The Ondo State Government has announced plans to host a major investment summit as part of activities marking the first anniversary of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration, in a move aimed at accelerating Direct Foreign Investment (DFI) into the state.
The summit, tagged Investment Summit 2026, will hold on Monday, February 23, 2026, at the International Cultural and Event Centre (The Dome), Alagbaka, Akure.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Entrepreneurship Development and Chairman of the Investment Committee, Summy Smart-Francis, said the initiative reflects the administration’s commitment to repositioning the state’s economy through structural reforms and targeted investment strategies.
According to him, the summit, themed “The New Order: Forging A Pathway To Prosperity,” is designed to attract both foreign and domestic investors, stimulate job creation, and transition Ondo from a predominantly civil service-driven economy to a diversified and industrialised hub.
Smart-Francis disclosed that the state government would use the platform to sign several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), including agreements relating to the proposed Deep Seaport project, which is expected to enhance trade logistics and open new economic corridors.
He added that international investors, local business leaders, and captains of industry have been invited to participate in the summit. Registration for attendees, he noted, can be completed online or physically at the Investment House, Alagbaka, Akure.
Expressing optimism about the summit’s outcomes, Smart-Francis described the event as a potential turning point for the state’s economic trajectory.
“This summit will bring significant change to Ondo State’s economy because concrete investment commitments will be secured. These projects will boost internally generated revenue and create massive job opportunities for our people,” he said.
The planned summit underscores the Aiyedatiwa administration’s broader economic agenda to deepen industrialisation, expand the state’s revenue base, and position Ondo as a competitive investment destination in Nigeria’s Southwest region.
