EKITI’LL FOREVER BE GRATEFUL TO YOU. GOV OYEBANJI, SEN BAMIDELE HAIL CHIEF DEJI FASUAN AT 95

EKITI’LL FOREVER BE GRATEFUL TO YOU. GOV OYEBANJI, SEN BAMIDELE HAIL CHIEF DEJI FASUAN AT 95

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, and Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, have described the Chairman of Committee for the creation of Ekiti State, Chief Deji Fasuan as a distinguished statesman whose contributions to the creation of the State will remain indelible, assuring that the state will forever be grateful for his commitment to its actualization

Chief Fasuan clocked 95, on Thursday, which coincided with the 30th anniversary of the Stete, chaired the committee responsible for the creation of Ekiti State, with Governor Oyebanji serving as the committee secretary. 

Governor Oyebanji, accompanied by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, House of Representative member, Hon. Ojuawo and members of the state Executive council, Prof Bolaji Aluko and Chief Taiwo Olatunbosun, noted the significant role played by the elder statesman in the struggle for Ekiti State. The Governor noted that his leadership and dedication helped advance the aspiration of the people for a separate state. 

He described the nonagenarian as a symbol of patriotism, selflessness and service, whose contribution to the political and administrative history of Ekiti state continue to provide a reference point for present and future generation.

The governor noted that the creation of Ekiti state represents the fulfillment of a long standing aspiration of its people and that the efforts of those who championed the cause, including Chief Deji Fasuan deserved lasting recognition and appreciation.

The Governor said, “thirty years ago, this house was agog because that was the day Ekiti State was created. On behalf of all Ekiti indigene at home and the diaspora, we say that your struggle, sweat and sacrifice has given the platform to serve Ekiti people, we say thank you.

“Throughout the struggle, one thing I learnt from Daddy was his integrity, commitment to excellence, courage, perseverance and sacrifice. Daddy is a tough person but through the process of the struggle, he took insults and was not annoyed for one day.

“I am happy you have seen the transformation in Ekiti in the last 30 years, yes, we have not reach the promise land but we have left Egypt, there is no doubt about that, individually we are developing, collectively we are developing and I am happy that by the grace of God and the benevolent of Ekiti people, I am in the saddle today”.     

Also in his remarks, the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele also celebrated the former committee chairman for his commitment to the development of Ekiti State, describing his 95th birthday as an opportunity to reflect on the founding figures whose efforts shaped state history.

The Senate Leader, who noted that Ekiti State had continued to make steady progress, maintained that the state had recorded remarkable improvement in various areas of development in recent years.

While explaining that Chief Deji Fasuan’s greatest joy shoud be the fact that the secretary of the State Creation Committee, Governor Oyebanji, is today the Governor of Ekiti State, Senator Bamidele said the Governor is implementing the ideals and aspiration they shared during the struggle for the creation of the state.

He maintained that Ekiti had witnessed tremendous development in the last four years, particularly through Oyebanji’s effort to bring the various leaders and stakeholders together, thereby achieving the aspiration of the founding fathers for a united Ekiti state.

Oyebanji’s second term will usher in greater devt , inauguration Committee declares

Oyebanji’s second term will usher in greater devt , inauguration Committee declares 

As preparations Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s second term inauguration commenced with the official release of programme of activities, the Planning Committee has highlighted remarkable achievements of the administration in the last four years. 

Reflecting on the achievements of the administration since it assumed office in October 2022, the chairman of the Second term inauguration committee, Mr Oyeniyi Adebayo, who spoke at a press conference in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, said Ekiti people has a lot to look out for as the second term administration would usher in greater development and at a faster pace. 

Adebayo who highlighted activities marking the inauguration, said the programme will be kickstarted with a Jumat Thanksgiving service at the Central Mosque, Ado Ekiti on Friday, October 2nd, while the inauguration ceremony would hold on October 16th.

Highlighting the infrastructure development of the administration, Adebayor, who is also the Chief of Staff to the Governor, noted that the completion of the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport, which commenced commercial flight operations in late 2025 has created opportunities for investment, tourism, trade, commerce and agricultural exports which has invariably boosted the economy of the state.

