Dairo Johnson Daniel (08032229630)
BoldNEWS Africa
Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State.
Chief (Mrs.) Olatunke Omotara, the Iyaloja General of Ijebu-Igbo, has reiterated that the growing potential of Ijebu-Igbo markets under her leadership is increasingly aligned with global standards in the supply of essential goods, including agricultural produce, livestock, and wood-allied materials.
In an exclusive interview with BoldNEWS Africa (Market Search Team) at her Ijebu-Igbo residence, Chief Omotara emphasized that the thirteen markets under her supervision are not only meeting the everyday needs of the people but are also attracting commercial interest from beyond Ogun State, and bleed with abundance of raw materials for manufacturers, producers, and export purposes.
“Our markets have become destinations for traders and buyers from all over Nigeria. The diversity of goods and affordability we offer have made Ijebu-Igbo a trading hub,” she stated.
She said that with her over twelve years of experience as a leader within the political space and market domain before the official installation as Iyaloja-General of Ijebu-Igbo by His Royal Highness Oba Lawrence Jaiyeoba Adebajo, the Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo, her achievement has reflected what can be described as a period of significant transformation, marked by enhanced infrastructure, increased trader participation, and inter-market relations that foster unity and business growth.
Iyaloja’s progress as a vibrant leader of a Nigerian market located in the ancient city of Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State, with inspiring historical facts, has been a melting pot of market cultures, bringing people with diverse trading traditions and market systems together with engagement in commerce peacefully and adaptively, but she observed that it has not attracted any meaningful development support from corporate bodies or International Market Associations.
The market potential stands appealing and invites corporate bodies and International Market Associations to extend support, and the introduction of initiatives that can attract greater development to the market.
“We have created a structure that promotes economic empowerment, inclusiveness, and accessibility. The progress we’ve made is a collective achievement, and we now welcome companies and individuals to bring in business initiatives that take advantage of the abundant raw materials available in the market,” she added.
Chief Omotara also reaffirmed her commitment to further modernizing market operations, improving trader welfare, and positioning Ijebu-Igbo as a model for functional, people-centered commerce in Nigeria.
As her tenure continues, the Iyaloja General assured that efforts would be intensified to sustain the momentum and raise the visibility of local markets at state, national, and international levels.
While appreciating the Ogun State Government for its unwavering support, she acknowledged the infrastructural developments the market has benefited from under the leadership of Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun and other key stakeholders in the state administration, including the Chairman of Ijebu North Local Government Area, Bolaji Oluwaseun Odusanya, and the Commissioner for Finance, Oladapo Abdul Rahman Okubadejo (often referred to as Dapo Okubadejo), as well as many political figures in the area and Ogun State at large.
