𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 $𝟔 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐎𝐲𝐨’𝐬 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐟𝐂𝐅𝐓𝐀 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲

Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to creating a prosperous and self-sustaining future for the state through strategic investments and forward-looking economic policies.

Speaking at a post-engagement meeting on the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) held in Ibadan, Makinde revealed that the state has successfully saved about $6 million in its Sovereign Wealth Fund — a move he described as part of his administration’s efforts to secure the economic future of Oyo State.

According to the governor, the fund was created to ensure that beyond physical infrastructure, Oyo is building systems and institutions that can sustain growth and development long after the present administration.

“We are not only improving lives today; we are also saving for tomorrow,” Makinde said. “What matters most to me is that we are setting up structures that will guarantee good governance and sustainable development for generations to come."

Governor Makinde emphasized that Oyo State’s adoption of a sub-national AfCFTA strategy was born out of the state’s potential to thrive in regional and continental markets. He noted that Oyo is well-positioned to benefit immensely from intra-African trade, with its strategic location, growing infrastructure, and youthful population.

He explained that natural resources alone cannot drive lasting prosperity, stressing that productivity, innovation, and access to markets are the real keys to economic transformation.

Among the projects highlighted by the governor was the ongoing upgrade of the Ibadan Airport to international standards — a move he said would facilitate trade, tourism, and investment. The upgraded airport can now accommodate wide-bodied aircraft like the Airbus A330, positioning Ibadan as a potential commercial hub in West Africa.

The governor, often lauded for his pragmatic approach to governance, said his goal is to make Oyo State a model for sustainable development and an example for other sub-nationals across the continent.

 “We are doing the groundwork to make Oyo State globally connected and economically independent,” he said. “We’re not waiting for anyone; we’re taking our destiny in our hands. Oyo State will not just take part in Africa’s future — we intend to shape it.”

In her remarks, the governor’s Special Adviser on AfCFTA and International Trade, Ms. Neo Theodore Tlhaselo, commended the administration for its foresight, noting that Oyo’s sub-national strategy is already drawing attention from international trade and investment partners. She described the document as a legal framework empowering the state to form partnerships and tap into new markets across Africa.

With Oyo State becoming the first in Africa to implement a sub-national AfCFTA strategy, The governor reaffirmed that his administration is charting a path of innovation, resilience, and economic independence.

The meeting had in attendance several top government officials, including the Chief of Staff, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; Head of Service, Mrs. Olubunmi Oni, mni; and the Director-General of the Oyo State Public Private Partnership Agency, Hon. Tilewa Folami.