The Oyo State Government has commenced a data capture and identity card registration exercise for traders, artisans, cooperative members and industrialists across the 33 local government areas of the state.

The exercise, which requires each beneficiary to pay ₦1,000 for the identification card, is aimed at creating a reliable database of economic operators to support effective planning and access to government interventions.

The Commissioner for Investment, Trade, Cooperatives and Industry, Prof. Salihu Abdulwaheed Adelabu, disclosed this at a stakeholders’ engagement organised by the ministry in Ibadan.

Adelabu said the government could not effectively plan for traders, artisans, cooperative members and industrialists without accurate information on their numbers, locations and areas of economic activity.

According to him, the exercise would provide the government with credible data needed for policy formulation and the implementation of programmes targeted at different categories of businesses across the state.

The commissioner disclosed that Global Sight Services Limited had been engaged to coordinate the data capture exercise and production of the identification cards.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Olajide Mamud Okesade, said the identity cards would contain modern security and verification features, including a QR code and chip.

He explained that the cards would be ready within one month of registration, adding that the consultant would visit markets, associations and business clusters across the state to facilitate the exercise.

The consultant, Dayo Bello, said the registration would be linked to verified information, including National Identification Numbers (NIN) and Bank Verification Numbers (BVN), to prevent duplication, fraudulent claims and inaccurate records.

Bello said the cards would be produced in ATM-card format and linked to the beneficiaries’ verified bank accounts.

He added that the ₦1,000 payment for the card would be paid into the beneficiary’s account.

Meanwhile, the state government has reiterated its commitment to hosting EXPOYO 2026, with Adelabu disclosing that a fresh memorandum was being prepared for the approval of Governor Seyi Makinde through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.

The development followed administrative processes that delayed the earlier proposed date for the trade fair.

The Vice President of the Oyo State Council of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OYCCIMA), Alhaji Abiola Alli, had appealed for the early approval of EXPOYO 2026, proposed for the last week of October.

Alli said early confirmation of the date would enable exhibitors, investors and development partners to make adequate preparations for the event.

In response, Adelabu urged OYCCIMA to strengthen its role in investment promotion, economic advocacy and the generation of sector-specific data to support government planning.