Calls for Collaboration, partnership in funding Energy, Railway Infrastructure
Opolo Global Innovation Limited was part of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria’s Southwest Investment Promotion (IPA 2.0) Agencies Conference held at Akure in Ondo State on 26 and 27, April, 2023. Opolo, represented by her Ondo State Research Coordinator, Dr. Adesola Ikudayisi, called for collaboration and partnership in funding the critical sectors discussed at the gathering. Ikudayisi also noted the importance of innovative technology on transport connecting nodes and blockchain technology in food system efficiency. She averred that innovative ideas and political will can move the conversation on leveraging the
While declaring the conference open, the deputy governor of Ondo State, H.E Hon. Lucky Ayedatiwa commended DAWN for the move to pay attention on how the states making up the region would leverage on the recent development. He noted that the outcome of the conference would form the bedrock of the industrialization drive of the western region.
In his own opening remarks, the Director General of DAWN Commission, Dr. Seye Oyeleye stated that the need to chart a new course for societal impact through power and rail transportation necessitated the gathering. He further said that for the region to reap the much needed gains from the decentralisation of powers on railway transportation and power, there must be regional collaboration of both public and private sector to create a roadmap to prosperity for the region. He averred that the essence of the conference is to brainstorm for game changing ideas to redirect economic initiatives and create investment opportunities.
The Keynote Speaker at the Power Sector Session, Prof Yemi Oke averred that for the region to benefit from the recent development in the power sector, there is a need to put in place a framework that will alter power sector equation in the South West. The Professor of Energy and Electricity Law listed the re-acquisition and re-financing in the power sector; restructuring of DISCOs and GENCOs; national grid concession as well as LGA based power generation as some of the initiatives to be undertaken by the region so as to reap bountifully from the power reform of the FG. He also added the introduction of mobile power sub stations, extensive solarisation and progressive licensing regime as sector-driven initiatives.
In his own submission, the Keynote Speaker for the railway session, Mr. Otunola Abiodun Adebayo observed that the decentralization of the train decentralization will provide opportunities to the region by engendering economic explosion and productivity creating economic hubs around the stations. He also noted that the railway transportation would provide connections to the hinterlands. He said there is a need for collaboration among member states to come up with an infrastructure development plan to reap the benefits of the decentralization. He called for political will on the part of the Southwest States in order to realize the full opportunities of the development in the region.
The conference, which focused on efforts to leverage the new leeway provided by the Federal Government’s expulsion of the power sector and railway transportation from the exclusive list and including it in the concurrent list, had participants and experts drawn from the six states of the region.
Photo Gallery
The Deputy of Governor of Ondo State, Hon Lucky Ayedatiwa; DG DAWN Commission, Dr Seye Oyeleye; Guest Speaker, Prof Yemi Oke and other dignitaries at a photo session.
Opolo Research for innovation and Community Coordinator, Dr. Adesola Ikudaisi with the DG, DAWN Commission,Dr Seye Oyeleye.