To meet emerging economic and technology realities, the Ogun State government will soon create the Ministries of Mineral Resources, Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Digital Economy and Energy.
This was disclosed by governor Dapo Abiodun during a meeting with permanent secretaries held at the Executive Chambers of the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Abiodun also disclosed that the Ministry of Youths would be separated from the Ministry of Sports in preparation for the setting up of the Ogun State Sports Commission.
Abiodun said the establishment of the new ministries would avail his administration the opportunity to focus more on the development of those critical sectors.
He said that it is imperative to have full-fledged ministerial status for those sectors for the administration to achieve the objectives set forth in those areas.
The governor noted that the prospect of Ogun becoming an oil producing state during his tenure is higher, adding that attention is also being paid to electricity generation following the unbundling of that sector.
On the idea behind the Ministry of Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Digital Economy, Prince Abiodun described Ogun as the education capital of Nigeria, with many youths in the state being ICT savvy.
The new ministry, he said, will take care of the needs of the youths in the state in terms of employment.
He spoke further: “I had also mentioned in the course of the swearing-in of the commissioners that we are establishing new ministries.
“We intend to establish about three or four new ministries; the Ministries of Mineral Resources; Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Digital Economy and we are creating the Ministry of Youths.
“We are removing the Ministry of Sports from the Ministry of Youths because we want to set up the Ogun State Sports Commission. We are also considering setting up the Ministry of Energy.
“The reasons why we decided to set up these new ministries is because those areas are now going to be areas of focus for us and we believe that for us to achieve the objectives that we are setting forth in those areas, it is important for them to become full-fledged ministries and have all the required administrative support that will allow them to achieve their objectives.”
Governor Abiodun commended the permanent secretaries and civil servants in the state for their prayers and support, especially after the tribunal judgement that was in his favour.
The governor called for synergy between political appointees and civil servants, adding that it is important to work together for the success of the administration.
According to him, civil servants and political appointees must not be seen to be competing, but complementing each other, adding that such collaboration can only be in the interest of the state.
