Governor Kayode Fayemi of? Ekiti state says? the cheap labour available in the state has made it an investor’s ideal? destination.The governor said this on Friday? in Ado-Ekiti? at the opening of a? two-day economic and development summit organised by the state government.
Fayemi, however, expressed regrets that in spite of a well educated and productive populace, epileptic power supply and poor road network? were hampering? the investment drive of? government.
He said Ekiti produces the highest number of graduates in the country although many of them remained unemployed.
“Manpower is available in quantity and in quality in Ekiti State? because Ekiti produces the highest number of graduates.
“I want to add that labour here is affordable to any investor and? we have them in all your areas of specialisation”, he said.
He also said the state government had taken steps to access a? N25 billion bond from the capital market, noting that it had been over-subscribed at the Security Exchange Commission (SEC).
The governor said the bond would be used to provide infrastructure which would create an enabling environment for investors.
Fayemi said the need to make the state conducive for investors informed the proposal for the conversion of the new governor’s office into an hotel to boost the hospitality industry.
“Hotels in Ado-Ekiti are substandard. They don’t have the necessary security and infrastructural accessories that can attract investors”, he said.
The governor also said the bill backing the establishment of a? Bureau of? Public Private Partnership to be headed by a director general had been passed by the? State Assembly, adding that this would further boost investment.
Earlier, Mr. Sola Folorunso, the permanent secretary, state planning commission and MDGs, had described as laudable the 2000 and 2008 economic summits.
He, however, said? the state government failed to implement the recommendations of? the then economic development council.