The Ogun State government says it remains committed to restructuring and repositioning Ota-Agbara city to sustain its prime status as the commercial and industrial hub of the State.

The Deputy Governor, Engr.(Mrs.) Noimot Salako-Oyedele gave the assurance during the 10th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Ota-Agbara Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OTAGCCIMA) and Investiture ceremony of Evangelist Prince David Bello held at the location of the Chamber's Commerce House at Agbara which is currently at its foundation level.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olu. Ola. Aikulola, the Deputy Governor stated that fixing Ota-Agbara which is the largest industrial hub in Nigeria as well as creating enabling environment for all categories of businesses holds the key to boosting the State economy.

She added that government's drive towards creating enabling environment led to the reconstruction of the Atan-Lusada-Agbara road and the implementation of initiatives like the Ogun Agro-cargo airport which is billed to be completed in December, 2023, the Special Agro-Processing Zone (SAPZ), industrial estates, dry ports, logistics hub and Afrexim Quality Assurance Center (AQAC) among others.

"His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON, led Administration is playing vital roles in assisting Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture through aggressive agricultural production, industrialization programmes and creation of needed enabling environment. This is evident in his numerous initiatives aimed at making businesses and investments to flourish," the Deputy Governor said.

Speaking on the theme of the AGM, “The Role of Chambers of Commerce in Synergizing the Organised Private Sector (OPS)” Salako-Oyedele said the theme was apt in view of the country's  current shift towards non-oil exportation adding that the efforts of various Chambers of Commerce championing the interest of their members has made it expedient for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to join a Chamber of Commerce.

Earlier in her speech, Immediate-past President, OTAGCCIMA, Deaconess Cynthia Saka said within her two years in Office, the activities of the secretariat were successfully mannaged, while the Chambers laid the foundation of its Commerce House at Agbara, signed several mutually beneficial agreement, organised the third edition of the OTAGCCIMA Trade Exhibition, actively participated in chambers affairs internationally, acquired 20 hectares of land for tree planting and realised over 300 percent membership increment despite initially losing about 60 percent of its members.

Unveiling the " 2025 Building OTAGCCIMA: Road Map for the next two years" the new President, OTAGCCIMA, Evangelist David Bello said the Chambers would focus on building membership confidence and participation, improve its membership, capacity building and provision of loans for members among others.

Awards were presented to supportive members of the Chambers including Prince Bayo Ikujenyo, Mr. Olusegun Bajegbo, Mrs. Modupe Fadare and the Oloja-Ekun of IgbesaLand, Oba AbdulAzeez Akinde.