Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
EDO, Nigeria – The Edo State capital was a beehive of activities as different interest groups joined the Governor Godwin Obaseki for a tour of some laudable projects executed by his government in the last seven years just as they rated his performances high in the state.
The projects tour is part of activities lined for the 2023 Alaghodaro Economic Summit, with the theme: The Edo Story: Creating Shared Opportunities into the Future.
This year’s Alaghodaro Economic Summit which is the 7th edition, also marks the 7th anniversary of the Governor Obaseki-led government.
The interest groups include market women, civil societies, organized labour, civil servants among others who lauded the state government for its development strides in the last seven years.
They noted that the infrastructures have changed the economic and environmental landscape of the state
The projects visited during tour are all located in Edo South Senatorial District, particularly in Oredo, Ikpoba Okha, Orhionmwon and Ovia North East local government areas.
The projects visited include the 6000 barrels per day Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company (ERPC), located in Ologbo in Ikpoba Okha and the 2500 barrels per day Duport Refinery run by Duport Refinery Company Limited, in Egbokor, Orhionmwon local government area.
The groups also visited two ethanol plants constructed by Greenhill Ethanol plant located at Ologbo in Ikpoba Okha and the Dufil Ethanol plant located in Ovia North East local government areas respectively.
Governor Obaseki said the modular refineries when in operation, will not only help in solving the fuel crisis in the country but will also boost the state Gross Domestic Products (GDP).
Obaseki, also added that the two ethanol plants which are in various stages of completion would be commissioned before the end of his administration.
He said the plants are expected to produce food-grade ethanol for use in the confectionery and beverage industry as well as create employment opportunities and boost the manufacturing sector.
Others visited are Ossiomo Power Plant, a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between Edo State government and Ossiomo Power Company; Edo Tech Park, a software engineering training institute to help actualize the state government’s vision of producing about 15,000 world-class software engineers.
Also visited are the Edo State College of Nursing Sciences, Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub and Sound Stage, Stella Obasanjo Hospital, Benin Central Park, John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA), Civil Service Infrastructure, Renovation of High Court Complex, Industrial Court Complex.
Facilities the group also visited include Edo Production Hub, Sapele road, Museum of West African Art (MOWWA), Edogis, Daisy Danjuma Centre, the Golf Mews, Benin City Mall in Sapele road, Edo Agric Hub, Education Hub among others.
Recall that Asue Ighodalo, Chairman Board of Trustees, Alaghodaro Economic Summit Limited had at a press conference , said that the yearly Alaghodaro Summit, had in the last seven years provided a platform for public and private sector participants in Edo State to chart the course for the State’s growth trajectory.
Ighodaro said the summit also showcases the progress being recorded in transforming the State into an investment haven.
He said insights from the summits in seven years have helped in shaping the government’s reforms and programmes, which have bettered the lives of the majority of Edo people and placed the State on the path to sustainable and accelerate growth and development.
“Obaseki is very focused on the developmental strides that must be made to move Edo State from where it was to a more desirable height. He set up a board and incorporated it as a company limited by guarantee and separate it from the government itself so as to enable us to drive the process annually.
“We get recommendations from every Alaghodaro, and provide same to government and the government looks at it and sees parts which key into the government’s policies and plans. These have helped to enhance the development of Edo State and move our people out of poverty through strong infrastructure and others.
“There are lot of work to be done but in the last seven years, there have been transformational changes in the State and many of the ideas have come from the outcomes of the Alaghodaro Summit”, he said.