Gov. Akeredolu of Ondo State

Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) of Ondo State on Tuesday restated the commitment of the administration to promoting economic growth in the state.

Receiving a group — Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) Foundation in his office, the governor said the state was operating purely as civil servants state and stressed the need to promote economic growth.

“It is as important as the air we breathe; If we do not have this growth this state will be non-existent in no distant future because the money made today is used pay our workers (bureaucracy) and little or nothing is left for development.

“We need to create an environment where economy will thrive by leaps and bounds. We are on the path, although we might be slow, we will get there,” Akeredolu said.

Akeredolu said it was imperative for the state to pilot the development of State Investment Readiness Report for its economic advantage.

“It is to our own benefit to have people who want to support us, it is a welcome development. There is no way we won’t need your initiative.

“You will be of tremendous assistance to us because your area of mandate is needed by us, so we can work together.”

Earlier, Dr Dara Akala, the Executive Director of PIND, said the foundation was established to facilitate economic growth and peace in the Niger Delta region through partnerships.

Dara promised technical assistance for the state government in its efforts toward the development of the state.

“We have looked carefully at the state’s 5-point agenda and clearly the area of job creation through agriculture, entrepreneurship and industrialisation, is a natural entry point for us,” he said.

He pointed out that the Foundation was able to support Cross River State in developing a Growth and Development Strategy (Development Roadmap) that would underpin the state’s long term development agenda.

(NAN)