The Jericho Businessmen Club (JBC), Ibadan, on Friday, November 21, 2025, convened its 3rd Annual Socio-Economic Summit at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan. The event brought together top government officials, industry leaders, Royal Fathers, technocrats, and innovators for discussions aimed at repositioning Oyo State for a technologically-driven future.
In his opening remarks, Olooye Adegboyega Taofeek Adegoke, FCA, Aare Egbe-Omo Balogun of Ibadanland and President of the Jericho Businessmen Club, welcomed guests with deep respect and appreciation. Addressing the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, His Imperial Majesty Oba (Sen.) Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, other Royal Fathers, the CCII President-General, JBC Trustees, past presidents, and distinguished guests, Adegoke described JBC as “the foremost club in Ibadanland” and a significant catalyst for socio-economic advancement.
This year’s summit, themed “Future-Ready Oyo State: Tech, Talent, and Transformation for a Thriving Tomorrow,” builds upon the successes of the 2024 edition, which focused on powering Oyo State for industrialization and economic development. That previous discourse highlighted the critical need for sustainable and affordable electricity — an indispensable foundation for progress.
According to Adegoke, the natural progression from electricity and industrialization is to now spotlight technology and digital transformation as core drivers of future growth.
He emphasized that JBC, as a club of high-quality professionals, businesspeople, and technocrats, continues to play a central role in promoting economic development in Ibadanland and Oyo State. The objectives of the summit, he noted, align perfectly with the vision of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, whose agenda prioritizes the economic revival of Ibadanland.
Adegoke reaffirmed that the club will keep leveraging its collective social and economic capital to mobilize resources toward the development of Ibadanland while fostering collaborations with like-minded professionals for mutual economic growth and meaningful public policy impact.
The JBC President further highlighted ongoing initiatives such as the Future-Ready Youth Digital Bootcamp, which provides hands-on training in digital skills, workplace readiness, and entrepreneurial thinking—empowering young people to thrive in an era dominated by disruptive technologies and artificial intelligence.
He outlined the sub-thematic focus areas of the 2025 summit as:
• Technological Disruption and Workforce Evolution
• Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship
• Education and Skills for the Future
• Policy and Governance in the Digital Age
Adegoke reiterated that the annual socio-economic summit serves as a solutions-driven platform created to accelerate the economic transformation of Ibadanland and Oyo State. He expressed confidence that the subject-matter experts and speakers assembled for the summit would deliver robust insights capable of shaping meaningful outcomes across these thematic areas.
Concluding his address, the JBC President warmly welcomed all participants to what he described as a wonderful, fruitful, and productive summit, reaffirming the club’s unwavering commitment to driving socio-economic advancement in Oyo State.
