Though, the historic maiden edition of the Ikorodu Economic Summit organized by Advocates for Community Economic Development, A-CED in conjunction with Ikorodu Oga Development Association, IKODASS may have come and gone, but the positive effects of the summit is yet to settle.
The summit with the theme, Stabilizing the Local Economy is the first in the series of research-based community economic development advocacy initiatives. This was revealed by Oke Godwin Olaoluwa, a trained economist and co-founder, A-CED when he featured as guest on Ikorodu Oga Radio’s flagship grassroot community business show, Ikorodu Marketplace.
Olaoluwa who is a PhD scholar at the University of Lagos disclosed that the enormous untapped economic potentials of Ikorodu division inspired the community-based economic summit.
He listed some of the massive economic potentials to include Ikorodu having the largest shoreline in Nigeria, host to Egbin power plant responsible for 20% power generation in the country and host community to the largest cluster of steel rolling mills in Nigeria.
Other potentials of Ikorodu community, according to him is the fact that Ikorodu division is the fastest growing suburb in Lagos state, and the division with the most affordable land in Lagos state.
‘Our belief as an organization is that, the development of any economy should start from within, hence the passion of our organization to proffer solution to community problems, using market-based and home grown solutions’, he added.
Ogo Oluwa also added that the summit will lead to the birth many business hubs across the length and breadth of Ikorodu division. H cited the possibility of a Tech Hub being established in Ikorodu, as a first step towards putting some of the benefits of the historic summit into use.
