Governor Seyi Makinde has reiterated his administration’s commitment to attracting more direct foreign investments into Oyo State, with a focus on expanding partnerships in agribusiness, energy, tourism, infrastructure, and solid minerals.
In a post shared on his official Facebook page on Thursday, the governor revealed details of the keynote address he delivered at the Nigeria-Belgium-Luxembourg Business Forum in Brussels, where he outlined the state’s investment-friendly policies and ongoing reforms.
“Yesterday, I delivered a keynote address at the Nigeria Belgium Luxembourg Business Forum in Brussels.
“It was yet another opportunity to share specific opportunities available for investment and partnerships in Oyo State,” the governor wrote.
Makinde said the forum provided a platform to highlight Oyo’s economic potential and explore practical collaborations that could stimulate job creation and sustainable growth.
He emphasized that the state’s policies have been deliberately structured to promote ease of doing business, transparency, and investor confidence.
On the sidelines of the event, the governor met with several prospective investors and development partners, including Joachim Goedeweeck, Global Cocoa Sourcing and Sustainability Lead for The Belgium Chocolate Group.
Discussions focused on establishing partnerships with local private investors through Oyo State’s new accelerated project on value tree crops, particularly cocoa, cashew, and shea nut.
The initiative, supported by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), aims to rejuvenate old tree plantations and plant one million new trees within the next three to four years.
Makinde described the project as part of a wider effort to restore Oyo’s historic place in Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
“We are revamping old cocoa, cashew and shea nut trees and planting another one million new trees in the next three to four years,” he said, underscoring the administration’s focus on agro-industrial development.
The governor also held talks with William Leclef, Partnership Lead for West Africa at IKIC Impact Ventures, a development organization supported by the Belgian government.
Their discussions centered on collaboration in healthcare innovation, particularly in introducing modern technology for vaccine and drug storage across Oyo State’s primary healthcare centres.
According to Makinde, such collaborations reflect Oyo State’s evolving investment landscape, where government and private sector partnerships are driving tangible improvements in key sectors.
“Our goal is to build sustainable partnerships that improve lives and strengthen our economy,” he noted.