Ekiti, South-African Parliament Begin Bilateral Relations On Development

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; flanked by the Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin (Left); and Speaker, Gauteng Provincial Legislature, South Africa, Hindiwe Maseko (Right); with members of both Assemblies, during a visit by the South African lawmakers to the State, in Ado-Ekiti... on Monday.

Ekiti State Government and the Gauteng Provincial Parliament of South Africa have begun bilateral relations aimed at reviving the spirit of Pan-African and sharing best practices that could deepen democracy.

Speaking in Ado Ekiti on Monday while receiving the Speaker of the Gauteng Parliament, Madam Lindwe Mazeko and a delegation of the Parliament, Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, said his administration is passionate about developing the State to international standards even as he noted that Ekiti is bigger than some African countries including Lesotho and Cape Verde, hence the State Government’s “global rather than local” aspiration.

Fayemi said the State was interested in extending its business relations with South Africa to political relations, as Mantis Collection Group, a South African investment and facility management company has taken over the management of Ikogosi resorts.

The Governor who noted that the Memorandum of Understanding which the State signed with South Africa was to deepen democratic experiment by sharing best practices said Nigerians cannot take the freedom that democracy offers for granted hence the need to strengthen it.

Fayemi reiterated the commitment of his administration to making poverty history and make a difference in the lives of the masses; adding that this necessitated the social security scheme for the elderly which is the first of its kind in Nigeria.

He stressed that Ekiti and Gauteng Province have a lot of idea to exchange to become a model of a partnership between Nigeria and South Africa.

In her remarks, the Speaker of the Gauteng Province Parliament, Madam Lindwe Mazeko said the Parliament cherished the partnership between the two parties and promised to consolidate the relationship as the Parliament has already begun work on the issues raised by the Governor during his last visit to South Africa.

Last modified: June 18, 2012