Governor Makinde Unveils Oyo’s Tourism Blueprint at International Summit in Ibadan

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has announced a new direction for tourism development in the state. He announced the launch of a tourism reset agenda, which features a fresh blueprint for how the state will engage in partnerships, deliver services, and communicate its tourism initiatives.

According to The Guardian, the governor noted that tourism is not an afterthought for the state, but rather a strategic lever for development. He stated that the goal of his government is to build a strong tourism economy that can fund itself and secure the state’s future.

Makinde said this on July 24 in his keynote address at the International Tourism Summit Oyo State 2025, held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan (UI).

The three-day summit, “Invest in heritage, leave a legacy,” began on July 22, 2025, with tours of tourist sites in the Oyo zone. This was followed by tours of Ibadan’s tourist attractions on July 23. The event concluded with an investors’ summit, where participants from the tourism sector engaged in pitch presentations, exhibition tours, and a panel discussion on “Heritage as capital: Reimagining Africa’s Cultural Assets for Sustainable Growth.”

He said the step was to eliminate institutional bottlenecks and prevent mistrust in the sector.

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Makinde emphasised that the programme was not merely a celebration of culture, but also a platform to showcase the state’s rich cultural heritage, highlighting the economic potential of tourism —a sector he said Oyo State must fully embrace as a viable business venture.

These, according to him, include assuming direct oversight of the sector, establishing a dedicated tourism investor liaison unit, ensuring transparent communication, and introducing a fair and enforceable tourism compact.

He also revealed that the state is close to finalising a new deal to upgrade Agodi Gardens into an international-standard tourist destination.

He added that to achieve the vision of building a strong tourism economy, the state is integrating tourism with urban renewal, infrastructure upgrades, youth employment, community-led conservation and Diaspora partnerships.

According to the governor, his administration has recognised that tourism is not only about passive sightseeing but also about immersive economies, jobs, infrastructure, identity, and long-term prosperity, adding that the state has five tourism investment-ready sites, calling on investors to bring their best ideas, execution capacity, and commitment to the state to flourish in the solid tourism economy being created in the state.

He also used the opportunity of the summit to clarify why work on Agodi Gardens had not begun, despite the government signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an investor the previous year. He noted that the institutional bottlenecks hindering the process would be resolved, and the project would move forward.

 

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Frequently Asked Questions & Answers (FAQ)

What is the “tourism reset agenda” announced by Governor Makinde?

The “Tourism Reset Agenda” is a new strategic plan by the Oyo State government to overhaul its tourism sector. It serves as a blueprint to transform tourism into a primary, self-funding economic driver for the state through enhanced partnerships, better service delivery, and strategic communication.

What are the main goals of this new tourism policy?

The primary goal is to establish a robust and sustainable tourism economy that can sustain itself and make a significant contribution to the state’s future development. Other key objectives include attracting private investment, eliminating institutional bottlenecks, and rebuilding trust within the sector.

What specific actions will the government take to implement this agenda?

Governor Makinde outlined several key actions:

• Assuming direct personal oversight of the tourism sector.
• Establishing a dedicated Tourism Investor Liaison Unit.
• Ensuring transparent communication with all stakeholders.
• Introducing a fair and enforceable tourism compact to guide partnerships.

What is the latest news on the Agodi Gardens project?

Governor Makinde acknowledged that the project to upgrade Agodi Gardens, which was announced last year, was delayed by institutional hurdles. He gave his assurance that these bottlenecks are being actively resolved to allow the project to move forward and become an international-standard tourist destination.

Are there immediate investment opportunities in Oyo State’s tourism sector?

Yes. The governor announced that the state has identified five investment-ready tourism sites and issued an open invitation to local and international investors to partner with the state in their development.