By Jonathan Ugbal: Government House Correspondent
Nigeria’s acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has commissioned the Calabar Garment factory and two other projects in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
The other two include the 1.2 kilometer Calabar monorail with its base station at the Tinapa Premier Business and Leisure resort linking it with the Calabar International Convention Center (CICC) located at the Senator Liyel Imoke hills.
Professor Osinbajo also performed the ground breaking ceremony for the Senator Ben Ayade industrial city in Calabar the Cross River State capital.
The industrial city also referred to as the Ayade industrial boulevard is located at the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan bypass and consists of the Garment factory, Calabar Pharmaceutical and the Thai Africa rice city project.
Professor Osinbajo also took a tour of the Rice City project where he performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the Rice Seedling manufacturing center at the Thai Africa Rice City before proceeding to commission the Cross River Garment factory which has since begun production.
At the Garment factory, Osinbajo commended Cross River Governor, Senator Ben Ayade for his vision in setting up the factory which he said is a booster for the drive to create jobs and described the projects commissioned as well as the groundbreaking performed as not only creative, but “forward looking.”
“This ceremony is special as it tells what the future holds for the state. The governor clearly has defined this state as one that will be a major industrial hub in Africa, this is the beginning of that vision and I am extremely honored to be here to perform the groundbreaking ceremony,” he said and pointed out that Ayade has also demonstrated himself as a great achiever.
“I want to commend you for the great work you are doing and more importantly for inspiring a whole generation of young people,” adding that “many people want to hear you speak, many want to share your ideas, I am not surprised that they call you digital governor,” Osinbajo said.
The acting president later took a tour of the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises summit holding at the CICC before attending a Town Hall Meeting which is currently ongoing at the same venue.
He was earlier conferred with a chieftaincy title by the Obong of Calabar where Ayade had welcomed him and described him as a humble and God fearing man who has demonstrated his love for the unity of Nigerians, rather than party interest.
“Let me also welcome our acting president, a man ordained by God at this point in time to stand for our President at this challenging time. A man who also has the feeling, love and spirit for the people,” Ayade said.
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