Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo has secured fresh investment interest from Edo professionals and business leaders in the United Kingdom following an engagement aimed at showcasing opportunities in the state and attracting diaspora capital into the local economy.

The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Dr Patrick Ebojele, who disclosed this while speaking on the outcome of the London engagement, said the meeting had strengthened international confidence in the administration’s development agenda and opened new opportunities for partnerships between the state and Edo professionals in the diaspora.

Ebojele also dismissed criticisms that the governor’s trip to the UK was a mere “jamboree”, saying the engagement was deliberately organised as a business and investment forum to reconnect Edo indigenes abroad with developments in their home state.

He said the meeting attracted Edo professionals, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, researchers, medical practitioners, artisans and other business leaders resident in the UK.

According to him, many participants had previously depended on information circulated on social media about developments in Edo State but were able to obtain direct information from the governor and his team during the engagement.

“Many of them admitted they had been misled by negative reports on social media. After seeing presentations of ongoing projects and hearing directly from the governor, they acknowledged that Edo has changed and expressed readiness to invest,” Ebojele said.

He explained that the engagement provided participants with an opportunity to interact directly with Okpebholo, ask questions, exchange ideas and explore possible areas of investment and collaboration with the state government.

Ebojele disclosed that some diaspora groups had already submitted proposals seeking partnerships with the Edo State Government in business, industrialisation and community development.

He said the administration had assured prospective investors that it was committed to creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

According to him, Okpebholo used the occasion to highlight security as one of the major pillars of his administration’s “SHINE” agenda, stressing that investors would only commit their resources to an environment where their investments and businesses were protected.

Ebojele said the governor also highlighted what he described as improvements in the state’s security situation, particularly the reduction in cult-related violence and other criminal activities.

He said the development had helped to restore confidence among residents, businesses and potential investors.
The governor also addressed issues surrounding land administration in the state, with Ebojele explaining that the government had introduced reforms following investigations into alleged irregularities in land ownership.

He said the reforms were intended to sanitise the land administration system, improve transparency and make it easier for genuine investors to acquire land for productive purposes.

As part of efforts to attract new businesses to Edo, Okpebholo reportedly announced incentives, including the allocation of free land to the first set of qualified investors willing to establish businesses in the state.

Ebojele said such measures were designed to encourage investors to move from expressing interest in Edo to establishing actual businesses capable of creating jobs and expanding the state’s economic base.

The CPS further disclosed that the London engagement had generated interest from Edo communities in other parts of the world.

He said invitations had already been received from Edo groups in Spain, Canada and other countries seeking similar interactions with the governor.
He described the development as evidence that the diaspora engagement strategy was beginning to yield results.

“The diaspora community contributes millions of dollars annually in remittances. What the government is doing is creating a structured platform that will channel those resources into productive investments that will benefit Edo State,” Ebojele said.

The governor’s delegation included the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Bassey Agbebaku, who led members of the legislature on the visit.

The Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor; Majority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Jonathan Ibhamawu; Edo North Senator and former governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Jareth Tenebe; Commissioners for Environment and Energy, among other government officials and dignitaries, also attended the engagement.

Ebojele said the presence of key government and political leaders demonstrated the administration’s commitment to building broad-based support for its economic development initiatives.

He maintained that Okpebholo remained focused on delivering on his campaign promises despite criticism from political opponents.

According to him, the administration was not opposed to criticism but welcomed constructive suggestions that could help improve its policies and accelerate development across the state.

He described the London engagement as “highly productive”, saying it had helped to correct misconceptions about the state, strengthen relationships with Edo professionals abroad and create a pipeline of potential investments.

Ebojele said the administration would continue to engage Edo indigenes in the diaspora and international investors as part of efforts to position the state as a competitive destination for investment, business, job creation and sustainable economic development.