Sanwo-Olu pledges good environment for businesses

• MTN, NLNG, Dangote, others bag NECA awards
• LASG to partner World Bank on implementation of physical development plans

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has restated the state’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the state.
The governor pledged that through strategic investments in infrastructure, security, technology and initiatives, the state would continue to support enterprise development and innovation.

Sanwo-Olu spoke during the fourth Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) yearly employers’ excellence awards, commending the association for its remarkable legacy of championing enterprise competitiveness, responsible business practices, and industrial harmony since 1957.

The governor, who was represented at the event by the Head of Service, Olabode Agoro, said the theme, “Defying the Odds,” could not be more apt as it speaks to the resilience, innovation and determination that Nigerian employers continue to demonstrate in overcoming challenges to sustain businesses, create jobs and drive national development.

He, however, called for collective action on the challenges businesses face, urging employers, as key stakeholders, to lead the charge in promoting workplace diversity, championing innovation, and prioritising employees’ well-being.

Director-General of NECA, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, who gave the rationale behind the awards, said it was to celebrate businesses’ resilience, doggedness, innovation, and contribution to national development, noting that the private sector contributes eight out of every 10 jobs,

He said that celebrating them at this time could not be over-emphasised. Oyerinde also said that the award was to celebrate businesses still operating in the country despite the nation’s tough economic terrain and the ones that have left in the last one year due to their contribution to the economy, even as he anticipates their coming back.

Meanwhile, MTN Nigeria, Fidson Healthcare and Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) took the award positions of first, second and third Employer of the Year respectively, while Dangote Industries Limited and Nestle Nigeria, among others, won the Special Awards Visual Impacts in Resilience and Entrepreneurship as well as in SDG and Green Projects respectively.

RELATEDLY, the Lagos State Government is set to partner with the World Bank on the smooth implementation of its physical development plans. The state’s Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Oluyinka Olumide, disclosed this during a meeting with World Bank representatives in Lagos.

He said the government was desirous of collaborating with experienced organisations to deepen the implementation of development plans and address critical challenges in the built environment.

In a statement, the commissioner highlighted areas where the World Bank could aid the effective implementation of plans to include manpower development, gathering, equipment and digitisation of archives to accelerate data collection, reduce technical friction in data analysis, and ultimately enhance operational efficiency.

The Permanent Secretary, Office of Physical Planning, Oluwole Sotire, added that all hands must be on deck to facilitate the implementation of physical development plans to address the challenges of urbanisation.

Speaking for the World Bank, MivaTorhonen, who welcomed the overtures of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development for collaboration, agreed that it was imperative for the ministry to collaborate with other agencies, especially the Lands Bureau, for effective delivery of its statutory responsibilities.