Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has pledged to partner with telecom and laptop dealers to establish a modern commercial hub, including a proposed Edo Computer Village, in a move aimed at reducing operating costs, improving security and strengthening the state’s technology-driven retail business.
The governor made the commitment on Tuesday at Government House, Benin City, while receiving members of the Telecom and Laptop Dealers Union, Edo State, led by its chairman, Akhile Rodney.
Okpebholo said his administration was willing to work with the union to provide a suitable location for the proposed market, noting that a purpose-built commercial centre would provide traders with a more organised business environment, reduce the burden of shop rents and improve security.
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He said his personal experience in business had given him an understanding of the challenges confronting small and medium-scale entrepreneurs, commending the union for seeking a structured partnership with the state government.
“I am part of you because I started the way you are today.
One thing is to have something doing; another thing is to be focused,” the governor said.
Drawing an example from the Computer Village in Lagos, Okpebholo recalled how the commercial hub developed from a small traders’ association into a major centre for telecommunications, computers and related businesses, expressing optimism that Edo traders could replicate the success.
According to him, concentrating telecom and computer businesses in a designated location would not only reduce rental costs but also make it easier for government to provide security, monitor commercial activities and identify criminal elements.
“We should be able to do that so that you can pay less rent and be highly protected,” he said.
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The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, adding that economic stability under President Bola Tinubu’s administration would also benefit operators in the telecom and computer industry, which relies substantially on imported products.
He argued that improved stability in the foreign exchange market would ease pressure on businesses, enable dealers to plan their operations and improve their capacity to sustain investment.
Okpebholo also urged the traders to support Tinubu’s re-election, arguing that continuity in the implementation of the administration’s economic reforms would create further opportunities for businesses.
Earlier, Rodney appealed to the state government to establish modern telecom and laptop markets across Edo’s three senatorial districts, stressing that access to strategically located land would enable traders to operate in a more organised and secure environment.
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