Governor Olusegun Mimiko says plans are almost concluded to ensure cocoa products in Ondo State gain commodity pricing and value at the Stock Exchange Market.
Mimiko said group-farmers will get stock brokers and thus market their products in stock exchange, stressing that the goal of the present administration is to process and brand its cocoa in a globally acceptable way that will in turn produce chocolate that is internationally worthy, hygienic, nourishing and outstanding.
The governor, while speaking at a gala night/dinner organised for participants of the National Defence College NDC), Abuja, Course 24, as part of activities rounding off their week long geo-strategic tour of the state, at the weekend, said his focus since the inception of his government, is to empower the people through the ‘A CARING HEART’ mantra, and invariably motivate them to pay tax.
Fielding questions from the participants at the dinner, Mimiko observed that the state will soon be recognised globally in its cocoa revolution and will in turn assist in repositioning Nigeria to its position in cocoa production among comity of nations.
Meanwhile, the Commandant of the NDC, Rear Admiral Sanni Alabi, who led the team has predicted that insurgency would soon be a thing of the past in the country. To this end, Alabi said the curriculum of the institution has been restructured towards tackling terrorism in the North East. According to him, officers in the institutions are ‘strategically thinking’ on how to end insurgency in the country. The NDC trains officers of colonel and above in the armed forces on strategic issues. Alabi said there were being trained to be strategic thinkers and one of the mandates in ending insurgency in the country. He noted that there are lots of programmes being put together and this geo-strategic tour of the state on Internally.
The state deputy governor, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo, who received the team in his office on behalf of the governor, commended the military for its efforts and professional manner in the fight against insurgency in the country.
