Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde has called on Nigerians to develop the country’s export market and attract foreigners in order to tackle the country’s current economic challenges.
He made the call at the Official opening of Oyo State International Trade Fair, EXPOYO 2024.
The EXPOYO 2024 themed “Showcasing The Economic Potentials of Oyo state through agriculture, micro, small and medium enterprises was held at the popular EXPOYO ground, Samonda, Ibadan.
In his address, Makinde promised that the trade fair will henceforth be an annual event with foreigners present at the next edition while noting that his administration is committed to changing the Nigerians orientation on export substitution.
Earlier in his welcome address, the state Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives, Chief Ademola Ojo assured that the state government would do everything within its capacity to ensure that the Fair becomes an annual event, pledging the Ministry would work closer with Oyo State Council of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OYCCIMA) to ensure that the Permanent Trade Fair Complex is maximally utilized.
In his remarks, the President of Oyo State Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agricultural Dr. Daniel Gbadero equally lauded Governor Seyi Makinde who as part of his Economic transformation agenda for the State supported OYCCIMA to organize the 2024 EXPOYO Trade Fair.
He therefore called on Nigerians to take the bull by the horns and do the needful to ensure that basic products, including foods, medicine, Motorized gadgets among others are produced within the country.
In his goodwill message, the president National Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Otunba Dele Oye assured the Oyo state government of necessary support needed from the National level.
The Governor and dignitaries also tour the trade fair exhibition ground.
The event had in attendance Top government functionaries, political leaders, religious leaders, traditional rulers, political functionaries.