- CBN, Ministry of Mines to Support Osun Initiatives
The Central Bank of Nigeria has assured Osun State of its support for the plan to streamline activities the artisan miners in the state, as well as the youth entrepreneurship programme of the new administration.
A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Osun State Governor, Adeniyi Adesina, quoted the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, as giving the assurance while receiving Governor Gboyega Oyetola and his team in his office in Abuja.
He dismissed the notion that many states in the country could not be viable, adding that if regions could be self-sustaining during the First Republic, states should not be going to Abuja to beg for money.
The CBN governor said states should harness their potential in agriculture.
Emefiele also commended Oyetola for his plan to improve agriculture and urged states to embrace agriculture to provide employment opportunities for their people and generate revenue.
The CBN governor said, “I do not think states can’t be viable. They were self-sustaining in the days of the regions. I don’t like states coming to Abuja with a pan in hands.
“We‘ve abandoned agriculture. Everybody is now depending on oil. States can be viable if they leverage their advantage.”
He then promised to support Osun State within the ambit of the CBN programmes, adding that he had known the governor for many years as a man of integrity and competence when he was a private sector player.
In his remarks, Oyetola said Osun had a large deposit of mineral resources in many parts of the state, especially gold, which the state had not been able to take full advantage of.
He sought support for the Small and Medium-scale Enterprises and the Youth Entrepreneurship Programme of his administration.
Oyetola said the state planned to streamline artisan mining, adding that he would seek support for his agricultural programme, especially the plan to establish nine farm centres in the nine federal constituencies.
Also, while receiving Oyetola in his office, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Bawa Bwari, promised support to organised artisan miners and to back the state to get the best advantage of its mineral deposit.
Bwari described the visit of the governor to his ministry less than one month after assuming office, as “an indication of the seriousness you’ve taken your role.”
