The Oyo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the State’s non-oil export sector through improved coordination among government institutions, exporters, regulatory agencies and private-sector stakeholders.
The Honourable Commissioner for Investment, Trade, Cooperatives and Industry, Prof. Salihu Abdulwaheed Adelabu, stated this while addressing the State Committee on Export Promotion (SCEP) meeting held at the Ministry’s Conference Room, Secretariat, Ibadan.
Prof. Adelabu emphasised that the State’s export growth required deliberate policies, reliable data, access to finance, business formalisation, skills development, trade facilitation and stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors. He also highlighted the relevance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), noting that its continental market framework presents opportunities for Oyo State producers, processors, MSMEs and exporters to access markets across Africa, provided they improve value addition, product quality, standards and export readiness.
The Commissioner appreciated the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, for his support for initiatives aimed at promoting investment, trade, industrial development and economic diversification in the State.
He said the State Government’s efforts to create a conducive environment for businesses provide an important foundation for expanding production and positioning Oyo-based businesses for wider markets.
He called for stronger coordination among Ministries, Departments and Agencies, stressing that the objective of the SCEP should go beyond discussions to producing practical recommendations capable of increasing the participation of Oyo-based businesses in the non-oil export sector.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Olajide Mamud Okesade, stressed the importance of proper planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation in achieving the State’s export objectives.
He also highlighted the importance of agricultural quarantine, sanitary and phytosanitary compliance and certification in facilitating the export of agricultural products, particularly commodities such as cocoa, cashew and other regulated agricultural produce. Such requirements help ensure that products meet the standards of destination markets and reduce the risk of rejection at international points of entry.
In her goodwill message, the representative of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Oyo State Coordinating Office, Mrs. Adetola Tayo, commended the Ministry and stakeholders for their commitment to developing the non-oil export sector. She disclosed that Nigeria’s formally recorded non-oil export earnings reached US$6.1 billion in 2025, representing an 11.5 per cent increase over the 2024 figure. She highlighted NEPC initiatives covering export certification, cluster development, export mentorship, capacity building, youth and women participation, value-chain development and international trade fairs.
The meeting also considered the proposed State Exporters Engagement Meeting, presented by the State SABER Project spokesperson, Mr. Giwa Saheed. The proposed engagement is expected to provide a dedicated platform for government and exporters to identify practical challenges affecting businesses, improve access to information and regulatory support, and develop coordinated solutions to issues relating to standards, certification, logistics, market access, finance and export procedures.
The proposed engagement would complement the SCEP by providing a more direct channel for exporters to communicate their operational challenges to relevant institutions while enabling government and stakeholders to develop targeted interventions that can strengthen Oyo State’s export ecosystem.
Other stakeholders who contributed to the deliberations included representatives of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Tree Crops Development Unit (TCDU), Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA), Shippers’ Association of Nigeria, Oyo State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OYCCIMA), Nigerian Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), National Council for Islamic Credit and Savings Scheme (NACICASS), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), among other stakeholders.
The representatives shared perspectives on standards, certification, border procedures, agricultural production, logistics, regulatory compliance, financing, market access and other factors affecting export development, with a collective emphasis on stronger collaboration and practical measures to increase Oyo State’s contribution to Nigeria’s non-oil export sector.
