By Olumide Akinrinlola
TORONTO, CANADA — The Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has issued a formal invitation to Nigerians in the diaspora, urging them to look home to the Sunshine State as Nigeria’s premier frontier for high-yield investment and wealth creation.
The Governor’s strategic pitch was delivered on Thursday by his representative, Mr Kolade Oyinbo of KensholGroup Nigeria Limited, at the Nigeria Diaspora Economic Conference (NiDEC 2026) in the Greater Toronto Area under the theme “Invest Nigeria; Thrive Abroad”.
Starnews NG writes that the administration is challenging citizens abroad to move beyond standard cash transfers and toward structured, secure corporate investments. Backed by the Ondo State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA), the government is offering land facilitation, robust regulatory frameworks, and direct support to protect international capital.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Ondo State, the new hub for wealth creation through investment partnership,” Governor Aiyedatiwa declared in his address, positioning the state as a sophisticated, bankable territory engineered for corporate growth rather than a charitable destination.
To demonstrate the state’s commercial viability, the Governor highlighted two major industrial assets. The $50 Billion Sunshine Infrastructure Joint Venture, located in the coastal Ilaje Local Government Area, features a 500,000-barrels-per-day refinery and a 1,471-hectare Sunshine Free Trade Zone. Developed with Backbone Infrastructure and international partners, the state has contributed land for equity to ensure community stability.
According to Governor Aiyedatiwa, the Olokola Dangote Industrial & Free Trade Zone is being developed as a “plug-and-play” ecosystem, equipped with independent power generation, cement production, and integrated gas infrastructure to allow investors to scale operations seamlessly.
Governor Aiyedatiwa also underscored the state’s natural endowments, which offer significant first-mover advantages. “Ondo holds Africa’s largest bitumen deposit, with an estimated 42 billion barrels across Ilaje, Okitipupa, and Irele LGAs, supported by a specialized Bitumen Economic Zone designed to streamline licensing”, he stated.
In agriculture, Starnews NG writes the state remains Nigeria’s leading cocoa producer, commanding 40% of national output, with aggressive expansion in oil palm, cassava, and rubber, bolstered by a $200 million investment from Presco Plc in 2026.
Starnews NG reports that the administration is leveraging its 180-kilometre Atlantic coastline to open frontiers in deep seaport development, commercial fishing, and maritime logistics.
Addressing concerns regarding business safety and bureaucracy, the Governor outlined a blueprint to safeguard external inflows. This includes a partnership model where the state government serves as a protective backbone, supported by local industry experts. The administration is also integrating advanced security architecture with local intelligence networks to protect assets and facilities. Through robust, data-driven transparency, the government aims to assist diaspora entrepreneurs in executing business models across sectors such as fintech, real estate, manufacturing, technology, and medical tourism.
“Ondo State has aligned its regulatory frameworks with global standards, we urge diaspora to act decisively and partner with this administration to build a prosperous economic future”, Aiyedatiwa told Nigerians in Canada.
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