Southwest Governors Agree on Regional Integration to Boost Education, Food Exchange

 

Agree on Regional Integration to Boost Education, Food Exchange

Governors of the 6 states in Nigeria’s southwest on Monday met in Ado-Ekiti, capital of Ekiti state where they agreed on joint efforts to promote education and the economy of the region.

Having agreed on the need to give quality education to the youths in the southwest, the governors agreed to each build a regional centre of excellence to maintain the high standards.

The southwest governors agreed on the importance of regional integration to fast-track economic development and meet the infrastructure needs of the region.

Concerning security, the 6 governors will direct the Commissioners of Police in their respective states to hold joint meetings to share intelligence and ensure safety in aerial, land and waterways in the region, while the southwest governments would support with critical resources.

Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose, reading a communique after the meeting, said the southwest governors have also resolved to work together on energy and power, digital and telecoms; leisure and entertainment as well as water infrastructure by constituting a Regional Technical Working Group on South-West Integrated Infrastructural Development.

Punch reports that the forum also approved the South-West Regional Integrated Commercial Agriculture Development Programme while Lagos is to champion a structured regional food exchange programme.

“The Odua Investment Group is to serve as a special purpose vehicle to drive the regional economic integration mission.

“Lagos will  reinforce itself as a stakeholder and critical part of the Odua Investment Group as the vehicle for the socio-political and economic development of the South-West geopolitical zone of Nigeria within the framework of prospering the lot our people,” the communique read in part.

Those at the meeting, apart from Governor Fayose, who was the host, were governors Rauf Aregbesola (Osun); Senator Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo); Dr Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo); Mr Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos); while Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga, represented Governor Ibikunle Amosun.