By Abidemi Omoyajowo
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun
Oyebanji, has said the 30th anniversary of the state should mark not only a
celebration of its journey since creation but also the beginning of a new phase
focused on building a more productive, innovative and economically vibrant
Ekiti.
Oyebanji stated this in a
statewide broadcast on Thursday to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the
creation of Ekiti State, saying the occasion offered an opportunity to reflect
on the achievements of the past three decades while setting a clear direction
for the future.
The Governor said Ekiti had made
remarkable progress since its creation on October 1, 1996, despite the
challenges associated with being a relatively young state with limited
financial resources. He, however, stressed that the next phase of development must
focus more deliberately on translating the state's human and physical resources
into sustainable economic opportunities.
Ekiti was created alongside
Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Gombe, Nasarawa and Zamfara states by the administration of
the late General Sani Abacha, bringing the number of states in Nigeria from 30
to 36.
Oyebanji paid tribute to the
traditional rulers, political leaders, professionals, community leaders and
other patriots whose efforts culminated in the creation of the state.
He particularly acknowledged the
Committee for the Creation of Ekiti State, led by Chief Oladeji Fasuan, as well
as Aare Afe Babalola, the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, and other
traditional rulers who contributed to the struggle.
The Governor, who served as
Secretary of the State Creation Committee before becoming Governor, described
his presence at the helm of affairs as Ekiti marked 30 years as “very
humbling.”
He also acknowledged his
predecessors in office, including Col. Inua Bawa, Navy Capt. Atanda Yusuf,
Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Chief Ayo Fayose, Chief Segun Oni and Dr Kayode Fayemi, as
well as other former political office holders and heads of the legislature and
judiciary.
Oyebanji said the vision of the
state's founding fathers was to create a society where Ekiti's human and
natural resources would be deployed efficiently and inclusively for the
prosperity of its people.
He said that vision must now be
translated into an economy driven by productivity, enterprise, private
investment, innovation and value addition.
“The vision of the founding
fathers was to have a State where Ekiti people can utilize their God-given
natural and human resources in the most efficient, effective and inclusive
manner, for the prosperity of our people,” he said.
The Governor noted that the
founding fathers also envisaged an industrialised Ekiti in which private-sector
capital would play a central role, while enterprise and productivity would
serve as the pillars of prosperity.
Against this background, Oyebanji
unveiled “Ekiti at 30: Celebrating the Past and Creating the Future” as the
theme of the anniversary and announced that the milestone would serve as the
launchpad for a 30-year Transformation Agenda.
According to him, the long-term
agenda will focus on agricultural production and agro-processing, innovation
and technology, quality education, research and skills development, tourism,
culture and the creative economy, youth entrepreneurship and sustainable
development.
The Governor said the objective
was to ensure that the socio-economic infrastructure built over the past 30
years translates into real economic growth, quality employment, increased
productivity, stronger enterprise and improved quality of life.
He cited the ongoing
multi-billion-naira Ekiti Knowledge Zone (EKZ) as a major component of the
state's emerging technology ecosystem, designed to harness the innovative and
creative abilities of young people.
Oyebanji said the state's
long-term ambition was to move beyond its traditional civil-service orientation
and build an economy capable of competing in technology, commerce, agriculture
and other productive sectors.
“It is our dream that in another
three decades, the tag of Ekiti as a ‘civil service’ state will have yielded to
Ekiti as a Tech Hub in Nigeria and a major commercial centre for international
trade and commerce.”
He also announced that the
Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone would take off soon, saying the
project, alongside the Ekiti Knowledge Zone, would help reshape the state's
economic outlook and advance the administration's Shared Prosperity Agenda.
As part of efforts to place young
people at the centre of the state's long-term development, the Governor said
the government would hold a conversation with Ekiti youths on October 7 at the
Obafemi Awolowo Civic and Convention Centre, Ado Ekiti.
He said the engagement would
provide an opportunity for the younger generation to reflect on the state's
journey, honestly assess its present circumstances and contribute ideas towards
building the Ekiti of the future.
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