TRADITIONAL ruler of the ancient town of Offa, the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi, has said that scheduled maiden “Offa Economic Summit 2018″ will help fast track socioeconomic transformation of the community.
Speaking during unveiling of the summit’s logo and souvenir in his palace in Offa, headquarters of Offa Local Government Area of Kwara state, Oba Gbadamosi said that execution of the programme would be spearheaded by an Offa Indigenous association called “Offa Club 80”.
The summit, with the theme: Transformation of Offa as an Emerging City – Prospect and Challenges” is scheduled for November 2018.
The monarch, who said that the community was richly endowed with enabling economic platform to succeed, added that execution of such laudable project was long overdue.
Oba Gbadamosi, thus, solicited for assistance of wealthy individuals and groups on the project, promising support of the traditional institution towards achieving its aims and objectives.
“This is a laudable initiative that has the capability to impact positively and accelerate socio-economic development of our community and I must commend the organisers for their foresight,” he said.
Also speaking, President Offa Club 80, Professor Adegboyega Olatunji, said that the unveiling of the logo for the summit at the palace was intended to seek desired royal blessings for its implementation.
He said the project was basically informed by the desire to facilitate structures and institutions that would accelerate economic growth for the community and its inhabitants.
“We thank the Almighty God that Offa has succeeded in slowing down the rural-urban migration which was the trend decades ago in Offa and environs.
“Today, our major concern is about the future of the next generation; about how Offa can move to the next level where various activities that can enhance the nation’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP) are entrenched”, he said.
He listed the Club’s past projects to include construction and management of Offa township library and donation of N1million to Offa Security Trust Fund.
Dr Ahmed Raji, Chairman of the Organising Committee of the summit, on his part, said its implementation was designed to facilitate the roadmap for economic rejuvenation using modern trends as a yardstick.
According to him, it is people that make nations to be great, greatness cannot be achieved without having genuine production activities.
“We are blessed with people in the business world, in academia, in political cycle, renowned engineers, scientist, noble technocrats and public servants.
“While this does not automatically translate into development, the human capital needs be tapped along with other resources to achieve the desired goals,” Raji said.
Mrs Wosilat MaCharthy, Secretary, Offa Descendants Union (ODU), in her own contribution, expressed support of the association towards making the project a reality.
and then