The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board in reiterating its commitment to partner with state governments to establish Industrial Park Schemes to create job opportunities for unemployed youths and technological transfer to small and medium scale businesses as well as help these enterprises integrate and participate in industrial activities especially in the oil and gas sector to grow the economy recently constituted the Industrial Park Project Joint Committee with the Government of Bayelsa State.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Trade, Industry and Investment, Mr. Ayakeme Masa who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Barr. Ebi Collins Daniel stated that the joint committee is charged with the responsibility of looking at the variables in the Industrial Park proposal before the Bayelsa State Government through the Ministry and to discuss general issues relating to this partnership such as the state government’s collaboration with the Board and setting up sub-bodies that will look into critical areas to make the project successful and fast for the progress and development of Bayelsa State, the Niger Delta region and Nigeria at large.
The Commissioner noted that every other mandate not enumerated will be communicated to members as it was the desire of the state government and the Board to give the committee three weeks within which make findings and submit reports so that both parties could adopt a working document for the realization of the Park as the basis that will help the oil and gas bastion based on the deliberations to spur the industrial development of the state.
The Committee, however, has Mr. Tunde Adelana, Director, Monitoring and Evaluation at the Board as Chairman while members include Engr. Ginah O. Ginah, General Manager, Downstream at the Board; Mr. Raphael Opuofoni, Special Assistant to the Commissioner on Investment, Bayelsa State Government and Mr. James Jokori, Director, Finance and Supply in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment. Patience Ranami Abah, Company Secretary, Bayela Property and Investment Company serves as Secretary.
In his response, the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Tunde Adelana expressed appreciation for the task given the members with a firm commitment that the committee will discharge its responsibilities considering the time frame. He mentioned that the establishment of an Industrial Park in Bayelsa State is by no means a very critical part of the economic development of the area as it is one of the key thrust of the Board and a project it intends to quickly set up. The Chairman assured that the committee will work collectively to see that the idea of the park comes to light.
Mr. Adelana reflected that the initiative of an Industrial Park was conceived by the Board and incidentally the Bayelsa State Government was also pondering in that direction which brought about a synergy of purpose with same goals and objectives to work as partners in ensuring the framework is on ground. He stated that the Board had already identified a parcel of land around Otuoke which meets all necessary requirements of an Industrial Park as this is part of what the committee will take into consideration.
It could be recalled that the Board earlier this year led a delegation by the Executive Secretary, Engr. Ernest Nwapa to the Government of Bayelsa State to introduce activities of the Board as well as share its plans with the state government. During the visit, the Executive Secretary disclosed the Board’s skills acquisition programme which will be replicated across the country starting from the oil producing states, with an indication that the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industrial Park Scheme will be launched soon.
In retrospect, Engr. Nwapa announced the Board’s plans to establish more business friendly environment for small businesses noting that it will be achieved through the setting up of Industrial Parks in the nine oil producing states for the purpose of attracting domestic and foreign direct investment, integrate local supply chain and monitor SMEs with a view to having mutual benefits with international firms.
This according to the Executive Secretary would build capacity and create facilities beyond government agencies where the teeming youths can be gainfully employed so it can measure its progress with any indices to be used as a cardinal objective of promoting community participation and integration of community entrepreneurs.
