By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa.
Governor Ademola Adeleke has pledged renewed commitment to service delivery and infra upgrade of Osun state to jumpstart the state economy and create communal wealth for the people.
The Governor who made the pledge while accepting the latest award from City People as the Most Impactful Governor of the Year in Infrastructure said his administration remains unwavering in its commitment to complete all ongoing and new projects.
Represented by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, the Governor said his goal is to bridge the huge infrastructure deficit inherited from the previous administration by spreading development across the local governments and the main cities and town centres.
While appreciating the award from City People and other reputable organizations, Governor Adeleke declared that a world class infrastructure is compulsory for rapid economic growth.
“Osun state under our watch is getting upgraded infrastructure in transport, education, health, agriculture, water, power, digital economy among others. We will not stop until Osun attains number one position on infra rating”, the Governor was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, Governor Adeleke has advocated the adoption of Asian and Arab models in the diaspora policy of Nigeria.
He gave the advice while delivering a weekend lecture in London at an event organised by the the Cultural Hangout Festival (CHF), held in commemoration of Africa Day.
The Governor represented by Otunba Soji Adewusi said sustainable cultural renaissance and economic empowerment of Africans in the diaspora demands the adoption of the Arab, Indian and the Asian strategies.
“The Asian, Indian and Arab communities in the diaspora are tightly knitted together. They not only maintained strong cultural ties in the diaspora, they maintained coordinated linkage with their home communities. The Pakistanis, the Indians, the Arabs never for once neglect their cultural practices nor severe ties with their home base. They build their success stories on the tradition and customs which they imported into the diaspora.
“As of today all over Europe and North America, the Asians are the most successful immigrant communities. Their weaponization of culture as a platform of empowerment works so much for the Asians that Africans should take a cue. The abandonment of individualism as migrant strategies works for the Asians and it should work for the Africans”, the Governor noted in the lecture.
According to him, African leaders have a lot to learn from the Asians, submitting that governmental and diplomatic support for the Diaspora community is not yet at par with the Asian diaspora diplomatic strategy.
“Unlike pervasive individualism which has crept into the diplomatic service and Diaspora community, the Asian consulates are designed to directly promote the diaspora in terms of diplomatic and economic support.
“There is the need for the African government to regard the diaspora as a strong economic asset and robustly deploy diplomatic infrastructure to empower our citizens all over the world. Our diplomatic structures must run outreach programmes”, he advocated.
The event was attended by cultural icons and dignitaries from several African countries.
