Ekiti @ 30: Oyebanji calls for collective efforts to shape state’s future

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has projected the state as a future global hub for knowledge economy with technology, culture and tourism identified as key drivers of sustainable growth and prosperity over the next three decades.

Oyebanji said that his administration would continue to build and focus more on innovation, competence, enterprise and the ability to translate knowledge into economic value in the drive to reposition the state by 2056, the next 30 years.

The governor spoke in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday in his keynote address at Ekiti at 30 Future Summit, organised as part of activities marking the 30th anniversary of the creation of Ekiti State.

He said that certificates alone could no longer build industry, create jobs, mechanise agriculture, develop tourism or compete in a technology-driven global economy but an economy driven by innovation.

The governor, on the occasion, unveiled a 30-year vision for Ekiti, as he challenged the present generation to “embark on innovations that will ensure that future generations remember you not merely as people who celebrated the achievements of the past, but as those who planted the seeds of a new era”.

Oyebanji said the summit was deliberately designed to provide a platform for young people and other stakeholders to discuss the future of the state and develop ideas that could shape government policies and future development plans.

He described the 30th anniversary as “a significant milestone that should provide an opportunity for the people to reflect on where the state started, assess its present condition and collectively determine the kind of Ekiti they wished to bequeath to future generations.

“The anniversary theme, ‘Ekiti: Celebrating the Past, Creating the Future’, should inspire people to remember the past with gratitude, accept the present with honesty and approach the future with confidence and determination.

“The development will only be meaningful when it improves the lives of ordinary citizens. Roads must shorten journeys and open economic opportunities, electricity must support businesses, education must improve lives, agriculture must become profitable and healthcare must be accessible,” he said.

Oyebanji said he envisioned an Ekiti where agriculture would become a modern, technology-driven and profitable enterprise, with the state developing a complete value chain covering production, processing, packaging, logistics and export.

He added, “I envision an Ekiti that becomes a major centre of the knowledge economy. The intellectual capital of our people must be transformed into economic capital. We must produce software developers, digital creators, researchers, designers, engineers and technology entrepreneurs who can work for the world without abandoning their communities.

“I envision an Ekiti that attracts investment because it is peaceful, secure, well-governed and welcoming to enterprise. Government cannot—and should not—be the sole employer of labour. Our responsibility is to establish the conditions in which businesses can start, survive and grow. The private sector, cooperatives, development institutions and our people in the diaspora must become active partners in building the Ekiti economy.

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“As we celebrate 30 years of statehood, let us remember the sacrifices that brought us here. Let us appreciate the progress we have made. Let us confront our present challenges honestly. Above all, let us commit ourselves to creating a future worthy of the dreams of our founding fathers and mothers,” the governor said.

He also identified Ekiti’s waterfalls, warm springs, historic sites, festivals, cuisine, music and artistic traditions as economic assets capable of creating jobs for farmers, transport operators, hoteliers, performers, photographers, tour guides, artisans and food vendors as being imperative to Ekiti development.

While calling for greater private-sector participation, investment, infrastructure and promotion to unlock the sector’s potential, Oyebanji challenged young people to take responsibility for shaping the future, urging them to acquire useful skills, embrace technology, identify problems around them and develop solutions.

The governor, who acknowledged the role of former Head of State, the Late Gen. Sani Abacha, in the creation of Ekiti State in 1996, paid tributes to the founding fathers and mothers of the state, traditional rulers, community leaders, professionals, civil servants, academics, political actors, journalists, women organisations and youth groups for their sacrifices.

The lead speaker, Dr Tunji Olowolafe, who, examined the state’s educational heritage, the need for reliable power supply and quality physical infrastructure, as well as strategies for accelerating development, stressed that the future of Ekiti depended on the ability to translate the knowledge acquired through education into practical innovations capable of creating jobs, reducing poverty and improving the quality of life of the people.
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Olowolafe, who maintained that industrial partnership was critical to the development of the state, harped on the need to connect education power with skills, enterprise and innovation to create sustainable economic opportunities.

He charged Ekiti people particularly the youths to move beyond acquiring knowledge to finding practical ways of applying it to solve problems, create progress and eradicate poverty in the state.

In their remarks, the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe; and Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Adewole; reflected on the struggles and sacrifices that attended the creation of the state on October 1, 1996.

The monarchs, who acknowledged the sectorial development recorded over the past three decades, commended the focus of the summit on shaping a better future and called for a comprehensive development plan capable of sustaining growth and prosperity for future generations.

The traditional rulers called for more collective efforts to sustain the state’s development, stressing the need for the people to preserve the values, unity and identity that had shaped Ekiti State since its creation.

The event witnessed presentation of cheques to winners of the Ekiti at 30 essay competition, which challenged young Ekiti people to present “My dream and agenda for the next 30 years” and articulate practical and innovative  ideas for building the Ekiti they want to see by 2056.

Mr Peace Ogunjemilua, who emerged as the first prize winner received N1.5m, while Miss Blessing Adelusi, who came second, got N1m, Mr Ayomide Lafiaji, the third prize winner received N1.5 million and 15 other finalists received N500,000 each as consolation prize.

Also at the event were, the  Deputy Governor, Mrs Monisade Afuye; the First Lady, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji; Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye; Secretary to Ekiti State Government, Prof Habibat Adubiaro; Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi; Chief of Staff, Mr Niyi Adebayo; members of the state House of Assembly and State Executive Council, members of the Ekiti University communities, royal fathers, Ekiti youths, among others.