A total of seven Memoranda of Understanding were signed between the Kogi State Government and private partners over the two-day Kogi State Economic and Investment Summit, which ended on Wednesday, 14th February.
Four of the MOUs were signed with energy companies while two were with agriculture companies. The last was with a global tourism brand, that has agreed to build a 20-storey facility on the top of Mount Patti to attract fun-seekers to the state. The signings were only some of the many side attractions that took place at the event.
Two of the MOUs were signed with the Nigerian Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, as witness. He was in attendance on Day One and they are the ones signed with PowerChina International Group Limited on a 10MW Solar power plant and provision of 33kV lines for evacuation to local grid and Ghaba International on a tourist resort.
Speaking on the MOUs, the Commissioner for Finance, Asiwaju Idris, said the partners were carefully selected and the process was duly certified by the Ministry of Justice. He said the signing was months in the making and he was happy that step has been taken.
“Kogites should be proud that at last they have a Governor that has the political will to use the resources of the state to create wealth for the majority of the people,” he said. “To demonstrate his seriousness, in front of live cameras and with the whole world watching, Governor Bello signed two MOUs on Day One of the summit that will have lasting positive impact on the economy of the state and her good people. This shows the summit was not only a talk shop but one that has already wielded results without delay.”
In his keynote address at the summit, Prof. Osinbajo described Governor Bello as both ambitious and far-sighted. He said he had been privileged to see a document that outlined a 32-year Master Plan for the state developed by the current government.