1. OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR
Overview of Economic & Development Summit presented by
Her Excellency Mrs. ‘Funmi OLAYINKA
Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Nigeria,
At the Inaugural edition of the Ekiti Economic and Development Summit,
held in Ado-Ekiti between October 14 and 15, 2011.
PROTOCOLS
Distinguished great thinkers and participants at this
inaugural edition of the Ekiti Economic and
Development Summit, I welcome you to the Land of
Honor. Ekiti indigenes believe strongly in what we are
able to do for ourselves, and the dignity of labour.
As you have been informed by the Special Adviser to the
Governor on Planning & MDGs, the theme of this
Economic and Development meeting is Harnessing
Opportunities for Sustainable Development. The summit
is primarily targeted at raising the economic and
development stake of our dear state for the ultimate
growth of our people.
My job is to give an overview of the two day programme
and I make bold to tell all of us here present that the
purpose is to demonstrate in practical terms, the dream
for a greater tomorrow as packaged by the Dr. Kayode
Fayemi-led administration in Ekiti State.
1 | Page Overview of the Ekiti Economic and Development
Summit, held in Ado-Ekiti, between October 14 and 15, 2011

2. OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR
May I begin this overview by informing you that we have
arranged to have Parallel Dialogue Sessions to explore
the various opportunities in Ekiti State for foreign and
indigenous entrepreneurs. It is going to be an interactive
session between Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the Executive
Governor of Ekiti State, and the Commercial Attaches of
Embassies in Nigeria and CEOs.
In the course of this summit, we will also be examining
the crucial topic, “Development Partners and Economic
Development in Ekiti State: Progress and Framework for
future Collaboration, as well as, the “Imperative of
relevant and forward looking legislation in support of
economic growth and development”. This session of the
summit is aimed at identifying critical legislative gaps to
be filled in attaining the economic ambitions of our dear
state.
There is going to be a session on framework for and
available opportunities in Public Private Partnership
towards Infrastructure Development in Ekiti State.In
this session, we shall highlight the framework and
opportunities for public-private partnership in Ekiti
State, dwelling specifically on infrastructure
development plans for the State Government and
highlighting, the opportunities for Private Sector
Participation.
Our industry in Ekiti as you all know is education.
Though the state’s heritage in that sector has been badly
threatened, we still believe that this sector has a clear
2 | Page Overview of the Ekiti Economic and Development
Summit, held in Ado-Ekiti, between October 14 and 15, 2011

3. OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR
and compelling capacity to stimulate and sustain
unrivalled economic development and growth, if properly
harnessed.
Therefore, we shall be examining “Education as a driver
of Economic growth and Development: Our Strategy and
Opportunities”. This forum is going to focus on the
strategy to involve private capital in the regeneration of
our educational heritage.
Another of our strength as a people is in the area of
agriculture. This government has taken major steps in
reviving our collective pride in this sector and as such
this summit is also looking for ways of stimulating and
sustaining agric business in Ekiti State.
Since the primacy of Agriculture to the economy in the
State remains undisputed, our purpose is to, during this
forum to examine how Public Policy and Private Capital
can combine to stimulate and sustain commercial agric
business in the Land of Honour.
We will consider Framework for and Opportunities for
sustainable Private Sector Participation in Solid Minerals
and Tourism Development in Ekiti State. We will also be
looking at “State-owned enterprises as a vehicle for
economic development: Framework for Private
Participation”.
As a way of laying solid foundation for the kind of
economy that is befitting our state, we will do a thorough
3 | Page Overview of the Ekiti Economic and Development
Summit, held in Ado-Ekiti, between October 14 and 15, 2011

4. OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR
study of how the Solid Minerals development presents an
opportunity for industrial development of our state.
In much of Nigeria, the Solid Minerals Industry remains
underdeveloped and characterized by small scale,
fragmented attempts at exploitation. Besides, the
mineral deposit, Ekiti offers a serene environment and
an array of tourist attractions that could position
tourism as one of the major drivers and a catalyst for the
development of the State.
Under this session therefore, we will examine the
framework for stimulating private participation, and
explore available opportunities in the solid minerals and
tourism sectors, in this state.
It is on record that over the years, the government of
Ekiti State has built an impressive portfolio of State-
owned enterprises, but regrettably, their performance
has not lived up to expectations.
We will therefore be doing an in depth review of the
framework for ownership and management of these
enterprises, and explore opportunities for private sector
collaboration in realizing the ambitions for the assets
and organizations in this sector.
Distinguished ladies and gentleman, a plenary Session
will be held on Regional Integration and Economic
Development of South-Western Nigeria. This session will
examine opportunities for exploiting the economy of
4 | Page Overview of the Ekiti Economic and Development
Summit, held in Ado-Ekiti, between October 14 and 15, 2011

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scale in the six-to-nine contiguous/co-terminus states of
the South-Western region, and is to be discussed under
the framework o f a new DAWN (Development Agenda for
Western Nigeria) document.
Thank you all for listening as I wish all of us a
successful deliberation.
H.E. MRS. ‘FUNMI OLAYINKA
DEPUTY GOVERNOR OF EKITI STATE, NIGERIA
Kaduna,
Kaduna State, NIGERIA
September 12, 2011
5 | Page Overview of the Ekiti Economic and Development
Summit, held in Ado-Ekiti, between October 14 and 15, 2011