By Asaye Bankole
The Deji of Akure Kingdom in Ondo State, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, has urged Akure indigenes living in Nigeria and abroad to return home and invest in the development of the community.
The monarch said increased investment in Akure would accelerate the city’s development, create employment opportunities and provide young people with platforms to build sustainable careers.
Oba Aladelusi made the call on Sunday during the official inauguration of Baseline Event Centre in Oke Aro, Akure.
The monarch noted that Akure had continued to expand rapidly, stressing that indigenes in the diaspora should take advantage of the city’s growing economic potential.
He said, “I have always appealed to our Akure indigenes in the diaspora to come and invest at home to develop this community.
“I am happy that we have good things happening in this town. Akure is growing every day in terms of development.
“You can see that Akure is expanding, but I want to appeal to our sons and daughters who are outside to invest in the town. I can assure them that Akure is safe and their investments are safe.
“They should come home to invest. Apart from contributing to the development of the community, employment opportunities would also be created if we have more investments.”
The traditional ruler also commended the management of Baseline Event Centre for investing in Akure, assuring investors and businesses that the palace would continue to support initiatives capable of contributing to the growth of the community.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of Baseline Event Centre, Olusegun Odemakinde, said the decision to establish the facility in Akure was driven partly by the desire to contribute to employment generation and economic activities in the city.
Odemakinde explained that the impact of the centre would extend beyond its directly employed staff, as its operations would create opportunities for professionals and businesses within the events and hospitality industry.
He said, “A project like this goes beyond the people directly employed by the event centre.
“As Baseline grows, we expect to create opportunities for young people and professionals across different areas of the events and hospitality ecosystem.
“Our intention is to deliberately create opportunities for people in Akure and its environs, particularly young people who are looking for a platform to develop their skills, earn an income and build sustainable careers.
“Wherever possible, we will also seek to work with local businesses and service providers.
Because when Baseline succeeds, we want that success to travel beyond these walls.
“We want the photographer to benefit. We want the decorator to benefit. We want the caterer, the driver, the security personnel, the technician and the young professional to benefit.
That is how an investment becomes part of a community.”
The managing director further stressed that Baseline Event Centre was established not merely as a business in Ondo State’s capital but as an institution committed to contributing to the city’s overall development.
“We want to be an institution that contributes to Akure,” he declared.
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