Ogun State government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are to cooperate in the areas of economic development and technology.This was stated at a stakeholders’ meeting between UNDP team, led by the Chief Innovative Officer, Mr. Williams Tsuma, and heads of Ogun State government’s agencies, led by Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Dapo Okunbadejo.

Speaking at the event, Okunbadejo underscored the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration’s forward-looking vision for the state with particular focus on infrastructure.

The commissioner stressed the importance of partnerships, acknowledging the pivotal role of youths in propelling development and growth. He emphasised the state’s intent to leverage UNDP’s support in all sphere of human endeavours.

He affirmed the state’s preparedness to collaborate with UNDP, citing shared interests such as creating an enabling environment for business, fostering Public-Private partnerships for state development, and ensuring the prosperity of the people.

In his remarks, Tsuma praised Ogun State for its relatable vision and outlined UNDP’s focus on creating an integrated team for priority areas, which includes macroeconomic planning, inclusive growth, financing frameworks, as well as support in climate and energy sustainability.

He emphasised UNDP’s commitment to supporting the Nigerian government as well as sub-nationals in tackling development challenges, adding that the organisation aims to achieve this by fortifying and establishing institutions that champion inclusive sustainable development and democratic governance.

He noted that the meeting was informed by the need for African nations to generate a smart-niche based development plan, which are agile and responsive to risk and well as contingencies for unplanned events.

The UNDP team also visited the Bureau of Information Technology (BIT), at Ogun techHub, Kobape, Abeokuta, where it indicated interest in boosting the technology initiatives of the Ogun State government.

Also speaking, the Co- founder of GetFundedAfrica, Adebowale Omololu, noted that Ogun State is one of the best states in Nigeria where investors have good ambience to operate, which also makes organisation grow.