We want Ogbomoso to be another Silicon Valley – Soun, as commissioner lauds monarch … What’s Silicon Valley?
Femi OGUNLANA
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The Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III, has again stated his resolve to transform his domain into the “Silicon Valley of Africa.”
The paramount ruler stated this Wednesday at the third edition of Ogbomoso Digital Economy Summit (ODES), held at the Great Hall, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso.
The theme of the economic summit was “Financing and deploying resources for digital transformation.”
In his address, Oba Olaoye acknowledged the potential impact the summit will have on Ogbomosoland while reiterating the need to reposition the city to unlock the potential of the people and transform the land to a hub of excellence in agriculture, education, infrastructure, health, tourism and commerce.
The monarch disclosed ths summit is within the framework of his 25 year-developmental agenda asserting this will empower industries, generate employment and improve the quality of life for residents of Ogbomoso.
He also used the occasion to announce that “Ogbomoso International Economy Summit” will hold in April 2025 stressing it will showcase the resilience and ingenuity of Ogbomosoland and facilitate partnership with relevant investors to make Ogbomoso a source of pride to the whole world.
“It is with immense pride and gratitude that I welcome you to this gathering aimed at fostering the digital economic transformation of our beloved land, Ogbomosoland. This summit signifies not just our aspirations but our collective resolve to reposition our town as a centre for innovation, industry, and sustainable development,” the Oba said in his speech.
“Our focus today aligns with the broader framework of the 25-Year Developmental Vision for Ogbomosoland, which is a roadmap designed to unlock the potential of our people, our land, and our industries. This vision, developed with input from our community and various committees, is centered on creating opportunities that will make Ogbomosoland a hub of excellence in agriculture, education, healthcare, infrastructure, tourism, and commerce.
“As the Soun of Ogbomosoland, I stand committed to a bold and inspiring vision: to make Ogbomoso the Silicon Valley of Africa. This is not just a dream but a deliberate strategy to position our town as a hub of technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship, where young minds and businesses flourish, and where tradition and progress walk hand in hand.
“Ogbomoso is blessed with a rich heritage, resilient people, and untapped opportunities. We are determined to harness these blessings to transform our land into a model town—one that is self-reliant, forward-thinking, and globally competitive. By embracing digital technology, fostering innovation, and attracting investments, we aim to create an ecosystem that will power industries, generate employment, and improve the quality of life for all who call Ogbomoso home.
“Today’s summit is one of such initiatives, providing a platform for exchanging ideas, developing strategies, and sparking collaboration. Let this event be a reminder that the journey to greatness is collective, requiring the input and support of all.”
The Oyo state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, speaking at the well-attended event lauded the various developmental initiatives of Oba Ghandi.
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Describing him as a focused leader he however urged him to have a greater engagement with the state government.
“Kabiyesi has proven to the world that he is a goal getter and a farsighted leader. Now, he must prove that he is also a pragmatic ruler for the sake of the rest of us.”
The commissioner lauded Oba Ghandi for his determination to pursue an informed and aggressive developmental projects that is defined within a 25-year period for Ogbomoso, further praising the monarch for reigniting the patriotic zeal of Ogbomoso citizens to take part in the revolutionary development of the city.
“Kabiyesi is determined to explore and exploit his personal experiences both as a successful businessman and his sojourn in the vineyard of the Lord for over 30 years and bring these to bear on the development of his fatherland.
“Everyone knows that if Oba Afolabi Ghandi is able to unleash his experience and determination, Ogbomoso will radically change within the first ten years of his reign.” Oyelade added.
Meanwhile, Prince Oyelade, a native of Ogbomoso, noted that the Seyi Makinde administration has installed more traditional rulers than any other administration either in the old or new Oyo state.
Oyelade said that since 2019, Governor Seyi Makinde had “installed 10 kings and 40 Baales and so has the bragging and tangible rights to cognate experience in chieftaincy matters than any other administration in modern times.”
He emphasized the importance of cordial relationship between government and the traditional institution, submitting, “The government needs the traditional rulers to assist in consolidating its policies and activities at the grassroots, the state law that governs the existence and emergence of the traditional ruler is tilted in favour of the state government, thus, traditional rulers who want to accelerate development in their communities must find a synergy.”
Several dignitaries including the Vice Chancellor of LAUTECH, Prof. ROM Kalilu, prominent traditional rulers in Ogbomoso zone, High Chiefs of Ogbomosoland, digital economy enthusiasts among others, graced the occasion.
What is Silicon Valley?
Source; Wikipedia
Silicon Valley, a conglomeration encompassing a number of cities in Northern California, United States of America, is home to many of the world’s largest high-tech corporations, including the headquarters of more than 30 businesses in the Fortune 1000, and thousands of startup companies. And as of 2021, the region employed about a half million information technology workers. It has become a global center for high technology and innovation. Located in the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area, it corresponds roughly to the geographical area of the Santa Clara Valley. The term “Silicon Valley” refers to the area in which high-tech business has proliferated in Northern California, and it also serves as a general metonym for California’s high-tech business sector. Stanford University played a major role in the development of Silicon Valley nearly a century ago. The university encouraged its faculty, students and graduates to start companies of their own and assisted them by leasing them lands and providing other incentives.
The term Silicon Valley is often used as a synecdoche for the American high-technology economic sector. The name also became a global synonym for leading high-tech research and enterprises, and thus inspired similarly named locations, as well as research parks and technology centers with comparable structures all around the world. Many headquarters of tech companies in Silicon Valley have become hotspots for tourism. It is also the birthplace of the internet. After the hub took off and assumed prominence, it attracted a lot of other allied businesses and services such as law firms, banking, real estate etc.
Origins of “Silicon” and “Valley”
“Silicon” refers to the chemical element used in silicon-based transistors and integrated circuit chips, which is the focus of a large number of computer hardware and software innovators and manufacturers in the region.
The urbanized area (that became Silicon Valley) is built upon an alluvial plain within a longitudinal valley formed by roughly parallel earthquake faults. The area between the faults subsided into a graben or dropped valley.
Hoefler defined Silicon Valley as the urbanized parts of “the San Francisco Peninsula and Santa Clara Valley”. Before the expansive growth of the tech industry, the region had been the largest fruit-producing and packing region in the world up through the 1960s, with 39 fruit canneries. The nickname it had been known as during that period was “the Valley of Heart’s Delight”.
LAUTECH can take the lead too
Like Stanford University did in the birth of the Silicon Valley, LAUTECH can play similar crucial role in achieving the lofty dream of turning its host city into a tech hub. The university is blessed with large expanse of unused land, let its management take a cue from Stanford University to create another Silicon Valley in Africa. Let it begin, let the ingenuity of the dons there come to play.
