Oyo Govt Reaffirms Commitment to Successful Hosting of EXPOYO 2026

The Oyo State Government has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the successful hosting of EXPOYO 2026, as part of its broader agenda to stimulate investment, promote industrialisation and strengthen the State’s economy through strategic public-private sector partnerships.

The Honourable Commissioner for Investment, Trade, Cooperatives and Industry, Professor Salihu Abdulwaheed Adelabu, gave the assurance while receiving the leadership of the Oyo State Council of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OYCCIMA), led by its President, Esv. Niran Adewoyin, alongside the Vice President, Alhaji Abiola Alli, and other executive members of the Chamber during a courtesy visit to his office in Ibadan.

Professor Adelabu said the Ministry was fully aware of the importance of EXPOYO to the economic aspirations of the State, explaining that the delay in fixing a definite date was due to administrative processes that affected the earlier proposal.

He disclosed that the Ministry had commenced the process of preparing a fresh memorandum for the approval of Governor Seyi Makinde through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), expressing confidence that the necessary approval would be secured to enable adequate planning for the event.

The Commissioner stressed that while EXPOYO remains a flagship economic event, OYCCIMA’s responsibility extends beyond organising trade fairs. According to him, the Chamber should serve as the voice of the State’s economy by generating reliable sectoral data, championing policy advocacy, attracting investments and promoting innovation capable of driving sustainable economic growth.

He urged the Chamber to strengthen its collaboration with the Ministry, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, international chambers of commerce and development finance institutions such as the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), noting that such partnerships would unlock greater opportunities for businesses and position Oyo State as a preferred investment destination.

Professor Adelabu further emphasised that Government exists to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, adding that effective teamwork between the Ministry and OYCCIMA would accelerate industrial development, enhance value addition across key sectors and improve the State’s contribution to the national economy.

He also challenged the Chamber to provide periodic economic reports, sector-by-sector statistics and investment data that would support Government planning and evidence-based policy formulation, stressing that “data drives decision-making and remains critical to economic transformation.”

Earlier, the Vice President of OYCCIMA, Alhaji Abiola Alli, appealed to the State Government to facilitate the early approval of EXPOYO 2026, proposed for the last week of October 2026.

He noted that timely confirmation of the date would sustain the confidence of exhibitors, investors and development partners, while enabling both the Chamber and the State Government to make adequate preparations for a successful trade fair.

Alhaji Alli described EXPOYO as one of the Chamber’s flagship programmes, whose benefits extend beyond the business community to the State Government through investment promotion, enterprise development, market expansion and increased economic activities.

He recalled that the maiden edition of EXPOYO enjoyed the support of Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration, with the Deputy Governor representing the Governor at the event, a demonstration of the Government’s commitment to promoting commerce, trade and industrial development in Oyo State.

The meeting ended with both parties reaffirming their resolve to work more closely towards delivering a bigger and more impactful EXPOYO 2026, while strengthening institutional collaboration aimed at attracting investments, creating jobs and advancing Governor Seyi Makinde’s vision of a sustainable and prosperous economy for Oyo State.