Recently, I was confronted with a challenging question from public opinion: “Why is Governor Makinde spending Oyo State taxpayers’ money on international trips that seem unnecessary?”
The question was simple, but the answer requires deeper understanding. Let us consider the scenario of a farmer. Before the harvest, there is clearing, plowing, and planting. Afterward, there is watering, weeding, and nurturing before the fruits can be gathered. No farmer reaps overnight. In the same way, Governor Makinde’s travels are the planting, watering, and nurturing stages of Oyo State’s future prosperity. The harvest is already beginning to manifest.
In his quest to reposition Oyo State as a hub of Sustainable growth, Agribusiness urbanization and economic prosperity, Governor Seyi Makinde has consistently embarked on high-level international engagements aimed at attracting foreign direct investments (FDI), fostering partnerships, and showcasing the state’s vast potential.
These trips are not junkets. They are deliberate, Intentional targeted missions with measurable results across multiple sectors including agro-logistics, energy, transportation, ICT, and tourism.
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According to Dr. Debo Akande, Executive Adviser on International Development Cooperation and DG of OYSADA, Makinde’s “investment evangelism” in Paris, Nairobi, the Netherlands, Finland, the U.S., and other nations has drawn the attention of global Agribusiness leaders to Oyo’s fertile land and huge consumer market.
One clear outcome was the recent two-day visit of Chinese investors that is expected to bring about $500 million into Oyo’s economy.
Gov. Makinde’s international engagements have opened doors for collaborations in road construction, renewable energy, and transport modernization. The Oyo PaceSetter Transport Services (PTS) expansion of CNG-powered buses ties into clean energy financing conversations held abroad now a reality as CNG fuel station is under construction at PTS, Infrastructure financing models from foreign investors are already being explored for the ICR and intra-city transport upgrades.
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Governor Makinde’s travels have secured discussions with international manufacturing and technology firms willing to establish industrial hubs, such as ATC Fasola, Atan Ijaiye Village SAPZ Project, ICT parks, and renewable energy plants in Oyo e.g Shell gas in view.
By engaging with cultural investors and international tourism boards, Oyo State’s rich heritage, festivals, historical landmarks, and arts, is being marketed globally as a magnet for tourism dollars.
Recently, Gov. Makinde through the Honorable Commissioners Tourism and Culture, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, Trade, Industry Investment And Cooperative, Hon. Adeniyi Olabode Adebisi represented Oyo State being the only, first sub-national at the Algeria International Trade Fair to hold a stand alone shed.
As Dr. Folasade Adeboyejo, CEO of 3TEES Food Solutions, remarked: their journey from the International Tourism Summit Oyo State 2025 to the 4th Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) in Algiers was “a great deal, worthwhile, and best of its kind.” She gave kudos to Governor Makinde’s vision.
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As part of the Oyo State team at the 4th Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) in Algiers, Algeria, Hadassah Foods showcased export-ready Agricultural produce and products. Mrs Feyisara Kevin-Israel
CEO, Mafelojo Resources Limited, known as Hadassah Foods as she applauded Gov Makinde and his team for their dedication capacity and support towards a successful IATF2025
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She said, this is not only an event for them but a historic landmark business network that is equally yielding an immediate fruits and productive.
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Governor Makinde recently hosted the official launch of Oyo State’s Sub-National AfCFTA Implementation Strategy, co-hosted by AfCFTA Secretary-General, Wamkele Mene. This is a landmark positioning of Oyo as a frontline player in continental trade. Already, this strategy has attracted over $10 million in deals, including Agro-logistics initiatives at Ibadan Airport.
Governor Makinde’s international missions are not about frequent travels, but about strategic positioning and moves that will always be meaningful and productive. Each trip has been anchored on the philosophy of “prosperity for the many, not the few.”
Guess what?, what this means is that, By forging global alliances, securing investment commitments, and transferring knowledge into governance, Governor Seyi Makinde has positioned Oyo State as a rising economy with the highest inflow of foreign investments in its history.
In Makinde’s own words: “Oyo State must not only consume but produce, must not only wait for federal allocation but generate prosperity by leveraging global opportunities.”
This positions Governor Makinde’s international engagements not as mere trips but as investment journeys shaping Oyo’s long-term prosperity as he remains the First and Only visionary leader that has brought highest investment and foreign investors to Oyo State rising economy
What some may call “wasteful trips” are in fact the seeds of Oyo’s prosperity — seeds already sprouting into visible harvests.
E-Signed,
Yours In Service,
Egalitarian Dignified Comrade
Digital Communicator
Moyosoreoluwa Olamilekan Eldreez (MOE)
Codenamed IJOBA AUTHORITY | Convener, Emerging Force Platform | Head Youth Media Campaign for GSM Re-election Bid 2023 | He4She Crusader | Loyalist of His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde , FNSE, DSc, GSSRS.
