Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has urged Kogites and other Nigerians in the diaspora to support the economic reforms of President Bola Tinubu and channel their investments, expertise and global networks towards the development of Kogi State and the country.
The governor made the call at a town hall meeting with Kogites and Nigerians resident in the United Kingdom, where he also urged the diaspora to project a positive image of Nigeria and take advantage of emerging investment opportunities in Kogi.
A statement issued by the state commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, quoted the governor as saying that the country’s future depended on the collective efforts of citizens both at home and abroad.
According to him, the engagement was aimed at strengthening collaboration between the diaspora and the state government to drive sustainable development.
“You may have crossed oceans in search of opportunity, but you have not crossed beyond your identity. Wherever you excel, our homeland is honoured. Wherever you break new ground, our flag flies a little higher,” Ododo said.
He urged Kogites abroad to return home not only with investments but also with ideas, innovation, expertise and international networks, stressing that nations grow through the knowledge, values and vision of their people.
The governor said the unity fostered in Kogi over the past decade had become the foundation for the state’s development, noting that the people had moved beyond ethnic and religious divisions to pursue a common vision.
“There was a time when our differences were exploited against us. Today, we understand that poverty has no tribe, hunger has no religion and underdevelopment respects no ethnicity. Our unity has become the engine of our progress,” he said.
Ododo commended President Tinubu for implementing what he described as difficult but necessary economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy, unification of the foreign exchange market and fiscal reforms, saying the policies had strengthened the financial capacity of states.
He said the reforms had enabled governments to invest more in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture and other critical sectors.
The governor also listed federal government interventions in Kogi to include the approval of the Kogi International Airport, the Kogi Free Trade Zone, the Agricultural Processing Zone, efforts to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Company and the reconstruction of strategic federal roads.
He added that the administration’s investments in security, agriculture, solid minerals development, tax reforms and ease of doing business were restoring investor confidence and laying the foundation for long-term economic growth.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu chose reform over comfort. Leadership is not measured by the ease of today’s decisions but by the prosperity they create for tomorrow,” he stated.
Highlighting his administration’s achievements, Ododo said Kogi had translated federal government policies into tangible development through road infrastructure, free education from primary to secondary school, payment of public examination fees, improved healthcare delivery, expanded health insurance coverage, agricultural mechanisation and youth and women empowerment programmes.
He described security as the bedrock of development, saying collaboration with the federal government, the Office of the National Security Adviser and other security agencies had created a safer environment for farming, commerce and investment.
The governor also urged Kogites to support the state’s rebranding initiative by serving as ambassadors who project its strengths and investment potential.
“No nation rises above the story it tells about itself. Let us become ambassadors of hope, confidence and possibility because every positive story we tell about Kogi State and Nigeria opens another door to investment and opportunity,” he said.
Speaking at the event, the member representing Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Salman Idris, said the governor was working closely with the federal government to facilitate the revival of the Ajaokuta Steel Company.
He said the governor’s development agenda was already yielding results across the state and urged Kogites in the diaspora to support the administration by bringing home investments, expertise and professional networks.
Participants at the meeting commended the governor for what they described as achievements in infrastructure, security, education, healthcare and economic development.
