Edo govt promises policies, reforms to enhance digital economy

TEdo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has reassured that his government will continue to pursue policies and programmes to enhance digital transformation for businesses in the state so as to increase their competitive advantage, improve performance and boost growth. Obaseki gave the assurance when he received the Founder and Chairman, Zinox Group, Mr. Leo Ekeh, who was on a courtesy visit at the Government House in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

The governor said his administration remains committed to opening more spaces for investors to enable them to leverage new technologies to harness the state’s industrial potential. Governor Obaseki noted: “The key to our development is our capacity to execute and make things happen for us. During my first electioneering campaign, I said I was going to create a minimum of 200,000 jobs in four years.

“But for disruptions caused by COVID- 19, we were well off over 150,000 jobs by the end of the third year. These jobs were not going to come from the government but enterprises and business activities undertaken by our citizens.”

He continued: “For us as government, our role is to create an enabling environment; an environment for people to be successful. What are the critical factors required for successful digital transformation, which leads to things like e- commerce?

“First is electricity. You recall that we did a deal with Azura Power; we did another deal with a Chinese company. We are building electricity infrastructure and thinking about closed networks in other parts of the state.”

“Edo today is one state that is ready for digital transformation in e- commerce. The second critical factor is people; training the people to think technology and use technology to do the things they need to do,” he added. Obaseki said the goal of his administration is to train nothing less than 15,000 software engineers and programmers over the next few years.

Earlier, Leo Ekeh commended the governor for creating a structure where various businesses can thrive.

The Zinox Chairman said the firm was willing to partner with the state government in harnessing various industrial business potentials and making lives meaningful for Edo citizens.

Congratulating Governor Obaseki for his welldeserved victory in the September 19, 2020 gubernatorial election, Ekeh said that the governor won the election based on trust and performance.