments every day and employ between 120,000 to 150,000 direct and indirect laborers.

He said: "What we are here for today is to put together a project implementation team to identify what needs to be done and when, to jointly establish timelines for each of the tasks so that we can prepare for the groundbreaking of the project in September.

"What I find most exciting is how this project will resuscitate cotton farming and cotton growing in Nigeria and the ripple effects on the economy.

"Ogun State fortunately grows the highest quality cotton in Nigeria. We dedicated 10 hectares of land in the first instance for cotton growing. We have a very active grower association in our state.

"I am hoping that you find the right cotton inputs that you will make available to these farmers, and they will become the outgrowers. That way, you will take over the ownership of the entire process, and Offtake agreements would have been signed with them so that they know what is expected at harvest."

With this trajectory of industrialization in Ogun state, where the state welcomes new manufacturing firm almost on monthly basis across it's industrial clusters, Ogun State is without doubt positioning itself as the New Jersey of Nigeria.

Without mincing words, Prince Dapo Abiodun is deliberately and intentionally changing narratives in Ogun State with utmost precision and determination; he has taken the role of a Chief Marketer of the state's products and really making sales.

Kudos, Prince Dapo Abiodun

Olaniyi Ajibola, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Strategic Communications

You're not serious....You better tell the Governor what the streets are saying about him

This one will not be on front page because it is good news not good for some people.

2special:
You're not serious....You better tell the Governor what the streets are saying about him

Wetin concern street with this good news? Ability na lie dem talk?

Okay Sango Ota road is a federal government road, how about the roads within the cities which are state roads, why are they still in dilapidated.

To say the Deputy governor is from that axis is something that's not making any sense at all.