Adeleke woos Chinese investors, pledges industrial growth in Osun

Ademola Adeleke of Osun says he is committed to the industrialisation of the state through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

This is contained in a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Malam Olawale Rasheed, on Monday in Osogbo.

According to the statement, Adeleke made this known during a meeting with a group of Chinese investors who were in the state to set up factories in Ile-Ife.

The governor said his administration had deliberately enforced ease-of-doing-business reforms since 2022 to attract both local and foreign investors.

He added that tax administration had been harmonised to eliminate multiple taxation, noting that the policy had eased the burden on small businesses across the state.

Adeleke also said the state investment agency had been upgraded to improve response time and service delivery to investors.

“We have removed bureaucratic bottlenecks in securing business permits.

“From the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to the Ministry of Lands, a strict timeline is enforced to attend to businessmen and citizens alike.

“Our free trade zones, neglected for more than 12 years, are now operational, and we are encouraging foreign investors to join others already securing spaces there.

“We also pioneered a 45-day window for processing Certificates of Occupancy (C of O), and we have recorded significant success in this regard,” he said.

The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to industrialising Osun through a PPP framework.

He commended the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland, Oba Adesuyi Haastrup and other traditional rulers for their sustained efforts in attracting investors to the state.

The leader of the Chinese Prodigy Group of Companies, Mr Chi Chi, said the firm was seeking to expand its operations to Osun, having already established a presence in six other states in Nigeria.

Chi said the group manufactures doors of various designs, bolts, nuts and adhesives, assuring the governor that the company was ready to commence construction once land issues were resolved.

“We are committed to establishing our factory in Osun and will engage our partners on opportunities within the Free Trade Zone.

“We are impressed with the investment environment,” he said.