Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo State has stated that the new Integrated Produce City (IPC) established in the Ugbokun area of the State will drastically reduce unemployment in the state, in addition to combatting poverty and improving security.
He said this at the launch of the Integrated Produce City (IPC), established by Prof. Pat Utomi and other foreign partners. “This is an event that will kick-start what will add meaning and value to thousands of people both within and outside here.” ThisDay reports Oshiomole as saying.
The Governor further used the event to reiterate the determination of his party’s candidate for the forthcoming gubernatorial elections to creating 200,000 new jobs for youths in the State in order to alleviate poverty and unemployment.
“This gathering couldn’t have been better not just what we have been telling people in the past three months that our candidate said he would create 200,000 jobs many believe that it is not possible…” Oshiomole states.
On his part, Prof. Utomi stated that the IPC was conceptualized to remove the most common problems facing farmers, including yield losses and the challenge of poor infrastructure. He said the project was in line with the present mantra of moving away from dependence on oil revenue to other sectors, which in the run run would benefit the country.
He also labelled the current economic crisis as a blessing in disguise, as it would move Nigerians to look to other sectors for development. “Let me shock you by saying that the recession we face in Nigeria is a golden opportunity. It is not a problem; it is an opportunity to finally get the Nigerian economy right.” ThisDay reports Utomi as saying.
Parts of this article originally appeared in ThisDay Newspapers.