Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to attracting more investors to the state, nearly a week after the first wide-bodied aircraft landed at the upgraded Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, Alakia, Ibadan.

Speaking at The Jagz Hospitality Conference, held to mark the hotel’s first anniversary, Makinde said the airport’s upgrade had rewritten its 43-year history. He, however, emphasized that his administration’s broader vision is to transform the facility into Nigeria’s most investor-friendly and welcoming airport.

The governor noted that Oyo State’s business-friendly policies continue to draw investors despite economic challenges, assuring that his government will keep raising the bar to make the state more attractive for businesses.

Commending the management of The Jagz Hotel for thriving amid the nation’s economic difficulties, Makinde pledged continued government support for enterprises across the state.

On the economy, the governor rejected the notion of “import substitution” as a sustainable growth model, stressing that no nation has achieved true prosperity by focusing solely on its local environment. He instead called for an embrace of global investment opportunities, identifying the airport expansion as a catalyst for tourism and economic growth.

“It was a thing of joy when the first wide-bodied aircraft landed at Ibadan Airport last Friday,” Makinde said. “The airport, commissioned in 1982, had to wait 43 years for this. Within one year of getting approval, we extended the runway and made it possible. But we are not stopping there. Our goal is to make Ibadan Airport more welcoming than any other in Nigeria a hub where people from across the world will want to come, feel welcome, and return.”

Earlier, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Wasiu Olatubosun, highlighted the administration’s strides in tourism and solid mineral development, urging hospitality stakeholders to sustain their collaboration with the government.