From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
Benin City, Edo State capital, was a beehive of activities, yesterday, as different interest groups joined Governor Godwin Obaseki for a tour of some projects executed by his government in the last seven years.
The projects tour is part of activities lined up for the 2023 Alaghodaro Economic Summit, with the theme: “The Edo Story: Creating Shared Opportunities into the Future.”
This year’s Alaghodaro Economic Summit, the seventh edition, also marks the seventh anniversary of Governor Obaseki-led government.
The interest groups, including market women, civil societies organised labour, civil servants among others, lauded the state government for its development strides in the last seven years. They noted that the infrastructure have changed the economic and environmental landscape of the state.
The projects visited during the tour are all located in Edo South senatorial district, particularly in Oredo, Ikpoba-Okha, Orhionmwon and Ovia North East local government areas. They include the 6,000 barrels per day Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company (ERPC), located in Ologbo in Ikpoba-Okha and the 2,500 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, would not only help in solving the fuel crisis in the country but will also boost the state Gross Domestic Products.
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 were 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 actualise the state government’s vision of producing about 15,000 world-class software engineers, 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 on Sapele Road, Edo Agric Hub, Education Hub among others.
Asue Ighodalo, chairman, Board of Trustees, Alaghodaro Economic Summit Limited, had at a press conference, said the yearly Alaghodaro Summit, had in the last seven years provided a platform for public and private sectors’ 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,” Ighodalo said.