Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has said his administration will continue to prioritize innovation, competence, enterprise and the translation of knowledge into economic value as part of efforts to reposition the state for sustainable growth by 2056.
The Governor projected Ekiti as a future global hub of the knowledge economy, with technology, culture and tourism identified as key drivers of prosperity over the next three decades.
Governor Oyebanji stated this on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti while delivering his keynote address at the Ekiti at 30 Future Summit, organised as part of activities marking the 30th anniversary of the creation of Ekiti State.
He said certificates alone could no longer build industries, create jobs, mechanise agriculture, develop tourism or compete in a technology-driven global economy, stressing that the future belongs to an innovation-driven economy.
According to him, the summit was deliberately designed to go beyond celebration and provide a platform for young people and other stakeholders to discuss the future of the state and generate ideas that will shape government policies and development plans.
Describing the 30th anniversary as a significant milestone, Oyebanji said it should afford the people an opportunity to reflect on the journey so far, assess the present and collectively determine the kind of Ekiti they want to bequeath to future generations.
He said the anniversary theme, “Ekiti: Celebrating the Past, Creating the Future,” should inspire gratitude for the past, honesty about the present and confidence in approaching the future.
The Governor noted that development would only be meaningful when it improves the lives of ordinary citizens, stressing that roads must shorten journeys and open economic opportunities, electricity must support businesses, education must improve lives, agriculture must be profitable and healthcare must be accessible.
Looking ahead, Oyebanji said he envisions an Ekiti where agriculture becomes a modern, technology-driven and profitable enterprise, with a complete value chain covering production, processing, packaging, logistics and export.
He also projected Ekiti as a major hub of the knowledge economy, where the intellectual capital of the people would be converted into economic opportunities through software development, digital creation, research, engineering design and technology entrepreneurship.
He said young Ekiti people should be able to work for clients across the world without abandoning their communities, while institutions such as the proposed innovation and technology ecosystem would connect education with the needs of the modern economy.
On tourism, the Governor 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. He called for greater private-sector participation, investment, infrastructure and promotion to unlock the sector’s potential.
He challenged youths to take responsibility for shaping the future, urging them not to depend solely on government employment but to acquire useful skills, embrace technology, identify problems around them and develop solutions.
Looking ahead to the state’s 60th anniversary in 2056, Oyebanji challenged the present generation to embark on innovations that will make future generations remember them not merely as people who celebrated past achievements, but as those who planted the seeds of a new era.
He paid tribute to the founding fathers and mothers of Ekiti State, traditional rulers, community leaders, professionals, civil servants, academics, political actors, journalists, women organisations and youth groups whose sacrifices led to the creation of the state. He also acknowledged the role of the then Head of State, General Sani Abacha, in the creation of Ekiti State in 1996.
“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.
“As we celebrate thirty 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.
The lead speaker at the summit, Dr Tunji Olowolafe, who examined the state’s educational heritage, the need for reliable power supply and quality infrastructure, as well as strategies for accelerating development, emphasized that the future of Ekiti depends on the ability to translate knowledge into practical innovations capable of creating jobs, reducing poverty and improving quality of life.
Olowolafe said industrial partnership was critical to the development of the state and stressed the need to connect education with skills, enterprise and innovation to create sustainable economic opportunities. He charged Ekiti people, particularly youths, to move beyond acquiring knowledge to finding practical ways of applying it to solve problems and drive progress.
Earlier in their separate remarks, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, and the Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Adewole, reflected on the struggles and sacrifices that preceded the creation of the state on October 1, 1996, despite the absence of take-off grants. The monarchs acknowledged the sectoral development recorded in the last three decades, commended the focus of the summit on shaping a better future and called for a comprehensive development plan capable of sustaining growth.
They called for more collective efforts to sustain development and stressed the need to preserve the values, unity and identity that have shaped the state since its creation.
In her welcome address, Ekiti-born African and World Spelling Bee Champion, Miss Damilola Adeolu, called on youths to take an active role in shaping the future of the state and explore opportunities for building a stronger and more prosperous Ekiti.
She maintained that the future should not be limited to academic achievements but should include innovation, agriculture, engineering, technology, education, tourism and other sectors capable of transforming the economy. She thanked Governor Oyebanji for placing youths at the centre of the anniversary celebrations and urged participants to engage meaningfully with speakers.
The highpoint of the event was the presentation of prizes to winners of the Ekiti at 30 Essay Competition, which challenged young people to present “My Dream and Agenda for the Next Thirty Years.”
Mr Peace Ogunjemilua emerged first prize winner with N1.5 million, Miss Blessing Adelusi came second with N1 million, while Mr Ayomide Lafiaji, the third prize winner, received N1.5 million. Fifteen other finalists received N500,000 each as consolation prizes, in addition to laptop computers.
Present at the event were the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye; wife of the Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji; Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye; Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Habibat Adubiaro; Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Folakemi Olomojobi; Chief of Staff, Mr Niyi Adebayo; members of the State House of Assembly and State Executive Council; members of the university communities, royal fathers and Ekiti youths, among others.
