Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Monday, June 23, 2025, held a strategic meeting with a delegation from the United States Soybean Export Council (USSEC) led by the Regional Director for South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, Kevin Roepke.
The meeting, which took place just before the commencement of the Omituntun 2.0 Mid-Term Leaders Retreat in Ibadan, focused on strengthening collaboration between Oyo State and USSEC in the areas of soybean production, export, and industrial utilisation.
Also on the USSEC team were Dr. Tola Johnson, Chair of the Soy Excellence Centre, Nigeria, and Foluso Alabi, Country Lead for Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Governor Makinde, while addressing the delegation, reiterated his administration’s commitment to boosting agricultural productivity, highlighting Oyo State’s accelerated soybean production initiative as a key component of its agribusiness drive.
He noted that discussions also covered USSEC’s support for the cultivation of non-GMO, organic soybean tailored for the export market, as well as the enhancement of soybean utilisation across food, feed, and industrial sectors.
“This engagement aligns with our broader economic agenda to position Oyo State as a leading hub for agribusiness and export-driven agriculture,” the governor stated.
Governor Makinde also disclosed that he looks forward to speaking at USSEC’s annual flagship event, Nigeria Now, scheduled for June 25, 2025, in Lagos, where he is expected to share insights on investment opportunities in Oyo State’s soybean value chain.
