.......Says Gateway State Open for Responsible, Sustainable Capital
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has declared that the resounding success of the 15th Gateway International Trade Fair is a clear and deliberate signal that Ogun State is open, prepared, and strategically positioned for responsible and sustainable investment.
The Governor, represented at the closing ceremony by his Deputy, Engr. (Mrs.) Noimot Salako-Oyedele, made this assertion at the iconic M.K.O. Abiola Trade Fair Complex, Abeokuta, venue of the Fair themed “Building Businesses Through Partnerships.”
According to Governor Abiodun, the annual Fair has evolved beyond a commercial exhibition into a strategic economic instrument that reinforces Ogun State’s status as Nigeria’s industrial powerhouse and investors’ preferred destination.
“This Gateway International Trade Fair is more than an annual event; it is a statement of intent. It signals that Ogun State is open, ready, and prepared for responsible investment. In Ogun State, we are not waiting for economic transformation — we are deliberately building it.”
Reaffirming his administration’s economic philosophy, the Governor assured both local and international investors of policy stability, regulatory transparency, infrastructure expansion, and strong investment protection frameworks.
“Policy consistency, regulatory transparency, infrastructure expansion, and investment protection remain central to our philosophy. We are committed to sustaining a business-friendly environment that rewards innovation, productivity, and ethical enterprise.”
Governor Abiodun further noted that since inception, his administration has pursued a strategic and intentional economic agenda under the ISEYA development framework, positioning Ogun as Nigeria’s leading manufacturing and logistics corridor. He pledged continued efforts to strengthen industrial competitiveness, expand export capacity, deepen MSME participation in value chains, and deploy technology as a driver of productivity across key sectors.
Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Adebola Sofela, described the 15th edition as a powerful showcase of Ogun State’s industrial depth and investment attractiveness. He emphasized that the Fair reflects the administration’s sustained commitment to building an enabling environment for enterprises of all sizes.
Sofela revealed that Ogun State now ranks fifth in the latest Ease of Doing Business assessment released by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), attributing the achievement to deliberate reforms aimed at improving regulatory efficiency and investor confidence. He expressed optimism that the State would rise into the top two positions in the coming year.
In his welcome address, the President of the Ogun State Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OGUNCCIMA), Lion Niyi Osiyemi, described the Fair as a vibrant hub of commerce, networking, and strategic collaboration, marked by impressive participation across sectors.
He urged participants to convert the partnerships forged during the event into sustainable enterprises capable of generating employment, strengthening value chains, and driving long-term economic growth. Osiyemi also commended the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration for its consistent institutional support and announced that the 16th edition of the Fair would hold from January 29 to February 7, 2027.
Providing further validation of Ogun’s expanding economic footprint, the State Coordinator of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Madam Olajumoke Abolaji, disclosed that Ogun State recorded $500 million in non-oil exports in 2025, representing a 68 per cent increase over the 2024 figure, according to reports from the Port Inspection Agency. She expressed confidence that non-oil export performance would grow by at least 50 per cent in the coming year.
Long-standing exhibitors Mrs. Ruqayat Dairo and Mr. Samson Adeniyi, who have participated in the Fair for five consecutive years, described the 2026 edition as the most impactful yet, citing unprecedented patronage and wider stakeholder engagement. They recommended enhanced publicity strategies for subsequent editions to further expand participation and global visibility.
With renewed investor confidence, measurable export growth, and strengthening public-private collaboration, the 15th Gateway International Trade Fair has once again affirmed Ogun State’s strategic ambition: not merely to attract investment, but to anchor sustainable, responsible, and globally competitive economic growth.
