1. Chief
Host,
Speakers,
Leaders
of
government
In
Ekiti
State,
Leaders
of
Entrepreneurs,
Distinguished
Ladies
and
Gentlemen.
I
am
honored
to
return
to
Ado
Ekiti,
this
time
to
help
set
the
tone
for
a
summit
on
the
economy
of
Ekiti,
with
the
great
prospects
for
social
harmony
and
political
progress
that
are
consequent
on
economic
prosperity.
As
I
address
you
today,
I
cannot
but
recall
my
visit
here
a
little
over
four
years
ago.
I
spoke
at
the
declaration
of
gubernatorial
candidate.
Dr.
Kayode
Fayemi.
I
spoke
then
of
the
possibilities
of
human
imagination.
If
you
can
dream
it,
I
had
said,
you
can
make
it
happen.
The
opportunity
to
make
it
happen
then
got
held
back
by
the
politics
of
electoral
process
controversy.
Not
so
long
ago,
the
hand
of
God
set
that
challenge
aside
and
Governor
Fayemi
was
sworn
in
and
named
his
team.
I
had
the
pleasure
of
joining
the
team
at
their
frame
setting
retreat
in
Iloko
to
share
from
my
perspective
on
the
bottlenecks
to
making
dreams
come
true
and
the
discipline
of
working
to
advance
the
interest
of
a
majority
of
the
citizens.
Today,
I
am
happy
to
lay
out
some
critical
issues
to
actualizing
dreams
for
a
people
like
those
of
Ekiti
who
are
rich
in
tradition
and
great
in
expectations.
The
first
question
I
want
to
pose
to
this
August
gathering
is
why
seek
prosperity?
In
effect
I
am
asking
why
we
are
gathered
here
for
an
economic
summit
or
interactive
session
between
the
government
and
the
private
sector.
WHY
SEEK
PROSPERITY
For
millennia
man
made
progress
very
slowly
and
was
not
much
caught
up
in
the
rush
for
material
advance,
even
though
it
will
be
erroneous
to

2. suggest
he
made
no
progress
all
those
centuries.
He
not
only
discovered
fire
to
roast
the
product
of
his
hunt,
he
went
from
hunting
to
farming.
But
Jams
Watt
redesigned
the
steam
engine
and
made
power
based
production
possible,
with
quantum
leap
in
material
advance.
All
the
progress
one
can
say
comes
from
the
essence
of
his
humanity,
established
in
creation.
For
people
of
faith,
in
the
Christian
tradition,
the
Genesis
2
v
15
injunction
was
for
man
to
collaborate
with
God
to
move
creation
towards
its
perfection.
If
man
is
to
have
life
and
have
it
more
abundantly
(John10:10)
and
his
essence
is
to
keep
improving
creation,
it
follow
that
it
is
man’s
right,
in
the
modern
age,
to
expect
that
his
quality
of
life
improve
continuously,
keeping
pace
with
the
improvements
elsewhere,
in
the
spirit
human
solidarity.
The
philosophy
of
the
state
and
governing
places
the
onus
of
facilitating
the
advance
of
the
Common
Good
in
the
State,
whether
you
favour
John
Locke
or
Thomas
Hobbes.
That
role
of
the
state
is
variously
defined
on
a
liberal-­‐conservative
spectrum,
where
at
the
conservative
end
is
in
the
provision
of
non-­‐appropriability
goods,
that
is
those
goods
that
you
cannot
exclude
those
who
have
not
paid
from
enjoying
the
benefits.
Defence
is
a
classic
example.
At
the
liberal
end,
in
the
collectivist
tradition,
government
provided
even
commercial
goods
and
services.
Central
planned
economies
of
the
communist
state
were
the
extreme
example.
Along
the
spectrum
were
the
mixed
economies
of
Britain’s
Fabian
Socialism
and
even
conservative
surrender,
as
in
the
case
of
very
conservative
Richard
Nixon
who
declared
“we
are
all
Keynsians
now”
Whatever
the
colour
of
government
it
has
a
duty
to
improved
quality
of
life
and
the
people
have
a
right
to
demand
it.
The
discipline
to
go
about
that
improvement
in
a
systematic
manner
is
why
we
are
gathered
here
today.
To
make
economic
progress
in
a
way
that
ensures
social
justice

