By Eunice Orike
The newly appointed Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, has formally assumed office with a commitment to reposition the sector for the benefit of the country and all Nigerians.
The Minister who resumed duties on Monday, shortly after taking the oath of office administered by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja emphasized the need to reverse Nigeria’s trade policies to create competitive jobs for the nation’s youth.
“The time has come for Nigeria to reverse her trade policies to create competitive jobs for our teeming youths,” she said.
Oduwole assured that under her leadership, one of the most strategic ministries in the country would deliver the positive change promised by the current administration.
“Expectations are high for change, and as a human collaborator, I will ensure that such expectations are met in this sector,” she affirmed.
To achieve this, the Minister highlighted her focus on attracting and retaining foreign direct investment (FDI) for sustainable growth.
“What gets measured is what gets done. We will ensure periodic performance appraisals in a systematic manner to ensure that targets are met,” she added.
Emphasizing the importance of exports, Oduwole noted that high-quality products from Nigeria would be regularly exported in line with global best practices, thereby achieving a balance of trade.
She also assured that the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) would be utilized optimally to benefit Nigeria.
Before the welcome reception, the Minister took a familiarization tour of the ministry to gain first-hand information about her new environment, a gesture that endeared her to the staff.
According to a statement by the director of press and public relations unit of the ministry, Adebayo Thomas explained that Jumoke Oduwole, prior to her appointment, served as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC). Established in July 2016 by the Federal Government and chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, PEBEC is tasked with removing bureaucratic and legislative constraints to doing business and improving the perception of the ease of doing business in Nigeria, with a view to reducing the time, cost, and procedures involved in starting and running a business, thereby increasing efficiency.
On his Permanent secretary of the ministry of industry trade and investment Nura Rimi, expressed his optimism about the new Minister’s leadership.
“We are confident that Minister Oduwole’s strategic vision and dynamic approach will bring about significant positive changes in our sector. Her track record speaks volumes, and we look forward to achieving great milestones under her guidance”, he said.