In a bid to accelerate investment opportunities and foster economic growth, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, inaugurated the Ogun State Investment Ambassador Network on Monday.
Abiodun, represented by the Commissioner for Finance in the state and Chief Economic Adviser, Dapo Okubadejo, emphasized the strategic importance of the newly established agency, which aims to serve as a catalyst for private sector-driven development. He stated this during the inauguration ceremony held at OPIC, Isheri, Ogun State.
“This agency is an independent agency. We wanted this agency to be very proactive, efficient, and to ensure that they are like a private sector government kind of agency,” Abiodun said.
Abiodun added that the initiative, located at Isheri, seeks to streamline investment processes and provide a one-stop-shop for investors. The governor stated that the establishment of the agency was preceded by the signing of a law in December 2019, aimed at setting up a regulatory framework to guide investment promotion across all ministries and government agencies.
Abiodun highlighted the support structures put in place to complement the agency’s efforts, including the Business Environment Council tasked with enhancing efficiency in key processes such as construction permits and land acquisition.
While addressing the appointed ambassadors, Abiodun emphasized the need for a paradigm shift towards a more service-oriented approach, reflective of private sector standards. He underscored the importance of training and incentivizing performance to ensure excellence in service delivery.
“Your job is to enlighten and assist the private sector, knowing full well that there’s competition for this investment. Teamwork, communication, proactiveness, integrity, transparency, and accountability should be your watchword,” Abiodun said.
Abiodun mentioned that the ambassadorial network is poised to undergo regular evaluations to maximize its impact in attracting investments and leveraging the state’s abundant resources for economic development.
“I hope that when we do a first round of evaluation, none of you will be dropped,” Abiodun added, stressing the collective responsibility of the ambassadors to work together towards achieving the objectives of the network.
In his goodwill message, Mr. Adebola Sofela, the Commissioner for Industry, Trade, and Investment in Ogun State, emphasized the critical role of carefully selected ambassadors in driving forward a crucial initiative aimed at fostering intergovernmental cooperation and collaboration.
Sofela underscored the collective commitment to advance the economic growth and development of Ogun State through a robust ambassador network.
“Each and every one of you who has been carefully selected to serve as ambassadors in this crucial initiative holds the responsibility to serve as the bridge between the investor community and the government through your respective agencies,” stated Sofela.
Sofela encouraged each ambassador to embrace principles such as transparency, honesty, efficiency, proactiveness, and accountability in their roles.
He stressed that these values would be instrumental in ensuring the success of the initiative and fostering positive outcomes for the state’s economy and its citizens