Oyo State

Known as the “pace setter state”, Oyo borders the states of Ogun, Osun and Kwara, as well as Benin in south-west Nigeria. Oyo’s natural resources are most suited to agriculture production and processing with an abundance of uncultivated arable land and reserves of gold, marble, clay and granite, among others. While economic indicators compare favourably to other states, the government is working to strengthen output in the secondary and tertiary sectors, as well as attract new investments. Businesses in the state face challenges posed by infrastructure bottlenecks, but new policies, developed in conjunction with federal programmes, are helping to incentivise investment by strengthening Oyo’s competitive advantages. This chapter contains an interview with Abiola Ajimobi, Governor of Oyo State.