A coalition of business leaders and professionals in Ogun State has established the Ogun Business Roundtable (OBR) to serve as a platform for dialogue between the private sector and government, aiming to improve conditions for businesses operating in the state. The group, which comprises members from trade, academia, media, health and law, is currently pursuing evidence-based policy recommendations and collaboration to address operational barriers and create a more favourable environment for business.
Ogun State hosts a substantial industrial base that includes major manufacturers such as Unilever, Nestlé Nigeria Plc, Beta Glass, Pharma-Deko, GZ and Nigerian Breweries, concentrated in industrial zones across Agbara, Sango-Ota and Sagamu. The state has also attracted significant investment, including a $1.8 billion Lee Group First Industrial Park. Beyond manufacturing, Ogun is home to more than 20 accredited universities, the highest number of private universities in Nigeria, and operates free trade zones in Igbesa. Despite these assets, businesses face significant obstacles including infrastructure deficits, power supply problems, land documentation issues, data deficiencies, poor urban planning, limited access to affordable healthcare and insecurity.
According to Ayodele Aderinwale, OBR chairman and also chairman of JustRite Superstore, the group's primary objective is not to attract investment but to improve ease of doing business by removing arbitrariness and creating mechanisms for government engagement on major policy issues. He stated that the group aims to establish regular dialogue between private and public sectors for economic development and transformation. The OBR maintains a non-partisan stance and seeks to influence policy through professional consultation rather than confrontation.
Daniel Shangotola, OBR Secretary, outlined the group's goals as shaping policy through evidence-based reviews supporting industrialisation and competitiveness, catalysing collaboration between government, business, academia and civil society, facilitating investment flows into productive sectors, and promoting transparency in government operations. The group currently has nine members and plans to expand. Although formal launch is pending, OBR has held monthly meetings since last year and aims to become fully operational by the first quarter of 2027, with progress expected before the end of 2026.
For businesses and investors operating in Ogun State, the roundtable's efforts to influence policy on electricity supply, road networks, security and regulatory agency engagement could reduce operational costs and risks, depending on government responsiveness to the group's recommendations.