He also disclosed that the administration had completed and commissioned over 500 kilometres of inter-city and rural roads, with several other road projects currently at various stages of completion.

According to him, the administration had also provided electricity to parts of Aiyekire, Ekiti East Local Government Areas and the Ikogosi tourism belt, areas which, he said, had experienced prolonged lack of public electricity supply long before the advent of this administration.

On healthcare and education, the committee chairman said the administration had, as of 2026, renovated over 110 primary healthcare centres and all the general hospitals in the state, equipping them with modern facilities.

He added that the government had made significant investments in education, including the comprehensive renovation of 203 secondary schools, including three special schools and 950 primary schools across the state.

The committee disclosed further that the administration had also established nine ICT laboratories in selected secondary schools and technical colleges and constructed new primary schools under the Suburb Model School Project adding that Governor Oyebanji’s administration had continued to support students by paying WAEC examination fees to the tune of Two Billion, one hundred and fifty-eight million Naira (N2,158,000,000) to sixty-nine thousand (69,000) students as well as procurement of free JAMB forms to 12,400 students in four years.

While highlighting the administration’s youth-focused agricultural initiatives, the committee said over 5,000 youths have been engaged in commercial agriculture through the Bring Back the Youth into Agriculture initiative, with participants reportedly realising more than ₦1 billion in profits over the past one and a half years.

The administration, he said, had also disbursed N1.1 billion to 2,777 beneficiaries as credit and operational grants credit, N400million loan disbursed to 443 micro, small and medium-scale enterprises, provided ₦450 million in grants to 10 cooperatives involved in agro-processing and production, and facilitated free Corporate Affairs Commission registration for about 5,400 MSMEs.

Praising the Oyebanji administration on Fiscal responsibility, the chairman also drew attention to the robust fiscal management in the state, saying Ekiti had maintained a strong record of fiscal transparency and responsibility for over two years. He maintained that the state had been ranked first for nine consecutive quarters, from the second quarter of 2024 to the second quarter of 2026, in the State Fiscal Transparency League reports published by BudgIT Foundation.

Projecting into the second term tenure, the committee chairman said the theme of the inauguration, “The Good Work Continues,” reflected the administration’s intention to consolidate existing programmes while introducing further interventions aimed at strengthening the state’s economy and improving the welfare of citizens.

He said recent stakeholder engagements across the three senatorial districts, identified healthcare, electricity, roads, water supply, agriculture, human capital development and economic opportunities as areas requiring sustained consideration stressing that the major target is the expansion of rural road development, with a target of delivering up to 1,500 kilometres of roads through various interventions, including collaboration with development partners.

The chairman used the opportunity to commend the media for the symbiotic relationship with government as he described them as an important bridge between government and the people. He urged journalists to continue to provide accurate and professional coverage of the state’s activities as well as help citizens understand government policies, programmes and projects while providing broad coverage of the inauguration.

He assured the people that the administration would continue to engage stakeholders, improve service delivery and work towards ensuring that the impact of its shared prosperity agenda was felt across the state.

“As we begin preparations for the second term, the emphasis is on continuity and further development. The Governor has stated that the next phase will focus particularly on interventions that add value to the economy, improve productivity and respond to the needs and aspirations of our people. Recent engagements with stakeholders, including the just concluded Budget Tour of the three Senatorial Districts of the State have identified healthcare, electricity, roads, water supply, agriculture, human capital development and economic opportunities as areas requiring sustained attention. 

“The Governor has also stated that this consultative approach, which has been a hallmark of his administration during the first term, will continue through the second term. The Administration has also announced plans to expand rural road development, with a target of delivering up to 1,500 kilometres of roads through various interventions, including collaboration with development partners.” the committee chairman said.

"Gentlemen of the Press, I want to specially acknowledge your role in this process. The media is an important bridge between government and the people. Your responsibility goes beyond reporting events. It includes informing the public accurately and helping citizens understand government policies, programmes and projects.

