By Esho Ayemoba in Benin
The President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, is scheduled as the keynote speaker at the 2023 edition of the Alaghodaro Summit, which is being held to mark the seventh anniversary of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration in Edo State.
Spokesperson for Edo State Government, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, in a press statement averred that the summit is being organised by the private sector in Edo State to showcase reforms, investment and strategic alliances that have midwifed the transformation of the State into an industrial hub.
However, followers of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s investment drive seven years down the lane are also asking if the drive has added or made much positive impact even in the absence of data and figures accruing from these drives. A post-mortem after the much anticipated event will do well to chronicle ‘The Edo Story’ in balanced perspective.
There is no doubt that for instance that the parlous state of the federal and state roads across the state and insecurity to mention but a few have eroded some of the gains of these drive.
According to Osagie, this year’s edition of the annual summit is billed to run between November 8 and 12, with the theme, “The Edo Story: Creating Shared Opportunities into the Future.”
Osagie, also quoted the statement, from the Chairperson, Local Organising Committee and Executive Secretary, Alaghodaro Economic Summit Limited/Gte, Eire Ifueko Alufohai, as saying that Dangote has been scheduled as the keynote speaker at this year’s summit, noting that he will be sharing insights of his experience as an investor in the State.
Dangote Group in the course of the last seven years completed the greenfield six million metric tonnes Okpella Cement Plant, which is contributing immensely to the overall production capacity of the Dangote conglomerate’s cement business in Nigeria.
The insights from Dangote at the summit will point to the landmark reforms that have drastically improved the ease of doing business in the State, ensuring that investors are able to initiate new ventures and expand their existing investments.
Alufohai said, “Governor Godwin Obaseki, in the past seven years, has been relentless in his pursuit to attract investments to Edo State, focusing on key sectors that have the potential to stimulate economic growth and development, and create better opportunities for the people.
“We expect that insights by Africa’s richest man would do justice to questions regarding the reforms undertaken in the State in the last seven years to open Edo up for investment.”
She added, “The upcoming summit, being the last to be celebrated under the sterling leadership of Governor Obaseki will highlight the gains of the government’s business-friendly policies and reforms over the past seven years that have spurred investment in various sectors of the State with a strategic focus on expansion and sustainability of these investments for long-term economic prosperity and advancement.”
Listing activities lined up to mark this year’s summit exciting and memorable, Alufohai said, “The activities lined up for this year’s summit 2023 include the Edo Women Conference scheduled for Wednesday, November 8, 2023, which will be followed by the Ancient City Tour and Cocktail on Thursday, November 9, 2023.
“On Friday, November 10, 2023, will be the main Alaghodaro Summit, Muslim Prayers, Award and Dinner, while the Governor’s Golf Tournament, Food Fair and Youth Concert will take place on Saturday, November 11, 2023. The event will end on Saturday, November 12, 2023 with Thanksgiving Service.”