The Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Plc, Roosevelt Ogbonna, has commended the Ogun State Government for creating an investor-friendly environment that has positioned the state as a prime destination for high-impact capital and long-term developmental partnerships.
Ogbonna led a delegation of senior bank executives to visit Governor Dapo Abiodun, highlighting the state’s strategic approach to governance, which he said goes beyond merely attracting investments to fostering a sustainable ecosystem for shared prosperity.
“I am extremely proud. Ogun State is making it a habit of showing Nigerians what a working democracy looks like,” Ogbonna said, noting that ongoing infrastructure projects reflect a transparent and functional administration.
The Access Bank CEO emphasized that the state’s policy framework encourages financial institutions to confidently back large-scale, visionary projects. A focal point of the visit was the development of the Gateway International Airport, which Ogbonna described as a masterstroke of bold leadership and strategic planning, confirming Access Bank’s continued support for the project.
“Ogun’s policies have gone beyond driving investment inflows… they foster partnerships focused on long-term development and a shared vision for the state’s future,” he noted.
Governor Abiodun welcomed the delegation, describing Access Bank as a “reliable development partner” that recognized the potential of the state’s master plan early on. He credited the success of the Gateway International Airport and other key projects to the alignment of private capital with public intent.
“They saw the vision from the outset and backed it. A vision without funding is merely a hallucination,” the governor said, adding that the collaboration between the state and the bank serves as a model for Public-Private Partnerships in Nigeria.
Ogun State, often called Nigeria’s industrial hub, has leveraged its proximity to Lagos to attract manufacturing and logistics firms. The Gateway International Airport, located at Iperu-Ilishan, is designed to serve both cargo and passenger traffic, easing congestion in Lagos while providing a direct export route for the state’s industrial zones.
The endorsement by Access Bank underscores the importance of “bankability” in public projects, demonstrating that a government’s vision must be credible enough for private financial institutions to invest, ensuring infrastructure is not just conceived but successfully executed.
