Oyo Governor receives USSEC delegation, seeks partnership
By Adejayan Gbenga –
Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, on Monday received a delegation from the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, ahead of the Omituntun 2.0 Mid-Term Leadership Retreat.
The USSEC team was led by Kevin Roepke, Regional Director for South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, and included Dr. Tola Johnson, Chair of the Soy Excellence Centre in Nigeria, and Foluso Alabi, Country Lead for Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Governor Makinde said discussions focused on potential collaborations between the Oyo State Government and USSEC to strengthen the state’s agricultural initiatives.
He highlighted Oyo’s accelerated soybean production initiative and explored possible support for the cultivation of non-GMO, organic soybeans for export and increased domestic utilisation in food, animal feed, and industrial production.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to agricultural industrialisation, a key component of the Omituntun 2.0 agenda, and stressed the need for strategic international partnerships to boost the state’s agro-economy.
Makinde also revealed plans to participate in USSEC’s flagship event, “Nigeria Now,” scheduled to hold in Lagos on June 25, 2025.
He expressed optimism that the partnership would unlock new investment opportunities and expand value chains for farmers and agribusiness stakeholders in the state.
