Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi (left), presenting a gift and his recently authored book, "Regaining The Legacy" to the Deputy British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Peter Carter, during a working visit to the State, in Ado-Ekiti.
The British government has assured that it would give support to Ekiti State to enhance the rapid economic development of the State as well as improve the living standard of the people.
The British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Peter Carter gave the assurance during a courtesy call on the State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, saying that economic development is essential to the well-being of the people.
Carter who was accompanied by some members of the commission and private sector in the United Kingdom said the British government is committed to improving the existing development which the Fayemi-led administration has put in place.
This he said accounts for why he came with representatives of some UK-based private sector who have shown “interest in doing business in and with your state and help you develop the state in the way and manner you want to”.
“ We mean business for us to have come here. We bring three representatives of the private sector, all of them have interest in doing business in and with your state and help you develop the state in the way and manner you want to. We want to build on our relationship with Ekiti, and we believe there may be roles for our private sector to play in helping you develop your economic and your private sector.
“I am struck by how beautiful Ekiti is and how bustling the capital is, and the economic activities that are going on in the towns visited. I am convinced that Ekiti has a bright future, and we will like to be part of that”, Carter said.
The Envoy who noted that the State is not unfamiliar with the British government added that the British Council had earlier trained 200 Ekiti teachers in English language and will in 2014 extend more support in the areas of skills acquisition so that the State can have more people who create jobs and not depend on government.
Carter also commended the Fayemi-led administration for setting the pace for the Social Security Scheme for the elderly and the newly signed Equal Opportunity Law in the state, saying that the British Government would lend some support for the State in implementing the new law.
In his remarks, Governor Fayemi stated that the vision of his administration is to banish poverty from the State and make it the destination first choice for investors and tourists, even as efforts geared towards the goal are yielding positive results already.
The Governor noted that the training of 200 teachers in English language has helped the State as the results of students in the recently concluded Senior School Certificate Examination have improved so much as the performance increased from 20 percent to 70 percent in 2013.
On the intervention of the private sector, Fayemi asserted that the State is focusing on the agro-allied and tourism sector since those are the two areas the State can compete in favourably.
He also advocated support in the area of vocational education which he said will help in breeding more entrepreneurs in the State than job seekers.
Last modified: December 12, 2013
