The Edo State Government is collaborating with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) on the realisation of the state’s industrialisation drive, aimed at ensuring economic growth and development. The state government and UNIDO recently held a technical session with the heads of Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state to explore ways to fast track the industrialisation agenda of the government. Represented at the technical session, which held in Benin City are the Permanent Secretaries, Ministry of Wealth Creation, Cooperative and Employments; Ministry of Environment and Sustainability; Ministry of Water Resources; Ministry of Energy and Electricity; Ministry of Science and Technology; Ministry of Minerals, Oil and Gas, Ministry of Youths and Special Duties; Ministry of Social Development and Gender Issues, and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
Others are heads of agencies including: Information, Communication Technology Agency (ICTA); Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Edo State Investment Promotion Office (ESIPO). Presenting UNIDO’s programme for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development in Nigeria 2018-2022, the representative of UNIDO, Dr. Otu Osu noted that the programme consists of nine components including Industrial governance, research and statistics; Agro-industry and Agribusiness Development; Minerals and Metals Development; Trade Capacity Building and Micro and Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Other components are Special Economic Zones, Industrial Park and Private Sector Development; Innovation, Science and Technology Management; Sustainable Energy Development and Environmental Management. He explained that the technical session was to enable the government functionaries to be abreast with the programme and share their knowledge on the areas of interest to the state in order to guide in the proper implementation of the programmes.
