In a decisive move to fast-track Ondo State’s economic transformation, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has expanded the portfolio of Summy Smart Francis, formally adding Investment to his responsibilities as Special Adviser on Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

The expansion, announced through an executive order at the Ondo Investment Summit 2026, signals the administration’s determination to align enterprise development directly with capital attraction, positioning Ondo State as a competitive destination for both local and international investors.

By unifying entrepreneurship, innovation, and investment under a single advisory office, the Aiyedatiwa administration aims to streamline policy execution, deepen investor confidence, and accelerate private-sector participation across priority sectors including agriculture, technology, infrastructure, energy, and manufacturing.

Governor Aiyedatiwa said the consolidation is designed to remove institutional bottlenecks and create a clearer, faster pathway for business growth and investment inflows. According to him, the state’s economic blueprint is anchored on transparency, efficiency, and strategic partnerships capable of unlocking productivity, creating jobs, and driving inclusive prosperity.

Dr. Francis, widely regarded as a leading advocate of entrepreneurship-led development, is expected to spearhead a more integrated framework that links startups, small and medium enterprises, industrial expansion, and large-scale investments. His expanded mandate positions his office as the central coordination hub for investment promotion, innovation policy, enterprise growth, and stakeholder engagement.

The announcement came amid high-level discussions at the Ondo Investment Summit 2026, themed *“The New Ondo: Forging the Pathway to Prosperity.” The summit brought together policymakers, captains of industry, development partners, and investors, while showcasing the state’s economic potential, reform agenda, and sector-specific investment opportunities. Key highlights included commitments to improving ease of doing business, strengthening infrastructure, and fostering innovation-driven growth.

As the “New Ondo” narrative gains momentum, the administration’s latest move underscores a forward-looking strategy that places entrepreneurship, innovation, and investment at the core of sustainable development. With renewed leadership alignment and a sharpened economic focus, Ondo State appears poised to translate policy ambition into tangible prosperity.