The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun has expressed excitement over the planned Oyo State Trade Fair by the Ibadan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, ICCI.
Oba Balogun, while reacting to the idea of staging the trade fair which would be a resuscitation of the event which has been rested over 13 years ago, said he and his Advisory Council (Olubadan-in-Council) would give all the necessary support for its success.
The monarch charged the leadership of the ICCI to look into ways by which the glory of the ancient metropolis as an industrial hub could be returned because of the concomitant ripple effects on the economy and the lives of the residents generally.
Oba Balogun commended the new President of the ICCI, Architect Samson Bamidele for his concern and commitment to the welfare of the people in his private business as a reputable dealer in petroleum products.
He said, ‘’the philanthropic gesture of Architect Bamidele is remarkable and acknowledged, not only within Ibadan metropolis but across the country and this must have been part of why he was elected the ICCI President”.
The ICCI President, Mr Samson Bamidele had told the monarch, who was supported by one of his High Chiefs, Ashipa Olubadan, Eddy Oyewole to receive the team that the Chamber was worried about the sudden backward position Ibadan receded to in terms of industrialization.
Architect Bamidele lamented the closure of virtually all the industries that made Ibadan tick in the past and which made it to rival other places like Lagos and Ogun with a promise to reverse the trend, noting that “part of our efforts in that direction is to first of all resuscitate the moribond Trade Fair which was held last about 13 years ago”.
“While Lagos State holds its Trade Fair annually, other states in the South West ensure the event is not permanently put in the cooler as Oyo State has done. We are changing the narrative. We are awaiting the state government’s nod to put machinery in motion for the event and hopefully by September/October, the Fair would be held”.
He sought the support and cooperation of Olubadan and his Advisory Council towards the success of the proposed Trade Fair, stressing that the ICCI, being one of the oldest in the country, having been founded since 1960 could not afford to trade with its pivotal position in the comity of Chambers of Commerce and Industry across the country.
Ridwan Fasasi
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