The Oyo State Government has expressed its readiness to partner with the United States of America in key sectors including investments, education, agribusiness, and solid minerals development, as part of efforts to boost the state’s revenue base and stimulate sustainable growth.
Governor Seyi Makinde made this known on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the United States Consul-General, led by Deputy Chief, Political and Economic Section, Kenise Hill, to the Governor’s Office in Ibadan. Represented by his Deputy, Barr. Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal, the Governor stated that Oyo State is rich in potential and open to mutually beneficial collaborations.
He said: “I want to assure you that we have huge potentials in Oyo State that can really be leveraged into partnerships that will be beneficial to both parties. The Solid Mineral Development Agency is a new creation following challenges in mineral exploitation in the state. Close to half of our landmass contains various deposits that can be tapped and developed in partnership with the U.S. government.”
He noted that the government welcomes partnerships through both the public and private sectors, adding that relevant facts and figures on investment opportunities are readily available through the appropriate agencies.
On environmental development, Lawal highlighted that there are multiple opportunities for initiatives that could positively impact the state, particularly in the areas of sustainability and resilience.
He stressed that agribusiness remains a top priority for the current administration, as agriculture plays a central role in food security and poverty reduction. “We have put agriculture on the front burner because we sincerely believe we must be able to feed our people,” he said. He urged the U.S. government to consider financial support for agricultural programmes and institutions in the state, such as the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), which plays a vital role in agricultural research and development.
Lawal also noted that the state’s agribusiness model recently attracted the President of Sierra Leone, who spent nearly a week in Oyo to understudy the system, pointing to the model’s success and international appeal.
In the area of education, he revealed that over 21 per cent of the state’s annual budget has consistently been allocated to the sector since 2019. He emphasised that education, including technological advancement, remains critical to the state’s long-term development goals.
The Deputy Governor further called for collaboration on energy development, stating that energy sufficiency is key to attracting and retaining industrial investments. “The Oyo State Government has commenced the construction of an 11KVA Hybrid Power Plant to ensure uninterrupted power supply for government operations and to attract industrial growth,” he said.
Earlier, Ms Kenise Hill commended the Oyo State Government’s efforts and reiterated the U.S. government’s commitment to expanding trade and investment ties with Nigeria. She said the U.S. aims to connect American industries with Nigerian stakeholders in both the public and private sectors and provide funding support for infrastructure development.
“Our goal is to connect U.S. industries to Nigerian players, private or public sector. We also provide grants—typically around $2 million—to support infrastructure development in Nigeria,” she said. She added that the U.S. is particularly interested in the solid minerals sector and other areas that show investment potential.
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Other members of the U.S. delegation, including Josh Egba, Banksharon Nwaneri and Kenechukwu Onyeke, also expressed interest in supporting infrastructure development initiatives in the state.
The courtesy visit was attended by top government officials including the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Olanike Adeyemo; Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni, mni; Commissioner for Investment, Trade, Cooperatives and Industry, Hon. Adeniyi Adebisi; Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola; and the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Security, CP Sunday Odukoya (rtd).
Others present included the Chairman of the Oyo State Board of Internal Revenue, Mr Femi Awakan, and the Chairman of the Oyo State Mining Development Agency, Mr Abiodun Oni.
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