By Precious Oluwole

The Ondo State House of Assembly has said that Commerce and Industry is an important tool for the development of a nation.

The chairman, House committee on Commerce and Industry, Hon. Felix Afe Stated this at a familiarization visit to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and corporative services.

He pointed that the reason for the visit is to familiarize themselves with the ministry, as well as the commissioner.

He added that the relationship between the ministry and the House of Assembly is not that cordial, particularly, with the 9th Assembly

He commended the efforts of the ministry in generating revenue for the state, stressing that every ministries must be on desk to move the state forward.

He pledged that the house would continue support and cooperate with the ministry for the development of the state.

Earlier in his address, the Commissioner for commerce, Industry and cooperative services, Akogun Akinwunmi Sowore revealed that the ministry evolved from the defunct Ministry of Trade and Cooperative in 1976 after the creation of the then Ondo State from the old Western State and was later named the Ministry of Commerce and Industry when investment promotion was introduced.

He added that the Ministry was re-designated as Agency for Commerce, Industry and Cooperative services by the present administration in July, 2019 to continue to perform the functions of the defunct ministry under the political headship of Special Adviser on Commerce and Industry.

He stressed that the vision of the ministry is to be the centerpiece of policy formulation and revenue generation to government through commercial activities, industrial developments as well as promotion of cooperative organisation in the state.

“Our mission is to ensure effective and efficient use of human, financial and material resources for result -oriented service delivery for revenue drive in tandem with the REDEEMED Agenda of the present administration”.

According to him, the challenges of the ministry includes obsolete office equipment (Computer, Printer, and Photocopier), Inadequate Funding, delayed in Assessing Fund, among others.

He, however, appealed to the house to help the ministry to be more funded to be able to perform their duties optimally, to work formidably to the interest of the ministry and the state at large.