3. is
to
raise
the
dignity
of
the
human
person,
a
core
purpose
of
modern
government.
Unfortunately
governments
have
not
always
acted
with
a
clear
understanding
of
this
role
and
its
obligations.
Part
of
it
is
that
while
man
made
progress
from
hunting
to
farming,
many
who
seek
a
role
in
public
life
in
more
primitive
societies,
where
the
institutions
of
accountability
are
not
strong,
still
act
as
hunters
and
see
government
or
public
office
as
bush
meat
they
have
hunted
down
and
seek
the
intent
gratification
of
cutting
up
their
share
for
voracious
consumption.
But
it
is
in
the
farmers
deferred,
or
delayed,
gratification
in
which
the
Common
Good
is
at
the
epicenter
that
human
progress
is
most
advanced.
It
is
my
expectation
that
is
the
cause
we
shall
pursue
here
is
the
disciplined
farmer
approach.
Fortunately
advancing
farming,
(agriculture)
alongside
mining,
tourism
and
an
Education
industry
into
global
value
chains
is
what
I
hope
to
suggest
today.
Today
what
we
need
is
to
build
a
partnership
between
the
people
of
Ekiti,
their
government,
and
wealth
creators
from
far
and
near.
For
the
true
mission
of
government
to
be
achieved
all
must
come
together
passionately
committed
to
building
for
the
long
term.
It
will
entail
reforming
the
mindset
of
public
servants
and
politicians,
building
capacity
for
execution
and
moving
away
from
the
hunter
as
scavenger
mentality.
Investment
money
is
scare
and
goes
only
where
there
is
warmth
of
welcome,
whether
it
be
the
Naira
of
a
prominent
son
of
the
soil,
Asian
with
his
Yuan
or
American
dollar
with
a
Texas
Oil
man.
Our
first
goal
must
be
to
have
a
service
that
welcomes
all
with
a
smile.
But
we
shall
return
to
this
later.

4.
WHAT
SHOULD
BE
OUR
GOALS
Our
goals
must
be
set
in
a
smart
mode.
This
means
they
should
be
specific
(like
we
want
12%
per
annum
growth
in
total
Ekiti
economy
or
22%
growth
in
certain
agricultural
produce)
measureable,
attainable,
relevant
and
tangible.
Unless
we
can
reduce
our
discussions
to
such
we
may
have
talk
with
little
implementation.
WHAT
MAKES
FOR
ECONOMIC
GROWTH
In
my
work
trying
to
understand
why
some
nations
are
poor
and
those
far
less
endowed
prosper,
I
have
offered
a
framework
of
six
critical
variables.
These
are
Policy
Choices,
Institutions;
Human
Capital,
Entrepreneurship;
Culture;
and
Leadership.
I
expect
that
with
leadership
that
derives
from
a
sense
of
service
to
the
people
of
Ekiti,
and
knowledgeability
regarding
how
to
improve
the
human
condition,
the
key
to
progress
in
Ekiti
is
in
building
strong
institutions,
investing
in
human
capital,
generating
the
entrepreneurial
spirit
and
building
values
that
sustain
progress
in
the
culture.
A
strong
commitment
to
this
enterprise
will
make
Ekiti
economically
prosperous.
COMPETITIVENESS
AND
PERFORMANCE
We
have
said
that
investment
money
moves
to
the
more
attractive
location.
The
competitiveness
of
countries
or
states
will
determine
who
attracts
the
money.
The
foregoing
factors
help
shape
the
competitiveness
of
an
economy.
Competitiveness
in
specific
areas
of
strength,
where
the
state
has
comparative
advantage,
so
to
speak,
is
probably
more
important
in
a
short-­‐gun
scenario
than
just
building
up
the
general
competitiveness
of
the
state.
So
which
areas
do
I
think
Ekiti
needs
to
emphasize
in
becoming
more
competitive
to
stimulate
the
growth
of
winning
clusters,
and
how
should
the
structure
for
making
growth
from
these
specific
areas
come
together
for
rapid
results.

5. My
inclination
is
to
favour
the
development
of
economic
zones
in
local
areas
with
particular
factor
endowments
and
then
constructing
values
chains
from
these
factors
into
global
markets.
For
me
Agriculture,
agro-­‐allied
manufacturing;
solid
minerals
mining;
tourism
and
education
are
sectors
from
which
Ekiti
can
grow
rich,
provide
jobs
for
its
youth
and
raise
living
standards
for
all.
I
know
that
areas
in
which
the
farmlands
of
Ekiti
have
been
traditionally
strong
have
been
audited
and
are
well
known.
The
challenge
would
be
for
government
to
find
champions
dedicated
to
each
agricultural
produce
and
give
them
targets
to
help
incentivize
farmers
to
raise
yield
and
then
to
ensure
that
they
get
the
best
prices
for
their
effort,
get
support
from
research
and
networking
to
make
output
optimal
and
ensure
little
waste.
Have
we
forgotten
the
Agricultural
extension
service
of
the
Awolowo
era.
It
has
been
done
before
and
can
be
done
again.
Creating
an
industrial
park
for
agro-­‐allied
manufacturing
that
adds
value
through
processing,
before
distribution
into
global
markets
should
be
a
big
boost
to
the
economy.
But
the
process
will
involve
professionals
who
can
help
plot
the
path
and
the
interventions
from
the
farmers
inputs
through
the
middlemen
and
the
manufacturers
to
those
who
can
move
efficiently
to
distribute
into
global
markets,
domestic
and
foreign
alike.
My
personal
favorites
include
rubber
and
other
cash
crops
that
can
thrive
in
Ekiti
as
well
as
cassava
and
the
food
security
needs
of
grains.
On
mining
I
am
of
the
firm
view
that
the
vast
mineral
deposits
documented
in
studies
by
the
Raw
Materials
Research
and
Development
Council
(RMRDC)
and
other
agencies
suggest
the
possibilities
of
the
solid
minerals
sector
in
Ekiti.
That
sector
remains
depressed
country
wide
because
there
seems
to
be
a
conspiracy
of
lack

