Experts and stakeholders have warned that Ibadan may face stagnation if urgent and coordinated reforms are not implemented to address rising unemployment, poor infrastructure, and declining social services.

The warning formed the thrust of deliberations at the 2026 Ibadan Conference organised by the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes in honour of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja.

The conference, held at Bode Amao Hall, Ibadan House, Oke-Aremo, brought together traditional leaders, academics, professionals, and policymakers under the theme, “Ibadan: Remembering Our Past, Understanding Our Present, Designing Our Future.”

Speaking at the event, the Chairman, Dr Kazeem Adeduntan, described the “Ibadan 4.0” agenda as a necessary shift from rhetoric to deliberate and coordinated development action. He cautioned that without proper planning and alignment of efforts, the city could struggle to maintain its historical relevance and economic viability.

“Ibadan is not just a city; it is a civilisation built on discipline and communal responsibility. But great cities do not drift into greatness, they are built deliberately,” he said.

Adeduntan stressed the need for a shared vision, noting that fragmented initiatives and uncoordinated ambitions had continued to slow progress. According to him, only collective commitment and strategic alignment among stakeholders can secure the city’s future.

In his keynote address, Prof. Abiodun Aibinu warned that Ibadan was at a critical turning point and must embrace a transition to a knowledge-driven economy anchored on innovation, skills development, and institutional collaboration.

He identified unemployment, weak infrastructure, and inadequate social services as major threats to sustainable growth, warning that failure to address these challenges could deepen inequality and hinder development.

“The priorities are clear, job creation, infrastructure renewal, and skills development. Without these, the vision of Ibadan 4.0 will remain theoretical,” Aibinu said.

He further advocated urban renewal, revitalisation of educational institutions, and a shift from a resource-based economy to one driven by knowledge and human capital. He also called for stronger grassroots governance, including the integration of traditional structures such as the Mogaji system into formal governance frameworks to enhance accountability and community coordination.

Earlier, Chairman of the Ibadan Cultural Festival Planning Committee, Alhaji Moshood Akere, said the inclusion of the conference in the annual cultural festival was aimed at fostering policy dialogue and forward-thinking discussions about the city’s future.

He noted that since 1990, the festival had served as a platform for cultural expression and reunion, adding that the conference component was designed to encourage honest conversations on development.

Dignitaries at the event included the President-General of the CCII, Chief Sulaimon Ajeniyi Ajewole, alongside other prominent indigenes and stakeholders.