By Modupe Bankole, Ibadan
Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly and Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, has described the real estate sector in the state as a “sleeping economic giant” capable of empowering youth, expanding the state’s GDP, and curbing unemployment if strengthened through proper legislation and transparent practices.
This discussion and others took center stage at the 2025 Oyo State Real Estate Conference held at the Jogor Centre, Ibadan, where government officials, industry experts, and anti-corruption advocates called for a value-driven real estate system anchored on accountability and innovation.
A new narrative is emerging in Oyo State’s real estate sector one that connects financial transparency, youth inclusion, and sustainable urban growth.
He disclosed that the House of Assembly would fast-track bills promoting regulation, smart infrastructure, and ethical investment within the property market, while encouraging young people to take advantage of emerging opportunities in real estate entrepreneurship.
Adding an enforcement perspective, the EFCC Zonal Coordinator, Mrs. Toyin Ehindero-Benson, emphasized the need for vigilance and compliance with anti-money laundering laws in property transactions. She warned that unchecked capital flows through the real estate market could undermine national stability, urging stakeholders to register with the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML) and promote clean, traceable investments.
Earlier in his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Akinsete Olakunle, reaffirmed the state government’s resolve to build a smart, investor friendly housing ecosystem powered by data-driven planning and transparent regulation. He stressed that sustainable urban transformation requires collaboration between the public and private sectors to deliver affordable, inclusive development.
The conference signaled a policy reawakening in Oyo’s real estate space , redefining it not just as an engine of urban expansion, but as a critical frontier for youth empowerment, clean investment, and long term economic reform.
