Makinde to attract foreign investors for Oyo at London summit

By Akeem Abas

Oyo State Governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, says he will embark on aggressive global investment drive toward attracting investors to the state from the diaspora.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Peter Eledan, Director, Oyo International Business Summit, London 2023 and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Ibadan.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit, with the theme: ‘Accessing the Pioneer Advantage to Sustainable Investments in Oyo State’ is scheduled to hold in London on May 19.

NAN also reports that the governor will deliver a keynote address at the summit to be attended by high-profile key decision-makers, including chief executive officers and investors from around the world.

Eledan said that the summit was aimed at attracting more investors in the diaspora to invest in the rapidly-growing Oyo economy.

He said that the first term of the governor had resulted in the unprecedented growth of the state economy from ground zero to enviable status.

Eledan said that the summit also aimed to bring together key actors in agribusiness, solid minerals and mining, tourism, sustainable energy as well as infrastructure sectors.

He said that the summit would discuss investment opportunities through Private Investment Ventures (PIV), Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and Public-Private-Development Partnership (PPDP) models in the state.

According to him, the summit is the first of its kind beyond the shores of the state.

He said that Makinde was keen on developing a smart city and environmental-friendly green industry, adding that he would meet senior executives of companies with business interests in the state at the summit.

“The summit will provide a platform for potential investors and stakeholders to better understand investment opportunities.

“The investors will also be made to understand how to generate sustainable growth for the state, while enjoying high returns on their investments.

“Oyo is booming, and it is time to invest more in the state, which is an ideal future investment destination in Nigeria,” Eledan said.

He said that the governor would use the summit to present an ideal opportunity for investors and businesses to facilitate investments.

The director said the summit would also facilitate partnerships to network and build valuable relationships that would bring successful investments to the state.

He said that the summit would be used as a platform to showcase the state’s comparative advantage over other states in Nigeria and open its economy to the global community.

“With its agrarian nature, there is more to benefit in agribusiness, tourism, solid minerals and mining, sustainable energy and infrastructure.

“These sectors can add to revenue generation and employment opportunities for the teeming populace.

“The Oyo International Business Summit 2023 marks the beginning of Omituntun 2.0, a programme dubbed sustainable development.

“It is an ideal strategy to kick-start the second term of the governor, which promises to be fruitful for the betterment of the state and its citizens,” Eledan said.

(NAN)