By Ayodele Abere
The Ekiti State Government has unveiled an 18-day programme of activities for the inauguration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji and his deputy, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, for a second term in office.
Chairman of the Central Working Committee for the inauguration and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Niyi Adebayo, disclosed this on Thursday during a press conference in Ado-Ekiti.
Adebayo said the activities would run from October 2 to 18, 2026, and would bring together residents, government officials, traditional and religious leaders, development partners and other stakeholders.
He said the programme will commence with a special Jumat service at the Central Mosque, followed by the Ekiti Future Summit at the Obafemi Awolowo Civic Centre, an eight-hour Sacrifice of Praise at the Government House grounds, an event for elderly citizens, the State of the State Address at the House of Assembly and a command performance by the Ekiti State Performing Arts Company.
According to him, the main inauguration ceremony will hold on October 16, followed by a state banquet, while the programme will climax with a thanksgiving service on October 18.
Adebayo said the second-term administration would build on its six-pillar development agenda covering governance; infrastructure and industrialisation; agriculture and rural development; youth development and job creation; arts, culture and tourism; and human capital development.
He listed the completion of the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport, construction of over 500 kilometres of roads, investments in electricity and healthcare delivery, and renovation of schools as part of the achievements of the first term.
On education and youth development, he said the administration renovated 203 secondary schools and 950 primary schools, paid N672 million in 2026 for examination fees of 17,800 students and distributed 12,400 free JAMB forms to students between 2023 and 2025.
He added that over 5,000 youths were engaged in commercial agriculture through the state’s youth agricultural initiative, while the government provided credit, grants and business support to beneficiaries and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), including free Corporate Affairs Commission registration for about 5,400 MSMEs.
Looking ahead, Adebayo said the second term would focus on productivity, expansion of economic opportunities and addressing infrastructure gaps identified through stakeholder consultations, including a target of delivering up to 1,500 kilometres of roads through direct interventions and partnerships with development organisations.
He urged the media to continue to play a professional role in communicating government policies and programmes to the people, and invited residents and stakeholders to participate peacefully in the inauguration activities, noting that the new term would emphasise continuity, wider engagement and greater impact.
