By Adeola Badru
Oyo State Government has unveiled plans to position local artisans, creative entrepreneurs and small businesses to tap into the estimated $3.4 trillion African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) market and expand their access to global export opportunities.
The state government said it was determined to transform its rich cultural heritage into a commercially viable creative industry capable of generating wealth, creating employment and attracting foreign exchange through exports.
Governor Seyi Makinde stated this at the Investment and Export Promotion for Art and Craft Businesses in Oyo State, tagged Oyo State Business Forum 2026: Where Oyo’s Makers Meet the World’s Buyers.
The forum, held at the Ministry of Local Government Hall, Secretariat, Ibadan, was organised by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in collaboration with the Oyo State Investment Promotion Agency (OYSIPA).
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Musibau Babatunde, the governor said the initiative was a deliberate effort to reposition Oyo State as a major destination for creative enterprise and investment.
Addressing government officials, investors, development partners, captains of industry and entrepreneurs, Makinde said the state was determined to ensure that locally produced goods gained international recognition and commercial value.
“Today, we are not just gathered for another forum. We are gathered to make a declaration that Oyo State will no longer be known for its history, but for its entrepreneurial spirit.
“We are gathered here around a common ambition to transform what our people create with their hands into products that the world recognises, values and buys,” he said.
Tracing Oyo’s commercial heritage to the old Oyo Empire, Babatunde noted that the state had historically played an important role in regional commerce, with its people trading textiles, beads, ironworks and other products across West Africa long before the emergence of modern international trade.
He said AfCFTA had presented another significant opportunity for the state to reclaim its position as a commercial powerhouse by expanding the reach of locally manufactured and processed products.
According to him, the continental trade agreement is creating a single African market of approximately 1.4 billion people, with a combined economic output of about $3.4 trillion.
He, however, challenged the state to move beyond recognising the opportunities offered by the agreement and take concrete steps to secure a significant share of its benefits.
“The question before us is simple. Will Oyo State merely absorb this opportunity, or will we position ourselves to benefit from it? My answer is clear. Oyo State will be an active participant, and our artisans, creative entrepreneurs and small businesses will be among the driving forces of this ambition,” he said.
The SSG further claimed that Oyo State was the first sub-national government in Africa to key into the AfCFTA framework, adding that the state was already positioning itself to participate meaningfully in continental trade.
Speaking directly to artisans and producers across the state, including those in Oyo town, Ibadan and other communities, Babatunde said their skills and products possessed enormous economic potential that remained largely untapped.
He cited wood carvers in Oyo town, women producing Adire fabrics in Ibadan and other traditional craftsmen whose skills had been passed down through generations as examples of creative resources that could be transformed into globally competitive businesses.
He lamented that many local producers continued to receive recognition for their creativity without enjoying commensurate financial rewards, as much of the commercial value generated along the supply chain was captured by other players.
“For too long, our artisans have received recognition for their creativity without necessarily receiving the financial rewards that their efforts deserve.
“In many instances, producers remain confined to small-scale operations while greater commercial value is captured further along the supply chain. That situation must change,” he said.
Babatunde urged artisans to see themselves as entrepreneurs operating within a viable industry rather than merely small-scale producers, noting that their products could compete as distinctive cultural and luxury goods in international markets.
He said local producers needed access to capital, improved production facilities, modern technology, organised markets and business support to maximise their potential.
“What we need is not sympathy. We need access to capital, better production facilities, modern technology, organised markets and the right business support. And that is precisely the kind of opportunity we want this forum to create,” he added.
Highlighting the prospects of Nigeria’s non-oil export sector, the SSG cited figures attributed to the Nigeria Export Promotion Council indicating that the country’s non-oil exports reached a record $6.1 billion in 2025, compared with $5.46 billion in 2020.
He also disclosed that export volumes rose to 8.02 million metric tonnes, describing the performance as evidence of the growing contribution of non-oil exports to economic diversification.
He said Oyo State must position its businesses to benefit from the expanding international market by strengthening production capacity and improving the quality of exportable products.
However, he noted that identifying products with export potential was only the first step, stressing that local businesses must be equipped to meet international standards on quality, packaging, consistency, pricing and delivery.
He also emphasised the need for producers to understand rules of origin, certification procedures and other trade requirements under AfCFTA to enable them to access African markets without unnecessary difficulties.
“Our ambition should be to move from simply producing goods for local consumption to developing competitive businesses capable of serving customers across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas,” he said.
Addressing investors and private-sector representatives, Babatunde declared that Oyo State was open for business, urging them to invest not only in locally made products but also in the production systems, infrastructure and business environment required to make them globally competitive.
He identified production clusters, export infrastructure and human capital development as three critical areas requiring investment.
On the government’s role, the SSG said the state recognised that the opportunities could not be realised through private investment alone, noting that government must provide an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
He said the administration was improving the investment climate through its investment promotion framework and the Oyo State Non-Stop Investment Centre to simplify investor engagement, strengthen coordination among government institutions and reduce administrative bottlenecks.
He also listed infrastructure development, including the Bada Sakura Road Rehabilitation Project and initiatives around the Badena Dry Ponds, as part of efforts to improve connectivity, facilitate the movement of goods and strengthen the state’s economic competitiveness.
Babatunde further disclosed that the government was strengthening support for artisans and small businesses through cooperative structures and enterprise development initiatives, particularly in business registration, financial services, credit facilities and other forms of enterprise support.
Illustrating the global potential of Oyo’s indigenous products, he envisioned Adire fabrics produced in Ibadan finding ready markets in New York and London, while leather products, wood carvings, sculptures and beadworks became recognised brands in international retail outlets, exhibitions and cultural markets.
“Imagine a future where the next Ashrafi displayed on the fashion runway in Paris proudly carries the label, ‘Made in Iseyin Oyo State, Nigeria’.
“Imagine Adire produced in Ibadan bought by customers in New York, London and other international markets,” he said.
He described the vision as achievable through deliberate investment, improved production capacity, innovation and effective partnerships.
Babatunde consequently invited investors to explore opportunities in the state’s creative industries, while urging diplomatic partners to support market access, trade facilitation and international business connections for local enterprises.
He also charged artisans to embrace innovation, improve production standards and position their businesses to take advantage of emerging opportunities.
The SSG said cultural heritage should be regarded not merely as something to preserve but also as an economic resource capable of generating prosperity for present and future generations.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, urged artisans, business owners and creative entrepreneurs to take responsibility for promoting their products and services through digital marketing and e-commerce platforms.
He said digital technology had made it possible for businesses operating in local communities to showcase their products to international audiences without necessarily establishing physical outlets abroad.
“It is going to be a joint thing, but you start it from your end. You that is the creator or the owner of the business, you must also make sure that you sell yourself, your product, your commodity and your services to the whole world.
“And the best way you can reach the whole world is through social marketing or e-commerce,” he said.
Olatunbosun described the internet as a global marketplace where entrepreneurs could showcase their products, interact with prospective customers and receive feedback to improve their businesses.
He urged producers to package their goods professionally and maximise digital platforms to attract buyers and establish lasting business relationships.
He also said the state government was working to create opportunities for investors to discover indigenous products and establish direct relationships with local producers.
The commissioner encouraged local businesses to participate in domestic and international exhibitions, describing such platforms as opportunities to display their products, attract investors, establish commercial relationships and improve their visibility.
The forum brought together stakeholders from the public and private sectors, entrepreneurs, artisans and development partners to explore investment opportunities, strengthen export capacity and establish business connections to take Oyo State’s indigenous products to international markets.
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