The World Bank has hailed the industrialisation and agricultural development drive of the Ogun State Government.

The bank gave the commendation during a meeting with officials of the government in continuation of its assessment tour of the state, pledging to further support the Senator Ibikunle Amosun administration’s development agenda.

Leader of the team, Mr. Kofi Nouve, who described Ogun State as one of the leading states in terms of promoting agriculture and industrialisation in Nigeria, said that the purpose of the visit was to assess the state government’s projects and explore areas of financial and technically support.

According to him, the move to partner with the state government, started about a year ago, with visits to farmlands and industries in the state, with a focus to assist in reducing poverty, through creation of more vocational skills for the youths.

“This is the fourth assessment visit to the state, to look at the development plans of the government, particularly in agriculture, industrialisation and vocational skills. The World Bank is partnering Ogun State’s development agenda, because we know that agricultural production and industrialisation are crucial.

“This, I can say, is a unique opportunity for the state government, because we are out to make investment productive by creating job opportunities, towards enhancing the diversification of the state’s economy,” Nouve stated.

He added that the bank would also interface with the Ministries of Education, Agriculture and Commerce, in order to identify likely gaps and provide vocational training for the youths.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Ms. Aderenle Adesina, declared that the Gateway State is engaging the World Bank for budget support, adding that the bank would assess the development plan of the state, her budget and see how it could assist in funding the state’s projects, emphasising that attention would be focused on agricultural production, industrialisation and vocational skills

She said that the state needed the support of the bank to explore its agricultural resources to the optimum, develop the industries, considering the land space and nearness to the market and ensure that the citizens acquire the needed skills in order to be employed in the sectors.

“The State Government needs the budget support in line with best global practices, that would take the state to greater heights. This meeting is not to impress the World Bank, but to access where we are, be open about where we are, to identify where we need to be, present our potentials and see where we needed assistance” the commissioner added.

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