Elites in Remo zone of Ogun State should set the pace for the industrial development of the area by investing their human and material resources and bringing more industries to Remo, particularly Sagamu.
A former deputy governor of operations and director of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Tunde Lemo, gave the recipe on Saturday at the investiture of Sagamites Club.
Lemo, who was the Guest Speaker at the occasion, spoke on the theme, “Sub-national economic hub as a catalyst for national economic development: The contributions of Remo to national economic development and the challenges.”
He stated that industrial development was very necessary, but would not be achieved merely by wishful thinking.
According to him, the decision to do it has to be deliberate.
“Members of the Sagamites Club should bring more industries to Remo, and to Sagamu in particular, because government cannot do it alone. The rural dwellings must gradually grow into urban cities through sustainable social amenities provided by the elites, such as the Sagamites Club,” he said.
“The enduring development starts with the people themselves. The elites in the Remo zone should set the pace by investing their human and material resources into the development of their society,” he stressed.
The Guest Speaker declared that although recent development of infrastructure around Remo had created the possibility of further economic growth, he argued that opportunity was not the same thing as development, emphasizing the need to be intentional about growth.
Recognising the fact that development comes with its own challenges, Lemo recommended the need for a “win-win” approach that would engender smooth operation both for the host communities and the investors.
The recommendations, he said, are:
“A stake in perpetuity. When land is provided for industrial development, the landowners’ interests should be registered in perpetuity, and they should become stakeholders sharing in the future profits of the businesses built on it. This is the only way to avoid a repeat of the Niger Delta militancy or the Lagos Area Boys phenomenon. Nigeria already has a precedent in the host-community trusts required of oil companies under the Petroleum Industry Act. If well crafted, this New Deal can become a model for other states of the Federation.
“Room to grow. The development master-plan must make arrangements for the expansion of city, town and village, so that host communities are not choked by the businesses emerging around them.
“Jobs for locals first. Businesses in the neighborhood should give priority to locals in employment. It is the only way host communities will feel the economic benefit of the businesses in their midst.
“Standards. Companies operating in the neighborhood must conform to international environmental, governance and sustainability standards.”
Lemo also suggested the need for the elites to work hand in hand with the paramount ruler in some areas.
His words: “Intensify the provision of social amenities through the corporate social responsibility programmes of companies in our communities.
“Train our local youth rapidly. Vocational, entrepreneurial and technical skills will make them employable in the factories around us, and will reduce unemployment and the propensity to crime.
“Partner with the Government on the review of land policy to secure the future of landowners.
“Insist that companies in our neighbourhood meet international environmental and sustainability standards.”
Lemo emphasised the need for active participation of the people, saying: “The enduring development starts with the people themselves.”
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