Ondo govt moves to deepen China partnership, attract investment to water sector — Akande
By Julius Alabi, Akure
The Ondo State government has intensified efforts to attract international investment and deepen technical collaboration in its water sector as the Commissioner for Water Resources, Public Sanitation and Hygiene, Hon. Ayodele Akande, FCA, leads a delegation of key officials on an official tour of major Chinese companies and stakeholders in the water industry.
The delegation comprises the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Princess Victoria Opeyemi Adetoye; General Manager of the Ondo State Water Corporation (ODWC), Engr. Vincent Omoge; and the Project Coordinator of the Akure Water Projects, Engr. Ayodeji Ologbese.
The visit, according to the commissioner, is part of the state government’s broader strategy to expand its international partnerships, strengthen technical capacity and unlock new investment opportunities capable of transforming the water sector in Ondo State.
Akande reaffirmed the commitment of the administration of Governor Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa to delivering on the OUR EASE agenda, particularly in the provision of sustainable and potable water to the people of the state.
During the tour, Akande and members of the Ondo State Water Sector delegation are expected to visit major contractors and manufacturing companies responsible for the production of machinery, equipment, tools and pipes approved for the reticulation and rehabilitation of the Owena Multipurpose Dam as well as the Akure Water Projects.
The engagement is expected to provide the state with an opportunity to inspect the manufacturing processes and technical capabilities of the companies involved, while strengthening working relationships with strategic partners handling critical components of the state’s water infrastructure projects.
The commissioner’s visit to China also underscores the importance attached by the Ondo State Government to ensuring that equipment and materials deployed for its major water projects meet the required technical and quality standards.
Beyond the immediate infrastructure projects, the tour is designed to open a broader window for economic diplomacy, with Akande engaging Chinese water sector leaders, investors and other key stakeholders on the enormous investment opportunities available in Ondo State.
The commissioner is expected to present the state’s water sector as an emerging investment destination, highlighting opportunities in water production, treatment, distribution, infrastructure development, technology and other areas of the water value chain.
The engagements are also expected to strengthen knowledge sharing and encourage the adoption of modern technologies and innovative solutions that could improve water supply, sanitation and public hygiene across the state.
At the centre of the delegation’s mission is the Owena Multipurpose Dam and Akure Water Projects, which remain critical to the state government’s ambition of expanding access to potable water and improving water infrastructure in Akure and other parts of the state.
The Owena project, in particular, is expected to play a significant role in addressing the water needs of the growing population of Akure and its environs, while the rehabilitation and reticulation components are designed to improve the efficiency and reach of the existing water supply network.
By taking the state’s water sector agenda directly to Chinese manufacturers, contractors and industry leaders, Akande’s tour is expected to create a stronger platform for collaboration between Ondo State and one of the world’s major infrastructure and manufacturing hubs.
The engagement also provides an avenue for the state to explore new financing, technology transfer and investment models that could accelerate the delivery of sustainable water infrastructure.
The initiative further reflects the government’s determination to complement ongoing domestic efforts with international partnerships as it seeks practical and sustainable solutions to the state’s water supply and sanitation challenges.
With the delegation’s engagement with Chinese water sector leaders and investors, the state is expected to emerge with stronger technical relationships and potentially new opportunities for collaboration in one of the most critical sectors of the state’s development agenda.
