The Oyo State Government has launched a digital Labour and Skills Database aimed at connecting skilled workers with employers, improving workforce planning and strengthening the ease of doing business across the state.
The initiative, known as the Oyo State Labour and Skills Registry (OSLSR), was unveiled during a stakeholders’ engagement between the state government and the organised private sector at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Buildings, Oyo State House of Assembly Secretariat, Ibadan.
The programme was organised by the Ministry of Investment, Trade, Cooperatives and Industry under the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) and the Business Enabling Reforms Action Plan (BERAP) 2025.
Participants at the event included representatives from government agencies, private sector organisations, cooperatives, artisans, manufacturers, traders, MSMEs and development partners.
Speaking on behalf of the Commissioner for Investment, Trade, Cooperatives and Industry, Hon. Adeniyi Adebisi, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Olajide Mamud Okesade, described the OSLSR as a strategic intervention designed to address the gap between available manpower and labour market demand in Oyo State.
According to him, the platform will function as a central database for skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers across the 33 local government areas of the state.
“The Labour and Skills Registry is a strategic initiative that will bridge the gap between labour supply and market demand in Oyo State,” Okesade said.
He explained that the digital platform would give employers, investors and businesses easier access to verified manpower while allowing residents to showcase their qualifications, skills and work experience.
“The platform will provide employers and investors with access to verified manpower while also creating opportunities for residents to showcase their skills and employment profiles,” he added.
The state government said the initiative is expected to improve workforce coordination, support industrial development and create a more organised labour system that can support economic growth.
Also speaking at the event, the Senior Special Assistant on Industry and Cooperatives said the registry would support data-driven planning and improve access to business support services across the state.
He noted that making skilled labour easier to identify and access would further improve Oyo State’s attractiveness to investors and businesses looking to operate within the state.
During a technical presentation titled “Understanding the Ease of Doing Business: The Role of the Labour Database,” SABER spokesperson, Mr Kilanko Olayemi, highlighted Oyo State’s ranking as the third-best performing state in Nigeria in the 2025 Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Ease of Doing Business assessment.
“Oyo State’s emergence as the third-best performing state in the country reflects the government’s deliberate commitment to reforms that support businesses and economic growth,” Olayemi said.
The consultant handling the project and Project Lead for Chemiroy Nigeria Limited, Mr Awwal Lawal, demonstrated how residents can register their skills, qualifications and work experience on the platform using mobile devices.
According to him, the platform was built to be simple, secure and accessible for workers across different sectors.
“The platform is designed to be user-friendly and secure, allowing individuals to easily upload their profiles and employment information from anywhere,” Lawal explained.
Stakeholders at the event, including representatives of traders and artisans, described the initiative as an important step towards improving visibility for skilled workers and expanding access to economic opportunities across Oyo State.
