Fayemi commissions Ikogosi water plant

From Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti
|
Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, on Tuesday commissioned Gossy Water Production plant, signalling the commencement of full scale production of the popular table water brand, a year after the parent company was shut down.

The entire Ikogosi community was thrown into jubilation as both the young and the old trooped to the major streets as early as 6.00am singing and dancing in celebration of the return of the water company.

Governor Fayemi who led other government officials  to commission the plant, said it was regrettable that the Gossy Water Company which could have been generating revenues for the State went moribund due to lack of conducive environment for doing business in Ekiti State after he left office in 2014.

The Governor recalled that the bottling company was established as a joint business venture under Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, the first civilian Governor of the State and the investment “made waves in the market thereby boosting the IGR of the State and creating job opportunities for the citizens”.

He described the revitalisation of the company as another milestone in the state government’s determined efforts to revive moribund projects in Ekiti State.

“I am particularly excited about this development because of its expected multiplier effects on the economic lives of the people and governance in the State. I therefore congratulate Ekiti kete, home and abroad, for the restoration of this company which is an offshoot of one of our most prominent tourist attractions, the Ikogosi Warm Springs”, he said.

While lamenting the neglect of the tourism corridors of Ekiti State by the last administration, the governor said Ikogosi Resort has now become “a ghost of its former self and hardly enjoys patronage because of its state of dilapidation”.

 Fayemi, however, assured that his administration would soon revive the warm spring resort, through private sector investment, and restore it to its pride of place as a first class tourist destination in Africa.

While promising that his government would ensure an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, he explained that his administration has mapped out strategic plans towards the resuscitation of other abandoned and moribund investments in the State.

Earlier in his speech, the Board Chairman of Gossy Warm Spring, Mr Wole Adeyegbe expressed the readiness of the company to run the Gossy brand profitably and extend the brand to related food and beverage segments.

Adeyegbe added that the company has employed Ekiti indigenes, adding that it is planning to have at least 300 of its direct and indirect staff from the state.

Similarly, the Group Managing Director of Fountain Holdings Ltd, Mr Seyi Ayeleso thanked Governor Fayemi for working with the Benin Electricity Distribution Company to restore power to Ikogosi Ekiti and its two neighbouring communities saying that this would help forestall a re-occurrence of power challenge which was part of the reasons for its liquidation by its owner.