The Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Adeolu Akande has said that Oyo State needs a new development strategy plan that will the accelerate development of the state and make the government provide better life for the indigenes and residents of the state.
He said what the state is not witnessing a coordinated development plan that could take advantage of new realities of these times.
Professor Akande was speaking as the sidelines of Chairman of the Parliamentary Day of the National Association of Oyo Students in the ancient town of Oyo over the weekend.
Professor Akande said Oyo State needs an integrated development strategy that will weave all sectors of the state into one designed to provide better life for the people of the state.
He said Oyo State, for instance, needs to take advantage of proximity to Lagos State to fast-track its industrialization for the provision of employment to its teeming youths and creation of wealth for the people.
“Before 2011, Lagos State was the most industrialised state in Nigeria. However, the Ibikunle Amosun government between 2011 and 2019 vigorously pursued an industrialization strategy that attracted investors to the state in large number, making Ogun State the state with the highest volume of foreign investment in the country. This is the kind of initiative Oyo State should take to attract more investment to the state.
“We need a development strategy plan that for instance, integrates education to agriculture, youth empowerment, economic development, social development, sports, culture and tourism, infrastructure development etc. Those sectors cannot stand in silos and government expenditure should not be such that the sectors are not linked to reinforce development in the other sectors.
“The development strategy plan must give primary position to the ICT and target producing students who are digital literate and would become teachers, public servants and businessmen who can take advantage of the enormous potentials the ICT offers.
“Most of our schools are lacking in this facility and unless this is addressed, we would be found lagging behind in our quest for development. Unfortunately, it is in such development and creation of wealth that the population can reap more dividends of democracy.
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