EKSG Seeks China’s Partnership In Commercial Agriculture, Other Sectors

By 

Abasi Femi Oguntayo 

The Ekiti State government has canvassed the partnership of the

government and people of China to achieve sustainable development in

the key sectors and delivery of its four-point agenda.

The
Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, made the call while addressing
the representatives of the Chinese government and business community at
the celebration of the Chinese Lunar Year in Lagos.

The
Lunar Year celebration also featured discussion on China’s Belt and
Road Initiative (BRI) and production capacity cooperation between

China and Nigeria.

According to a statement on Tuesday by his Special Assistant (Media), Odunayo Ogunmola, Egbeyemi spoke on business and economic

opportunities available in Ekiti for potential Chinese investors and business community.

Egbeyemi listed areas Ekiti would need China’s support to include training and retraining of workers, mechanized and commercial

agriculture,
healthcare delivery, development of educational institutions and
establishment industries to absorb unemployed youths.

The
forum was attended by Ambassador of China to Nigeria, Mr. Zhou Pingjan;
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Director General of

Lagos Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Mr. Muda

Yusuf, Director General of National Association of Chambers of

Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mr. Ayoola

Olukanmi, among others.

The deputy governor said the state had both human and inherent natural

resources for the development and sustenance of capital investment in

the State.

Revealing the intention of the Fayemi administration on mechanized and

commercial farming, Egbeyemi, explained that Ekiti State was blessed

with vast arable land and yet to be accessed natural resources that

could boost the economy of the country if properly harnessed.

Egbeyemi sought the intervention of Chinese government in provision of

vaccine for immunization and equipment for its hospital to enhance

health services accessibility to the people especially those at the grassroots.

This, he said, would reduce infant mortality rate, morbidity and the

spread of infectious diseases.

Egbeyemi who revealed plans to partner Chinese government on development of its educational institutions in the State said such

development would help produce self dependent graduates and reduce

unemployment in the State.

The
deputy governor charged the Chinese government who he claimed had
benefitted from award of contracts from Ekiti State government to allow
the people of the State feel its presence by establishing companies and
investing in the economy of the State.

The four point agenda on which the Fayemi administration anchors its

economic revival plan are social investment, knowledge economy,

agricultural and rural development and infrastructural development.

In his address, the Chinese envoy to Nigeria, Ambassador Pingjian

revealed
that the initiative would focus on industrial promotion,
infrastructural connectivity, trade facility, green development,
capacity building, healthcare, people to people exchange and security

initiative.

Pingjian
expressed confident and readiness of China to deepen and sustain
cooperation with Nigeria in the realization of the joint construction of
the Belt and Road initiative.