Governor Seyi Makinde’s Keynote Address at #ITSOyoState2025

Being the Keynote Address by His Excellency Seyi Makinde, FNSE, Executive Governor of Oyo State themed “The New Frontier: How Oyo State Is Setting the Pace for Subnational Tourism Investment in Nigeria” Delivered on Thursday 24 July 2025 at #ITSOyoState2025

Let me first say: welcome home. Because for those of you visiting — and those who have believed in our story from the start — this is your home too.

We are gathered today not just to celebrate culture or create Instagram moments. We are here because we believe that heritage has value. That tourism is serious business. And that Oyo State must no longer be left behind.

But before I ask you to believe in us again — let me be honest with you.

Many of you were here last year when I stood on this same stage and proudly announced that Agodi Gardens had secured an investor.

That announcement was not a gimmick. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed. The team was ready. The vision was clear.

Yet, over a year later — that project has not broken ground.

Why?

Let us call it what it is: institutional bottlenecks. A breakdown between intent and implementation.

But they are not issues that cannot be resolved. So, once again, let me give the assurance that the issues will be resolved and we will move forward with that project.

We recognise that tourism today is not about passive sightseeing. It is about immersive economies. It is about jobs. Infrastructure. Identity. And long-term prosperity.

That is why today — right here — I am announcing a major shift.

This summit marks not just another milestone — it marks a policy and execution pivot.

We call it the Tourism Reset Agenda — a new blueprint for how we partner, deliver, and communicate in Oyo State.

It is built on four executive-level commitments, each designed to clear the path for tourism investment to thrive.

🔹 Commitment 1: Direct Executive Oversight of the Tourism Sector

At the 2025 mid-year Executive Council review, I moved the Ministry of Culture and Tourism under my direct supervision.

This means all tourism-linked projects, proposals, and approvals will now be coordinated under the Office of the Governor.

The Honourable Commissioner will report directly to me, removing unnecessary layers and allowing fast, decisive action when needed.

🔹 Commitment 2: Tourism Investor Liaison Unit

We know that navigating government desks can feel like a rollercoaster ride. That ends now.

We have created a dedicated Tourism Investor Liaison Unit within the Oyo State Investment and Public-Private Partnership Agency (OYSIPA) — your single-entry point for all tourism-related investment matters.

This unit will help you:

• Navigate permits
• Process documentation
• Access project updates
• Resolve concerns quickly

And we are setting a service standard:
✅ 72-hour response time to all enquiries.

If you experience delays beyond that, you may escalate directly to my communication team through the state’s official feedback platform.

🔹 Commitment 3: The Tourism Compact

No more paper promises.

From this summit forward, every major tourism MoU will be tied to a clear, enforceable Tourism Compact — a short, 5-page agreement that spells out:

• Project goals
• Timelines
• Land status
• Milestones
• Penalties for non-performance — by both parties

🔹 Commitment 4: Transparent Communications

We cannot fix what we do not track. And we cannot build trust in silence.

That is why we are committing to transparent communication on all tourism-linked investments.

Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, my Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media will coordinate this to ensure timely, accurate, and proactive updates.

A Tourism Investment Dashboard will go live next month, displaying:

• Every signed MoU
• Current status (green, amber, red)
• Contact officers
• Government commitments met or pending

This will be publicly accessible via the tourism website.

Transparency is not a bonus — it is the new baseline.

So, to our partners, both local and global — this is your moment.

You now have:

• Executive oversight
• A single-entry point
• A formal compact model
• And real-time transparent reporting

What we ask in return is simple:

Bring your best ideas. Bring your execution capacity. Bring your commitment to the people of Oyo State.

Because in Oyo State, tourism is not an afterthought — it is a strategic lever for development.

With five investment-ready sites — from Eleyele Lake to Idere Hills — we are integrating tourism with:

• Urban renewal
• Infrastructure upgrades
• Youth employment
• Community-led conservation
• And diaspora partnerships

The goal is clear: to build a tourism economy that funds itself and funds our future.

Let me close with a line you may have heard earlier in today’s pitch sessions:

“The future of heritage is not nostalgia.
It is strategy.
And in Oyo State — it is investable.”

We are not promising perfection.
We are committing to performance.
And we are choosing transparency over theatrics.

If you have been watching from the sidelines — this is your call.

Let us build legacy — together.

Thank you, and God bless you all.

Seyi Makinde

24 July 2025