Ekiti News reports that Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has officially inaugurated the Board for Fountain Holding Limited and the Ekiti Development and Investment Promotion Agency. He emphasized the imperative to revitalize and reposition these agencies, aiming to elevate them into significant contributors to Nigeria’s investment ecosystem.
The governor said this during the inauguration ceremony at the Exco Chamber of the Governor’s Office in Ado Ekiti on Monday. He urged the newly appointed board members to focus on initiatives that will effectively transform the agencies into substantial contributors to the economic growth of the state.
Governor Oyebanji said his administration’s goal is to establish the state as a competitive force in the country by attracting both public and private enterprises.
The governor, who explained that his dream is to see the Fountain Holdings become a major player in the country’s investment ecosystem, said the board should diversify the current portfolio of companies under its managements to explore new vista of greener investment pasture across sectors.
Emphasizing the critical role of the agencies in fulfilling his administration’s job and wealth creation mandate, Governor Oyebanji stressed that increased business operations, facilitated by these agencies, are essential for unlocking opportunities that will support overall development plans for the state.
He therefore charged the new chairmen and board members “to do everything possible to ensure Fountain Holdings becomes a fat cow from which the state can milk profitably through taxable income for the prosperity of our dear state”.
Governor Oyebanji said his expectation is to see Agencies expand their current portfolio and use it as weapon of socioeconomic empowerment in line with the local content agenda of his administration.
The Governor added that the agencies should invest and promote businesses that can solve housing, capital, credit access, technological, infrastructural, and knowledge needs of Ekiti people.
“My ultimate dream is to see the Holdings become a major player, not only in the Ekiti business arena, but in the Nigeria’s investment ecosystem. There are enormous opportunities for the Holdings to delve into, to diversify the current portfolio of companies under its managements, and to explore new vista of greener investment pastures across sectors.
“I therefore want to charge the new Chairman, Mr. Jide Ogundare and the entire team to do everything possible to ensure Fountain Holdings become a fat cow from which the State can milk profitable and taxable income for the prosperity of our State.
“The Holdings should also key into our job creation vision, which is a major way of engendering inclusive growth and development. ” The Governor stated.
Responding on behalf of the board members, the Chairman, Fountain Holdings Limited, Mr. Jide Ogundare, who expressed his gratitude to the Governor for the trust placed in them, assured the Governor that the new board members will implement strategic measures that would attract both local and foreign investment to Ekiti State.
He pledged that the boards will work diligently to promote investment opportunities and improve investment climate in the state through efficient service delivery in alignment with the vision of the Oyebanji led-administration.