To enhance its socio-economic development, Ekiti State has agreed to collaborate and partner with the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to create wealth and enhance employment opportunities in view of its enormous deposits of solid mineral resources.
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Abiodun Oyebanji, made this known when he paid courtesy visit on the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, in his office in Abuja.
Buttressing his assertion on the motive of his visit, Oyebanji explained that he has come to discuss how the state can partner with the ministry to sure his state keys into its vision so as to derive maximum socio-economic benefits for his people.
“I am here to discuss how Ekiti state can partner with this Ministry and ensure we key into its vision; any discerning state that wants to develop his state must key into this vision. Because in this vision, I see a lot of opportunities and he is trying to democratise the space. And it will create wealth, create jobs, it will increase security.”
While acknowledging the contributions of Alake as an indigene, to the development of Ekiti State; the Governor stated further that ” I was just sharing my experience with him in Ekiti State; so there is no state that will not want to key into the vision because this is the next oil. Any state that is smart will just be here”.
In his comments, Alake said Ekiti is amongst the states endowed with both natural and mineral resources, with benefits of highly competitive cost in exploration and extraction. He affirmed that ” Ekiti is one of the areas we are focusing on in terms of ensuring the solid Minerals sector makes its impact and contribute significantly to the gross domestic