Ibadan, Nigeria — Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has hosted a European Union (EU) delegation led by Ambassador Gautier Mignot, with both sides agreeing to strengthen collaboration in agriculture, education and the fight against gender-based violence.
The meeting, held on Tuesday at the governor’s residence in Ibadan, focused on advancing development partnerships and boosting Oyo State’s position as a key agricultural hub in Nigeria.
The EU delegation included Prof. Leila Ben-Amor Mathieu, Head of Section for Human Development in Nigeria, while top Oyo State officials such as Dr. Debo Akande and Revd. Idowu Ogedengbe were also in attendance.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Ambassador Mignot said discussions centred on agricultural development, climate change and human capital development.
“We discussed agricultural development and climate change at length with a view to strengthening Oyo State’s profile as a critical food basket of the country,” he said.
“We also discussed education, where we are partnering, and the fight against gender-based violence.”
The EU envoy emphasised that youths and women would be key beneficiaries of the collaboration, particularly in sectors with strong economic potential.
“Youths and women are our priorities in all of the projects I have highlighted,” he added. “We are focusing on the value chain in the dairy sector, and we want to work in the cocoa sector because it has a great potential.”
Governor Makinde later held a private session with the EU ambassador to further explore strategic areas of cooperation.
The partnership is expected to enhance agricultural productivity, improve access to quality education and support inclusive development initiatives across Oyo State.
