Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has announced that his administration has successfully transformed the state’s agricultural landscape through deliberate institutional reforms and a structured agribusiness framework aimed at driving economic prosperity. He made the declaration on Wednesday at the second edition of the Oyo State International Agribusiness Summit 2025, held at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, an event attended by global development partners, diplomats, industrialists, bankers, and key stakeholders in the agriculture sector.
Addressing participants, Makinde explained that his administration’s first six years were dedicated to positioning agriculture as a major economic driver while shifting from subsistence farming to a modern, industrialised agricultural system. He said the summit served as a platform to highlight the strategy that has guided the state’s agribusiness transformation and its ongoing commitment to fostering an inclusive and productive economic environment.
A major highlight of the summit was the unveiling of the newly introduced “Grown in Oyo State Certification Mark,” an official stamp of authenticity for agricultural produce cultivated within the state. Makinde said the mark symbolises the state’s renewed commitment to quality assurance, transparency, and a functional agribusiness ecosystem that connects all players through a trusted identity system. He added that the certification would boost market confidence, attract investors, and promote Oyo-grown products beyond the state and Nigeria.
Makinde emphasised that the theme of the summit, “Expanding Oyo State’s Economy through Agricultural Industrialisation,” reflects the core priority of his administration. He recalled that agriculture had long been treated merely as a subsistence activity supported by subsidies, without coordination between policies, infrastructure, research institutions, and private sector investments. According to him, this gap inspired the creation of the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA), established as a dedicated engine to implement reforms and coordinate all agribusiness activities in the state.
The governor highlighted the impact of ongoing rural infrastructure development, noting that road projects connecting key agricultural zones—such as Ibadan, Iseyin, Ogbomoso, Oyo and Ibarapa, have opened up produce belts and enabled farmers to transport goods with greater ease. He cited Iseyin and Eruwa as examples of communities now experiencing increased movement of farm produce due to improved road access, saying the results of the reforms are evident even if they unfold at a different pace from neighbouring states.
Makinde also spoke about the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) in Fasola, Ijaye and Eruwa, which he said would complement the state’s industrialisation drive once fully operational. He insisted that Oyo State’s focus extends beyond import substitution, stressing the need to produce for export to earn foreign exchange and position the state as a competitive player in global agricultural markets. He assured investors that the state offers abundant arable land, a youthful and reliable workforce, favourable agro-ecological conditions, and proximity to Lagos, Nigeria’s largest consumer market, in addition to a government committed to policy stability and strategic partnerships.
Diplomats and industry leaders, including the Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, Pieter Leenknegt; Denmark’s Trade Counsellor, Jette Bjerrum; former IITA Director-General, Dr Nteranya Sanginga; and First Bank Managing Director, Segun Alebiosu, commended the governor for championing transformative agricultural innovations. They expressed willingness to strengthen collaborations and support Oyo State’s expanding agribusiness value chain.
In his address, the Director-General of OYSADA, Dr Debo Akande, said the state has taken a bold step into a future defined by industrial agriculture, food security and accelerated economic growth. He reiterated that rural infrastructure remains the backbone of Oyo’s agro-industrialisation efforts and revealed that the state plans to further integrate its agribusiness sector with regional and global trade frameworks to expand market access.
The summit was attended by top government officials, including Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal; Secretary to the State Government, Prof Olanike Adeyemo; Chief of Staff, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; and members of the Oyo State Elders’ Council, alongside traditional rulers and other dignitaries.
