Industrialisation of Ijeshaland Summit to hold on Tuesday

The Summit on the Industrialisation of Ijesaland which will hold on November 11, 2014 at 11am in IBIS HOTEL, 23, Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos. The summit will be chaired by Mr. Tunde Awobiyi, a distinguished Ijesa man with an enviable record of creditable service to Ijesaland.

The Executive Governor of the State of Osun will be the Special Guest of Honour.

THE LAND AND PEOPLE

Ijesaland, consisting of 6 No local government in Osun State of Nigeria had a population of 621, 909 according to the 2006 census. Basically agrarian, Ijesaland has a good number of crops grown in commercial quantity. These include Cocoa, Kolanut, Cassava, Yam, Maize, Soya beans, Rice, All sorts of fruits, vegetables, Oil Palm, Cashew Nuts among several others are available in addition to deposits of Gold.

Ijesaland is also in the centre and has direct access to quite a lot of major cities in Yoruba land all of which are accessible through very good roads within one hour. Some of these are Akure, Osogbo, Ile-Ife, Ibadan, Ado Ekiti and so on. Thus the population within one hour spread of Ijesaland could be as high as five million people. Osogbo, a distance of less than 30 minutes to Ilesa is on the National Rail Line and could serve as a direct means of moving products to either the Northern part of Nigeria or to the Commercial and densely populated city of Lagos. In addition, Ijesaland has quite a number of major rivers with the Osun River as the largest and Esa-odo Dam one of the veritable sources of water.

The people of Ijesaland are traditionally known as great Industrialists and itinerant businessmen. They are hospitable and very supportive of any venture that will uplift the status of the land.

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The Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland His Imperial Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II, CFR, LLD is well educated and highly exposed apart from being a doctorate degree holder. He is also very supportive of industrialisation and other ventures that can rapidly bring development to Ijesaland.

Today, there is a major Industrial giant that bestrides Ijesaland like a colossus in International Breweries Plc which is quoted on The Nigerian Stock Exchange. It started productions in 1978. Other thriving Industries are the Yinka Oba Foam Industry, Rainbow Paints, Imo Farms and Apasco Foams among others. RLG a Telephone and Laptop assembly plant is also located within Ijesaland.

On human resources, Ijesaland also a number of higher Institutions such as the Joseph Ayo Babalola University, College of Technology in Esa Oke, the College of Education in Ilesa and several Technical Schools and Trade Centres. Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State University of Osogbo with a campus in Ipetu Ijesa and so many other Institutions abound around Ijesaland from which any industrial venture can access research materials and support. The products of these Institutions are also veritable sources of skilled labour for any industry located within Ijesaland.

THE SUMMIT

The summit is meant to bring together Ijesa Sons and Daughters to explore Investment Initiatives with Ijesa and Non-Ijesa Investors, Financial Institutions and Development Partners. It will highlight, the potentials for Industrialisation in Ijesaland, the market potentials, the natural resources required for Industrialisation, how to access inexpensive finance, the models for Industrialisation, Incentives in place to encourage Industrialisation in Osun State as well as review the story of some of the existing industries in Ijesaland.

The Summit is endorsed by His Excellency, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Executive Governor of the State of Osun who is also an Ijesa man.