Governorship aspirant in Benue State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Dr. Samuel Ortom, has disclosed that if given the mandate he would adopt the Chinese industrialization model in the state.
The Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment made the disclosure at a session with committee chairmen and secretaries of his policy and strategy committee held at the Smile View Hotel in Makurdi.
“I’ve had the opportunity of traveling to a lot of places in China and seen their system at this particular time and I think we need to adopt that model, it’ll help us because you see everybody trying to do something,” he stated.
“Some can process things to semi-finished products as raw materials for other industries to continue from there while some as small as they may be can produce finished products so I think that’s where we’ll have to make a difference.”
According to Chief Dr. Ortom the starting point of his administration would be to begin with the industrialization of the agricultural sector in order to add value on the abundant raw materials in the state.
“I’ll kick off by walking on two feet as the Chinese would say, one in agriculture, another in industry, especially on value addition to agricultural produce,” he stressed.
The Minister stated that he would revive and involve the agriculture training centers in Mbatie and Otobi as well as the College of Agriculture Yandev with the active collaboration of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi as part of efforts to boost the sector in the state especially with regard to research.
He commended committee members and their leaders for what he described as the sacrifices they had made in producing a document that could move the state forward adding that while four members from the first list had asked to be excused more than forty others had volunteered participation bringing total membership to 140.
In his remarks, Vice Chancellor of Kwararafa University and Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Professor Yakubu Ochefu, assured that members were focused on providing ideas that could propel the state forward.
Professor Ochefu maintained that although ideas for the development of the state had always been available what was lacking was the executive capacity to implement stating that Chief Dr. Ortom had that capacity.
“You implement it, take the glory and our state will be better; how do we help the people of Benue State to help themselves to move to the next level? That is all that we’re asking and we believe that in you, that is possible,” the Vice Chancellor stated.
Committee chairman, Professor Dennis Ityavyar, pledged that the committee would be creative by thinking outside the box and dream big for the state maintaining that the only thing that would distinguish Chief Dr. Ortom from the crowd would be fresh ideas and innovativeness.
Most committee reports were presented and discussed at the session.
Tahav Agerzua,
Media Adviser, Ortom Governorship Organization.