OYINLOLA SEEKS WORLD BANK’S SUPPORT FOR OSUN

 Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola on Thursday was at the World Bank in Washington, DC to seek support for the State’s Free Trade Zone.

 Receiving the Governor, The Vice President of the World Bank in charge of Africa, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili assured Prince Oyinlola that the bank would look into the issue and give the necessary support.

She lauded the patriotism of Prince Oyinlola and his interest in the economic development of the Osun State.

Mrs. Ezekwesili also promised the bank’s assistance for the development of the solid minerals sub sector of the economy of Osun State while directing the Nigeria office of the bank to meet with the state government on these areas.

The Governor thanked the World Bank boss for her support for Osun State over the years while she was in government in Nigeria.

Prince Oyinlola will be hosted to a reception Friday  in Washington by Yoruba people in the United States to be led by the Nigerian Ambassador to America, Chief Oluwole Rotimi.  

Meanwhile, arrangements are in the pipeline for the construction of two power plants in Osun State as a means of boosting electricity supply to the state in anticipation of the influx of investors into the state following the establishment of the Living spring Free Trade Zone in the state.

 Prince Oyinlola stated this in Houston, Texas, United States at a reception organized for him by the Osun State community resident in the area.

Prince Oyinlola said plans were being perfected to put in place hydro-power plants in Ede and Okinni, utilizing the rivers in the two areas. He disclosed that the arrangement was being made in collaboration with the United Nations industrial Development Organization, UNIDO.

The governor told the business community in the United States that the present administration in Osun state is irrevocably committed to its programme of massive industrialization.

In this connection, the existing infrastructure in the State, particularly the state capital are being upgraded while moves are on to extend these services to other parts of the city which are yet to be developed in expectation of rapid physical development of Osogbo and other satellite settlements.

He told the gathering that Osun state remained one of the most relatively peaceful states in the country with vast potentials waiting to be tapped. He stressed the fact that areas of priority attention include the development of agriculture, solid minerals, health, education as well as tourism and culture sectors.

The governor appealed to Nigerians in the Diaspora to remember that nowhere could be likened to home and should therefore be determined to contribute their quota positively the  development of Nigeria, According to him, it is not enough for people to stay outside the country to criticize without effectively contributing to the process of change by participating in the move to make the country great.

Governor Oyinlola assured prospective investors of a safe and secure environment provided in Osun state which he said is in the vanguard of sates working towards the attainment of higher socio-economic goals in the country. He also implored them to feel free to contribute to efforts being made to transform the state by sending in their reactions to the process of governance since communication has been revolutionalized to make e-governance possible.

Lasisi Olagunju

Special Adviser (Media) and

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.

13th June, 2008