The convener of Ibadan Entrepreneurs Network, Dr (Mrs) Oyenike Adeleke, has lauded Governor Seyi Makinde for putting to judicious use Oyo State taxpayers’ money.
Speaking during an interview with The People’s Verdict, Adeleke said, “It is obvious that the taxpayers’ money is being used well; it is going into projects, into empowerment, and infrastructural development. That is a major thing for entrepreneurship to thrive. If you know that your business will be well seen, known and people are not scared that they are in a dangerous environment or they are not scared by bad roads in coming to meet you, they will want to do business with you. So, we are getting more people into the state to do business with us.”
She added that Makinde’s decision of not increasing the taxes is also a fillip for entrepreneurs as they are encouraged to pay.
Her words: “The tax has not increased and that encourages us to pay. More so, we are seeing what the tax is being used for, and more people are encouraged to pay it.”
According to Dr Adeleke, who is also a mental health advocate, “The governor has created an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in Oyo State. Let’s talk about the infrastructural growth, let’s talk about the fact that the community has developed in terms of good roads and infrastructure. This has increased the fact that investors are coming into Oyo State. So, Oyo State is an investor-friendly environment, knowing full well that they are well covered, they have good roads to do their businesses and the environment is conducive.”
She added, “For business owners, it’s been good because we have more investors; we have more people investing in our businesses, we have more calls from the global market asking to do business with us. I think that is commendable because they have seen businesses in Oyo State as businesses they can partner with and invest in because they are seeing the return on investments.”
On her general impression about the administration, Dr Oyenike Adeleke said: “It’s been impressive. Governor Seyi Makinde has done well in pushing Oyo State to the next level. It is always from one level to another level. Oyo State has not remained where he picked it from; we have gone several steps higher than where we started from when he came in.”
Expressing her gratitude to the Makinde administration for the support enjoyed by different clusters in the Ibadan Entrepreneurs Network, she said: “Some of our farmers have been able to benefit from the distribution of fertilisers from the Ministry of Agriculture. Also, we have benefited from the training programmes that the state government has done for farmers.”
Speaking on the expectations of the business community in the state from the current administration, Adeleke said: “Ibadan Entrepreneurs Network has a community of people that cuts across different sectors. Name all the industries from fashion to food, tech to agriculture; whatever it is, we have members. We would appreciate it if the government could engage us directly. If there are opportunities, please call us and let us be part of it. We are part of the society; we are part of this administration. We are actually the bedrock; entrepreneurship is the basic thing; that is what you need to grow any economy. Without us, the economy will not grow. It is through entrepreneurship that the government can get businesses to come into the state. When it comes to importing and exporting, we have people who have hand-made things, made in Ibadan. It will be good for us to promote our Made in Ibadan products on the global market.
Adeleke described Governor Seyi Makinde as a ‘can-do governor’ who keeps his promises.
