Ondo open for business, innovation, global partnership – Gov Aiyedatiwa

…….. Says we’ll reposition Ondo as reliable hub for transition – economy solution

……As Ondo govt signs MoU for Ondo Seaport, petrochemical fertilizer plant

By Precious Oluwole

Ondo State Governor, Dr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has emphasized his administration’s commitment to repositioning the State as a reliable hub for distributed and transition – economy energy solution.

Speaking at the Ondo State Investment Summit 2026, held at the International Culture and Events Center, the Dome, on Monday, the Governor stated that Ondo State is open for business, industry, innovation and for global partnership.

According to him, the gathering was with clarity of purpose to unlock opportunity, to forge partnerships and to position Ondo State as a premier investment destination in Nigeria and Africa.

He said “Beyond today’s conversations, let me assure you: we will be tracking the outcomes of every engagement, investment discussion and decisions from this Summit. At the 2027 Investment Summit, we will present measurable results, highlight implemented projects and showcase the real economic impact generated from commitments made here today.

“We are transitioning deliberately and strategically from a consumption-driven economy to a production-driven, private sector-led industrial powerhouse. This Summit represents that transition. It is not a ceremony. It is not a conversation. It is a commitment.

“Under this administration’s “OUR EASE” agenda, we have focused on one clear objective: creating an enabling environment where investment thrives. Here in Ondo State, you will experience the ease of doing business. We are simplifying processes, we are strengthening institutions, we are improving transparency, we are accelerating approvals. This is because investors do not go where there is potential alone. Investors go where there is structure, certainty, and political will, and Ondo State offers all three”.

The Governor stressed that Ondo State is not asking for opportunity but presenting opportunity. “We possess one of the longest natural coastlines in Nigeria, approximately 75 kilometres with direct access to the Atlantic Ocean; one of the largest bitumen deposits in the world; rich agricultural assets including cocoa, oil palm, rubber and timber; significant deposits of limestone, granite, kaolin and other commercially viable solid minerals; oil-producing communities in Ilaje and Ese-Odo; strategic connectivity to at least seven neighbouring states; and a strong and committed diaspora community.

“Foremost among our catalytic initiatives is the proposed Ondo Deep Sea Port under a Public-Private Partnership concession framework. With a natural draft of between 16.5 and 18 metres and direct Atlantic access, the port is designed to accommodate large commercial vessels, positioning Ondo as a major maritime gateway.

“Adjacent to this transformative infrastructure is the Sunshine Industrial City, designated as a Free Trade Zone on 2,771 hectares. Together, they form an integrated port-linked industrial ecosystem encompassing manufacturing, maritime services, petrochemical processing, agro-industrial facilities and logistics platforms with direct export access.

“This convergence of geography, policy support, tax incentives and institutional backing presents a frontier opportunity grounded in sound fundamentals. In energy and industrial development, our proximity to the Niger Delta energy belt provides compelling fundamentals for gas-based industries, embedded generation solutions and independent power projects tailored to industrial clusters.

“As the global energy transition reshapes production models, Ondo State is positioning itself as a reliable hub for distributed and transition-economy energy solutions.

“More importantly, our vibrant young population, run into millions, strong, energetic, innovative and increasingly skilled. We are intensifying human capital development through entrepreneurship and innovation programs and expanding support for SMEs and young entrepreneurs. It is this investment in our people that transforms resources into prosperity.

“We are not here to merely showcase resources; we are here to move from potential to production, from conversations to capital deployment, from memoranda to measurable outcomes.

 

“This is why this Summit includes sector-focused investment sessions and a direct investor roundtable with my office, my economic team, and advisors, where investors will have the opportunity to present their proposals, and decisions will not linger in bureaucracy. We are committed to clarity, we are committed to speed, we are committed to results”.

He urged Ondo State in Diaspora to go beyond remittance, encouraging them to become strategic partners in industrial development. “Direct Diaspora Investment will be one of the pillars of our long-term growth strategy. Beyond your capital, we want your expertise. We want your global networks. And we are ready to provide the framework that protects and multiplies your investment.

“We understand that sustainable development is private sector-driven and government-enabled. Our role is to provide infrastructure, regulatory clarity, security and policy stability. Your role is to bring innovation, capital and global competitiveness. Together, we build industries. Together, we create jobs. Together, we secure prosperity”.

He revealed that the Investment Summit will not be a one-off event. It will be institutionalized as an annual platform for global engagement. “At the Investment Summit, we will first review the outcomes of the previous editions, demonstrating tracked investments, executed projects . Momand real testimonials from smart investors who seized the opportunity presented here today”, he said.

At the panel session, Governor Aiyedatiwa explained that the extensive road infrastructure programme is designed not only to attract investors but also to improve the quality of life for residents and reduce the incidence of accidents.

