By Isaac Olufemi Ojo
The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has called for a strategic shift in the state’s creative economy, charging stakeholders to transform indigenous arts and crafts into globally recognized export brands.
The governor made this known on Thursday at the opening of the Oyo State Business Forum 2026, themed “Investment and Export Promotion of Arts and Crafts Businesses in Oyo State.”
Governor Makinde, whose speech was presented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Musibau Adetunji Babajide, emphasized that the state’s cultural heritage must evolve beyond preservation to become a vibrant economic engine for wealth creation and employment.
“Imagine a future where the next Aso-Ofi displayed on a fashion runway in Paris proudly carries the label, ‘Made in Iseyin, Oyo State, Nigeria,’” Makinde stated.
“Imagine Adire produced in Ibadan finding customers in New York, London, and other international markets. Imagine our leather products, wood carvings, sculptures, and beadwork becoming recognized brands in international retail outlets, exhibitions, and cultural markets.”
Describing the vision as a realizable economic ambition, the governor urged investors, diplomatic partners, and local artisans to forge deliberate partnerships to improve production capacity, innovation, and global market access.
He invited investors to explore opportunities across the state’s creative industries, encouraged diplomatic partners to facilitate trade connections, and challenged artisans to elevate their production standards to meet global benchmarks.
“From Oyo State to the world, let us turn our heritage into enterprise, our creativity into wealth, and our locally made products into globally recognized brands,” he declared, formally opening the forum.
In his remarks, the Oyo State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, echoed similar sentiments, stressing that the promotion of arts and crafts is fundamentally about empowering the grassroots communities that sustain them.
Olatunbosun noted that the state government remains committed to creating platforms that celebrate local artisans, inspire younger generations, and introduce indigenous products to wider international markets.
“As we deliberate at this forum, I encourage us to see arts and crafts not only as expressions of our cultural past but also as valuable resources for our economic future,” Olatunbosun said.
In his remarks, renowned artist and cultural promoter, Tunde Odunlade, who curated the exhibition for the event, stressed the deep historical roots of the state’s creative sector.
Recalling the legacy of the historic Gambari Club formed in Ibadan in the early 1960s by literary and artistic icons like Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, and Duro Ladipo, Odunlade noted that the initiative birthed contemporary Nigerian art before evolving into the famous Oshogbo art movement featuring early members like Prince Yinka Adeyemi.
He emphasized that with FESTAC marking its 50th anniversary next year, Oyo State is uniquely positioned to showcase its rich artistic heritage to the global community.
From her perspective as a media consultant to the ministry, Abigail Anaba said limited access for investors has historically created setbacks for the first arts and culture boom.
However, she maintained that the present administration, through various initiatives like the business forum, has continued to foster an enabling environment providing investors with open access and germane information to explore the state’s potential.
The event with climaxed with different cultural performances and exhibitions of diverse art and craft from the homeland Oyo State and beyond
