Yayi Pledges N50m for Ogun NUJ Secretariat, Urges Multinationals to Strengthen CSR

Yayi Pledges N50m for Ogun NUJ Secretariat, Urges Multinationals to Strengthen CSR

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, has pledged N50 million towards the construction of a new secretariat for the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Council.

Adeola, who also promised to provide a new bus for the union, made the pledge while speaking on his development plans for the state, stressing the need for multinational companies and other industries operating in Ogun to pay greater attention to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

He said companies operating in the state should contribute more meaningfully to the development of their host communities through employment opportunities, infrastructure and other social interventions.

The senator said that, if elected governor, his administration would encourage companies with major operations in Ogun State to establish their regional or corporate offices in the state rather than maintaining their headquarters in Lagos.

According to him, such a policy would increase economic activities in Ogun, create employment opportunities for residents, particularly youths, and boost the state's Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

Adeola also said his administration would develop a strategy to encourage industries operating in the state to employ more youths from Ogun, as part of efforts to address unemployment and improve the standard of living of residents.

On urban development, the APC candidate said he would prioritise the development of border communities and emerging urban centres across the state.

He said his administration would seek to replicate aspects of the planned development seen in areas such as Lekki, Ikoyi and Lagos Island by developing new town schemes and expanding infrastructure in strategic locations across Ogun.

Adeola also pledged to uphold press freedom and maintain a cordial relationship with journalists and media organisations if elected.

He further promised to grant the 20 local government councils in the state greater autonomy to manage their affairs and resources, arguing that sustainable development must begin at the grassroots.

On agriculture, the governorship candidate said his administration would establish a commodity exchange mechanism through which farmers would have reliable markets for their produce.

He said the government would serve as an off-taker of agricultural products, thereby reducing losses and providing farmers with greater income security.

Adeola also promised to prioritise mechanised farming, expand access to financing for farmers and establish what he described as a major dairy farm in the state.

Unveiling his nine-point development agenda, tagged “ITESIWAJU,” Adeola listed infrastructure; tourism and culture; education and human capital development; security; women and youth empowerment; sports development; agricultural transformation; job creation and industrialisation; and urban renewal and environmental sustainability.

He said Ogun State's strategic location provided significant economic opportunities which, if properly harnessed, could position the state more prominently on the global economic map.

“Ogun State is strategically located in an area of economic opportunity, and I promise to put the state on the global map in terms of tourism, infrastructure, education, health, sports and information,” he said.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Ogun State Council of the NUJ, Comrade Wale Olarenwaju, commended Adeola for what he described as his contributions to infrastructure development and the welfare of journalists in the state.

Olarenwaju noted that members of the union had benefited from training and laptop empowerment programmes facilitated by the senator.

He said the NUJ leadership had facilitated more than 25 projects aimed at improving the welfare of its members, while urging Adeola to prioritise the rehabilitation and repositioning of the Ogun State-owned electronic media organisations, Ogun State Television (OGTV) and Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation (OGBC).

The NUJ chairman called for greater government attention to the state-owned media organisations to enable them to perform their roles effectively in the dissemination of information and public enlightenment.