On healthcare, he stated that his administration is creating an enabling environment, leaving it to investors to identify specific needs and provide solutions that are economically viable.

In his goodwill message, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, congratulated the governor on the occasion of his first-year anniversary as elected governor of Ondo State.

Akpabio, who was represented by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim of Ondo South Senatorial District, called on the state government to adopt strategic thinking and position itself for success on the global stage.

He enjoined the governor to shun criticism, noting that his achievements will speak for him. He also urged the governor to have a strategy that can serve as his legacy even after his tenure in office.

While clarifying his stance on the constitutional role for traditional rulers, he said what he proposed was powers for the monarchs over several matters, including a 5 per cent allocation on all revenue.

In his address, the Special Adviser on Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Dr Summy Smart Francis, said the summit was aimed at repositioning the state for greater prosperity.

He called on all residents of the state in the diaspora to return home and invest in the state.

In his welcome address, Director-General of the Project Performance and Implementation Monitoring Unit (PPIMU), Engr Rasaq Obe, described the summit as a turning point, insisting on a shift from rhetoric to tangible assets that benefit the people.

He urged firm decisions in pursuit of global partnerships capable of unlocking opportunities across the middle class and rural agriculture.

“We are a great country,” he said repeatedly, emphasising Ondo’s strategic position as the South-West hub, surrounded by seven states and poised for proximity-driven economic expansion.

He described the state as a destination at the local government level and the food basket of the South, ranking among the largest producers of cassava in West Africa, with cocoa regarded among the finest globally.

Obe stressed that the ambition extends beyond exporting raw produce. “We don’t only want to sell our beans. We are inviting you to process our cocoa right here,” he said, urging investors to tap into the fisheries belt, island resources, existing processing plants, and available human capital.

He described food as the “new gold,” citing the strength of the youth population and intellectual capacity.

On security, Obe said the administration prioritises the protection of lives and property, noting that investment costs remain low, construction activities have begun in key cities, and schools are undergoing renovation to create a conducive environment.

In his remarks, Chairman of the Coscharis Group, Cosmas Maduka, highlighted emerging opportunities, while examples from MTN Group’s expansion into Nigeria illustrated the enormous value of decisive action. He recounted how an initial $10 million commitment eventually yielded $1 billion within a year, stressing that domestic investment drives sustainable growth more effectively than government allocations.

At the panel session, speaking on federal reforms, the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs, Tope Fasua, outlined measures taken by the administration, including reforms on the naira, fuel subsidy removal, and taxation, which he said were aimed at easing investment across states.

He described the state as strategic, with opportunities in agriculture, solid minerals, and the blue economy, noting its connection to the Lagos-Calabar Expressway corridor. He maintained that prosperity must be demonstrated through reinvestment within the state rather than exporting wealth elsewhere.

On her part, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, called for optimism and focus, saying repositioning key sectors would require collective action from Nigerians at home and abroad.

She emphasised the critical role of the diaspora in driving investment and development within the state. She urged Nigerians abroad to see the state not merely as a point of origin but as a land of opportunity ripe for strategic engagement.

“Investing in your homeland is not just a patriotic act; it is an economic imperative,” Dabiri-Erewa said. She stressed that enabling legislation and government protocols are in place to support investors, both local and foreign, and encouraged stakeholders to take advantage of initiatives designed to reposition key sectors of the economy.

Dabiri-Erewa stated the importance of collective action, noting that the diaspora’s involvement could catalyse transformation in areas such as technology, education, agriculture, and housing.

“We must work together to ensure that the resources and skills of Nigerians abroad are harnessed to create jobs, build industries, and strengthen our economy,” she said.

She also underscored the value of staying positive and focused, acknowledging that the process of development requires commitment, patience, and coordinated effort.

“This movement is just beginning. Those of us from Nigeria, at home and abroad, have a responsibility to remain engaged, invest in our people, and ensure that the benefits of our resources reach every citizen,” she added.

Stakeholders agreed that Ondo’s path to prosperity lies not in revenue sharing but in mobilising capital, building industries, and creating jobs through deliberate and sustained investment.

The highlight of the event includes Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony; one for the Deep Sea Port project, in which the government will hold 12.5 per cent and the partnering company 87.5 per cent, and another for a $4 billion petrochemical fertiliser plant with Resident Fertilizer.

The MoU was signed by the State Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Omowunmi Isaac on behalf the state government.

In attendance were; Ondo State First Lady, Mrs Esther Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa; The Deputy Governor, Dr Olayide Adelami; Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Olusegun Odusola; Head of Service, Mr Bayo Philip; President, Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Eunice Alade, Chief of Army Staff, represented by Commander, 32 Artillery Brigade, Brig. Gen. Justin Ifeanyi; Members of the State Executive Council; Members of Ondo State House of Assembly; Traditional Rulers; Heads of Security Agencies; among other eminent personalities.