….as Gov says state ‘ll collaborate with CIS to deepen growth
The Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) has hailed Ekiti State Government’s fiscal policy, saying it is instrumental to the pace of development in the state, in addition to making the state attractive to investors.
The President of the institute, Mr Oluropo Dada, stated this during a courtesy visit by members of the Governing Council of CIS to the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, in his office in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday.
Dada cited the recent rating of Ekiti State as the first (among 36 states) in the Q4 2024 States Fiscal Transparency ranking by BudgIT, among other milestones recorded by the government as indication of the state’s commitment to fiscal discipline and economic growth, using the administration’s six development pillars as roadmap.
He said the CIS would be willing to enter into strategic partnership with the state government in some critical areas in order to further enhance economic growth and development as well as financial empowerment of the people.
The CIS President said the Institute, as part of efforts to support the government’s economic plan, is ready to organize regular financial literacy programmes for all categories of government workers focusing on finance, securities and investment opportunities for public servants, emphasizing the importance of making money as well as sustaining the tempo of financial breakthrough at any point in time.
He also hinted on the planned introduction of securities and investments related programmes in the two state owned universities in Ekiti as well as a plan to introduce no fewer than 1,000 Ekiti undergraduates to the CIS qualifying examinations, as a way of equipping them with the required skills and certification that would make them key players in the investment world.
Governor Oyebanji who thanked the CIS council members for the meeting said his administration would collaborate with the Institute and leverage on its financial expertise to drive strategic reforms for economic growth of the state and residents.
Governor Oyebanji said Ekiti State has been able to earn investors’ confidence based on the fiscal policy of his administration which is anchored on accountability and transparency.
The Governor charged the Institute on the need to organize and create opportunity for financial literacy and inclusion in order to ensure sustainable financial growth of the citizenry. He wondered why people retire from public office and get into penury almost immediately, hinging it on lack of financial intelligence.
He stressed the need for people at both state and national levels to understand the importance of stockbroking, calling for more advocacy in that direction.
“Just as the CIS President said, when it comes to issue of transparency, accountability, and reforms, we’ve done so well. We come from the tradition of a reform-minded people. I used to tell people that when it comes to PhD per capita, Ekiti is the number one in the country. So, our education should count in terms of planning and wealth creation, otherwise it is useless.
“We were just been rated as number one when it comes to fiscal transparency ranking in the country. And since we came to office, we hover between number one and number two, and that speaks to the fidelity of commitment to accountability and transparency in the state”, he said , adding that the state government is set to collaborate with the Institute on a number of areas.
Governor Oyebanji said Ekiti State is a good place to invest. According to him, “Our airport is undergoing certification presently and by July or thereabout, we hope to get the approval for commercial flights operation at the airport. We pride ourselves as one of the few airports with the best runway in the country, 3.2 kilometers runway and we are in the process of procuring an ILS that enables night flights and that also enable planes to land at extreme weather, that process is on.
“We are a small state but we have big ideas, and we believe also that because we are knowledgeable and educated, education should count for something. People cannot be educated and poor you know but that is our story. Our six pillars is to change that narrative and ensure that we make our people productive, while believing strongly that the pathway to prosperity is productivity”, the Governor said.
Also at the meeting were Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Niyi Adebayo; commissioners for Finance, Mr Akintunde Oyebode; Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives, Mrs Tayo Adeola; Special Adviser (Media), Mr Yinka Oyebode; Director General, EKDIPA, Mrs Lolade Olutona and Group Managing Director of Fountain Holdings, Mr Adetunji Tolani.