6. of
interest
and
corruption.
The
state
government
needs
to
go
into
aggressive
dialogue
with
the
federal
government
because
this
sector
is
largely
a
victim
of
the
failure
of
Nigeria’s
federalism.
Abuja
will
care
little
about
these
sectors
as
long
as
cheap
cash
from
oil
continue
to
grease
the
wheels
of
government.
Ekiti
must
seek
an
administrative
devolution
of
some
authority
on
this
until
a
constitutional
amendment
comes.
States
like
Enugu,
on
Coal,
and
Benue
continue
to
suffer
under
this
burden.
You
should
act
together.
With
tourism
the
rolling
hills
of
Ekiti
are
picture
perfect
for
some
kinds
of
tourists,
including
internal
tourists.
The
key
here
is
to
locate
facilities,
attract
the
hospitality
industry
and
improve
access.
In
this
and
many
other
activities.
I
want
to
say
there
is
room
for
collaboration
with
adjoining
states.
If
Ekiti,
Ondo
and
Osun
can
have
a
regional
strategy,
it
will
advance
the
good
of
all
three.
Road
and
rail
linkages
need
to
be
pursued
in
public/private
partnerships.
Then
there
is
education
Ekiti
has
the
reputation
of
being
the
state
of
PhDs.
That
seems
to
me
like
an
advantage
the
state
can
exploit.
I
think
of
Boston
in
summer
and
the
loss
of
several
hundred
thousand
citizens.
This
is
because
a
good
part
of
the
populations
are
students
who
come
from
all
over
the
United
States
and
around
the
world
to
study
in
Boston,
with
its
many
famous
academic
institutions.
It
is
an
academic
cluster,
the
city
of
Boston.
Why
can
Ekiti
not
be
the
same
in
a
country
requiring
huge
investments
to
raise
its
human
capital
stock.
I
am
persuaded
that
a
focused
search
for
partners
here
and
around
the
world
to
build
these
value
chains
will
have
transforming
value.

7. LEVERS
OF
GOAL
ATTAINMENT
There
are
a
number
of
key
levers
for
ensuring
success.
One
key
lever
is
the
partnership
logic.
Governments
still
suffer
badly
from
failure
to
own
initiatives
in
the
way
the
private
sector
manages
to
hold
people
to
account
and
they
work
with
commitment
to
set
goals.
This
tragedy
of
the
Commons
Writ
large
is
behind
many
failed
promises
of
the
Nigerian
condition.
If
the
right
champions
are
found
in
Ekiti
and
they
treat
private
corporations
they
wish
to
be
partners
with
a
clear
sense
for
mutually
beneficial
partnership,
with
a
one
stop
to
shop
to
help
resolve
all
the
typical
irritants
that
investors
face,
you
will
see
amazing
results.
Let
me
commend
as
example
the
local
government
practice
in
the
United
States
that
have
TIFA
Funds
which
they
offer
as
grants
and
loan
to
companies
to
invest
in
their
area
as
a
way
of
enhancing
future
tax
revenues.
The
finances
of
Ekiti
may
not
allow
this
but
efforts
need
to
be
made
to
encourage
investors.
Again
as
countries
that
have
done
well
with
attracting
foreign
investors
know,
treating
well
already
resident
investors
so
they
can
spread
the
good
news,
is
important.
I
am
fortunate
to
be
on
the
Board
of
Directors
of
Mutual
Benefits
Assurance
which
is
one
of
the
biggest
investors
in
Ekiti
State.
I
do
hope
we
get
royal
treatment
as
a
signaling
to
other
investors.
If
Mutual
Benefit
can
celebrate
its
retainership
with
Ekiti,
others
will
show
more
interest.
Mr.
Governor,
Captains
of
Industry,
Ladies
and
Gentlemen.
I
see
the
future
of
Ekiti
State
green
and
flourishing
as
the
rolling
hills
of
the
stare
are.
But
it
will
take
work
and
passionate
commitment
to
make
it
happen.
We
can
sometimes
over
assume
about
capacity.
Training,
retraining
and
motivating
civil
servants
then
holding
them
accountable
is
key.

8. We
must
learn
from
Malaysia
in
that
it
is
best
to
ensure
that
all
are
inside
the
house
pissing
out
than
that
some
are
outside
pissing
in.
Building
elite
consensus
is
also
a
key
lever
in
addition
to
making
the
civil
service
warm,
welcoming
and
less
corrupt.
Their
children
will
see
the
benefits
of
such
determination
to
act
differently.
Ladies
and
Gentlemen.
I
am
done.
As
a
self
declared
son
of
the
soil,
one
more
Ekiti
PhD
I
say
God
bless
our
intentions
and
give
us
the
spirit
to
make
all
prosper
in
social
justice.
Pat
Utomi
14/10/11