Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has said his government will sustain policies and reforms to guarantee an enabling environment for local and foreign businesses to thrive in the state.
The governor gave the assurance at the 26th Annual Conference of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) with the theme, “Capital Market and Agricultural Development in Nigeria: lssues and The Way Forward,” held in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
Obaseki, represented by the Edo State Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa Esq., commended the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers for its role in the growth and development of the nation’s economy.
He said, “The institute plays a critical role in the nation’s industrialization drive as we advance in building a virile private sector. The Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers has continued in deepening the development of the Nigerian capital market, providing professional services in various sectors, including security, asset management and corporate finance.
Established in 1992, the institute has grown to over 3000 professional levels, who continue to provide advisory and other essential services to deepen investment in the Nigerian economy.”
Obaseki added, “I am a founding member of this institute and I have come to witness the impressive growth trajectory of this organization. Nigeria’s robust and growing free market economy has benefited from the professionalism exhibited by members of this great institute and I am certain that this organization will continue to play a pivotal role in Nigeria’s industrialization drive.”
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The governor while reassuring a safe and conducive environment for businesses in the state to thrive, the governor continued: “We are fortunate to have in our state, the biggest publicly-traded commercial agricultural companies, notably Okomu Plc and Presco Plc, both of which operate massive oil palm plantations in the state.
“These companies have grown exponentially, returning high dividends to investors in the last few years. They have also benefited from our government’s initiatives such as the land management reforms and the push for expanding commercial agriculture to engender sustainable growth.
“Given the supply gap in the oil palm sector, we have developed the Edo state Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP) in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which de-risk investment in oil palm plantation and the agricultural sector,” he added.
The President and Chairman of Council of the Institute, Mr Oluwole Adeosun, hailed the governor’s commitment to attracting and safeguarding investments in the state, adding, “Our host, Edo State, has carved a niche for itself as an economy that thrives successfully on agriculture.
“In terms of states with a strong agrarian focus and environment in Nigeria today, Edo State is a significant point of reference. We, therefore, congratulate the people of Edo State, particularly, Governor Godwin Obaseki for this laudable achievement.”
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