In attendance at the news conference were other members of the planning committee. They include the Commissioner for Information, Chief Taiwo Olatunbosun, Secretary to the State Government, Prof Habibat Adubiaro, Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi; Chairman APC, Mr Sola Elesin, Chairman ALGON, Hon Segun Ojo; Special Adviser (Media) to the Governor, Mr Yinka Oyebode, Director General , Bureau of Comminity Comminications, Mrs Mary Oso Omotoso; and Special Assistant on Political Matters, Mrs Toyin Adepoju, among other.

EKITI MOVES TO CUT TRANSPORT FARE BY 50 PERCENT, ROLLS OUT 15 CNG BUSES

EKITI MOVES TO CUT TRANSPORT FARE BY 50 PERCENT, ROLLS OUT 15 CNG BUSES 

….Gov thanks President Tinubu

Ekiti State government on Thursday commenced moves aimed at reducing transport fares by 50 percent across the State, with the deployment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to cushion the effect of transportation cost on residents.

The State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, said the deployment of the CNG buses, which conicided with the Indeoendence Day and 30th anniversary celebrations, marked a major step in government’s move to reduce transport cost for the citizens in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directives. 

He added that the state has commenced the process of cutting transport fare by 59 percent through the rollout of 15 CNG buses donated to the state by the Federal Government as part of efforts to promote affordable and accessible public transportation, adding that the State would expand the fleet of vehicles in order to serve the residents better. 

 Governor Oyebanji who was accompanied by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, at the official flag off of the vehicles at the premises of Ekiti State Transportation Agency in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, said government would continue to explore avenues to reduce the burden of the citizens. 

Speaking with journalists shortly after inspecting the fleet of vehicles, Governor Oyebanji expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the intervention, noting that the provision of the buses would contribute significantly to reducing the burden of transportation on the people. He added that the initiative demonstrates the commitment of both the state and federal government to improving the welfare of the people.

The Governor added that the CNG buses would provide a more affordable means of transpiration for residents across the state, urging the drivers union to ensure that the gains are transmitted to the commuters.

Governor Oyebanji who also inspected ongoing projects in different parts of the state after inspecting the CNG buses, hailed President Tinubu’s economic policies, which he said had allowed more recourses to carry our programme and projects that have direct impact on the people.

“No matter how visionary a leader is, if there are no resources to work with, it will just stay in the realm of a vision. But the President has been helping and supporting us not only Ekiti State but all the states in the country to translate our vision into action and impacts for the people.

“The President charged all state Governors that by October first, we should find a way of reducing transportation cost because most of the implications we are witnessing, transportation contributes a lot to it and what we have done today is just the pilot, 15 CNG buses which is going to be distributed to the unions and the agency will manage it. 

“My appeal is to the Unions, they should allow the gains to translate to the commuters because this will reduce transportation cost by 50 percent. 

Speaking on the deployment of the buses, the Director General of the Ekiti State Transportation Agency, Hon. Tajudeen Akingbolu, said routes had been mapped out for the CNG buses to operate from Ado Ekiti to Lagos, Ibadan, Onitsha and Abuja, adding that the initiative would provide residents with more affordable and reliable interstate transportation while reducing the burden of high transport fare.

OYEBANJI HAILS EKITI'S REMARKABLE STRIDES 30 YEARS AFTER STATE CREATION

OYEBANJI HAILS EKITI'S REMARKABLE STRIDES 30 YEARS AFTER STATE CREATION

...Pays Tributes to state creation heroes, former governors

...Says Ekiti will become Nigeria's Tech Hub in another 30 years

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has hailed the remarkable strides and progress the State has made 30 years after it was created by the administration of the late former military Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha.

Oyebanji in a statewide broadcast to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the State, said although the state encountered many challenges and unpleasant experiences within the period, its people has reasons to celebrate the three-decade milestone because of the remarkable progress recorded in all indices of development.

The Governor noted that despite being among the last set of states to be created in the country and receiving one of the lowest allocations from the Federation Account, "Ekiti leads its contemporary and many before it, including far richer states, in critical matrices of human development."

