Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has added another feather to his highly glittering cap when he was conferred with an Award of the Most Entrepreneurial Friendly Governor in Africa by the Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs Empowerment Nigeria (AYEEN).
The Award was bestowed on the Governor at the AYEEN 2019 Convention, held at the International Culture and Event Center (DOME), Igbatoro road, Akure, the state capital.
The summit, which according to the organizers, has over 6,000 young entrepreneurs in attendance, was also graced by the Honorable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare and a host of foreign guests.
The Africa’s Young Entreprenuers is a platform with a vision of successfully developing Africa’s budding entrepreneurs through mutual networking, and with established captains of industries.
The A.Y.E brings learning, resources and business acumen, with the aim of developing young entrepreneurs within the age of 18 – 45, with 12.6 million members in 20 African Countries.
The Award, according to the organizers of the event, was in recognition of Governor Akeredolu’s commitment to the development and upliftment of the youths and its industrial vision.
Presenting the Award to the Governor, the A. Y. E President, Summy Francis, commended the Governor’s vision for the youths and his commitment to development.
He described the Governor as a humble leader whose humility was manisfested the first day the A.Y.E visited his office , at Alagbaka, Akure.
In his welcome address, Governor Akeredolu said his administration has taken a practical step in tackling the socio-economic challenges inherited in the state through consistent abridgement of the huge infrastructural deficit which will encourage genuine investors to come into the State.
The Governor said:”This administration, at inception, was not under any false impression that Federal Allocation, which could barely pay salaries and subventions, was all the State needed to stay afloat.
“We were convinced of the necessity of ingenious intervention if the State was to break even. We have been able to engage some of our youths at various levels in spite of the huge wage bill with its debilitating effects on the economy of the State.
“We embarked on a course with a view to giving a new orientation to the people on the significance of being self-reliant. The young ones are the ambassadors who must drive this new thinking.“
While charging the Youths to be creative and focused, Governor Akeredolu urged them to Shun crimes and drug abuse, adding that they must collaborate with the government to combat crime.
”We encourage the deepening of activities by investors at the Industrial Hub in Ore. Our Highways are receiving serious attention from the State Government. We advise our youths to avail themselves of the benefits which these efforts offer.” the Governor said.
