Sola POPOOLA
The Biodun Oyebanji Administration in Ekiti State has again underscored the importance and involvement of traditional rulers and communities in investment opportunities in the state.
The governor stated that It’s not enough to attract investors but the major thing is to sustain and maintain investment in the state through the supports of the traditional rulers.
Speaking through the Director-General, Ekiti State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (EKDIPA) Ms Lolade Olutola at the just concluded Traditional Rulers Retreat held at Ikogosi Warm Springs and Conference Center, she said ”Something Governor Biodun Oyebanji never erode is the involvement of traditional rulers and community in investment opportunities.”
Themed “Unlocking Ekiti’s Potentials: The Role of Traditional Rulers In Attracting Investments, the DG disclosed that the monarchs in Ekiti have played significant roles in this regard.”
According to her, ”Land as an entity, is in the community, the government can have ownership of practically everything in that jurisdiction but this land are situated in the community and all community are being governed by paramount rulers.”
The DG said: “another thing is that for investment to thrive in this community, there must be peace sustainability. Security is one of the major areas that community can secure investment opportunities in the state.”
“For investment to move further in the state, the collaboration of all traditional rulers is higher needed and that of the community members.” “Agbeyewa Farms were able to get expansion in their land as a result of community acceptance, the host community received them into their midst.”
“Investment will be domicile somewhere, even if it’s in the space, it still has to stay on the land. Any form of investment coming in, even the Ekiti Knowledge Zone project is domiciled in a community, Ago Araromi and Ijan Ekiti.”
“That means the investment coming in will domicile in one community or the other. It’s not enough to attract investors but the major thing is to sustain and maintain investment. Sustainability brings economic growth and development and that’s why our Monarchs and residents have major roles to play to support investors to thrive. I’m not in position to tell Monarchs what to do but this is applicable.”
“For us to be able to retain investors in the state, we also need to conduct stakeholders engagement. The paramount rulers are also in the position to tell the citizenry on what to expect from those investments.”
“That is why even as a government, the major thing that His Excellency, Governor Biodun Oyebanji never erode is the involvement of traditional rulers and community in investment opportunities. For investment to move further in the state, the collaboration of all traditional rulers is highly needed and that of the community members.”
“Ekiti State Government flagged off the 3D Drone Arial Mapping which is a welcome development to improving the investment climate in the state. This is to ensure that the land in Ekiti state is much more secured and also to reduce any form of grievances.”
“The government can easily attract investment but without the collaboration of the host communities, it will be very difficult, almost impossible to keep that investment”. Mrs Olutola said.