Ekiti State was created on October 1, 1996 by the late Gen. Abacha, during a broadcast to mark the nation's 36th independence anniversary alongside Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Gombe, Nasarawa, and Zamfara States which took the number of states in Nigeria from 30 to 36.

The feat was achieved after years of epic struggle by eminent citizens of the state among whom were traditional rulers, legal luminaries, politicians, senior bureaucrats, captains of industry and community leaders under the aegis of a body known as Committee for the Creation of Ekiti State.

Speaking during the broadcast, Oyebanji pointed out that many people did not give Ekiti a chance of being created as a state as it stood against "more formidable contenders from the Southwest geopolitical zone”, but the Governor ascribed glory to God for making the creation of the state possible against all odds.

According to him, the creation of the State 30 years ago and 120 years after the Kiriji War completed an epic struggle of independence started by Ekiti forbears in the liberation war of 1877 to 1893. He congratulated all Ekiti sons and daughters and all peoples from other parts of the world who have made Ekiti their home on the occasion of the 30th anniversary. 

The Governor paid tributes to members of the Committee for the Creation of Ekiti State led by their Chairman, Chief Oladeji Fasuan; legal icon, Aare Afe Babalola; Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe; other monarchs whom he described as “incubators of the state creation struggle” and lauded the patriotic sacrifices of heroes and heroines of the struggle who had joined their ancestors.

Oyebanji said it was heartwarming that as the then Secretary of the Committee for Ekiti State Creation, through the grace of God and the benevolence of Ekiti people, he is now in the saddle as Governor of the State, as the state turns thirty. describing the experience as "very humbling."

He equally paid glowing tributes to all his predecessors in office: Col. Inua Bawa, Navy Capt. Atanda Yusuf, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Chief Ayo Fayose, Chief Segun Oni, Dr Kayode Fayemi and leaders who served during interregnums like Chief Friday Aderemi, Brig.-Gen. Tunji Olurin, Hon Tope Ademiluyi, Hon Tunji Odeyemi, all former Deputy Governors and all former heads of legislature and judiciary.

Oyebanji restated the commitment of his administration to the ideals of the founding fathers that inspired the creation of the state stressing that "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 pointed out that the state's founding fathers envisioned "an industrialized Ekiti, where private sector capital is at the centre of the economic nervous system of the state and where enterprise and productivity are the pillars of prosperity."

While unveiling the theme of the anniversary ‘Ekiti at 30; Celebrating the Past and Creating the Future,’ the governor disclosed that his administration has decided to use the 30th anniversary as the Launchpad for a 30-year Transformation Agenda.

The agenda, according to him, will make Ekiti a leading Centre of Agricultural Production and Agro-Processing, Innovation and Tech Development, Quality and functional Education, Research and Skills Development, Tourism, Culture and Creative Economy and Youth Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development. 

To achieve the vision, the Governor said a conversation with Ekiti Youths on October 7, 2026 at the Obafemi Awolowo Civic and Convention Centre, Ado Ekiti, will be staged with the intent to achieve three important things: to remember with gratitude, to assess the present with honesty, and to approach the future with confidence and determination.

He said: "Our agenda is therefore to work aggressively to ensure that the socio-economic infrastructures we have built in these thirty years lead to real economic growth that produces quality employment, crystallize productivity, support enterprise and enhance quality of life. 

"For example, the ongoing multi-billion naira Ekiti Knowledge Zone (EKZ) project is a technological park and economic ecosystem to support the innovative and creative ingenuity of our young population. 

"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. 

"This is our promise, and we are resolutely committed to it. The Special Agric Processing Zone (SAPZ) will also take off soon. These two projects, upon completion, will transform the economic outlook of the State and drive our government’s Shared Prosperity Agenda."

The Governor urged the people of the state to troop out en masse during the January 16, 2027 presidential election and use their votes to re-elect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in appreciation of his benevolence, support, and favour Ekiti has enjoyed under his presidency since 2023.