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Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Ekiti Continues to Lead Subnational Transaparency and Accountability Reports.

Ekiti Continues to Lead Subnational Transaparency and Accountability Reports.



Ekiti State Government has been adjudged to be the leading state in both local government budget transparency as well as subnational audit efficacy in the new reports published by BudgIT and PLSI, respectively.

This is coming barely weeks after BudgIT reported that the State Government, under the leadership of Governor Biodun Oyebanji, maintained the top position throughout the four quarters of year 2025 in fiscal transparency.

Ekiti State, in the new BudgIT report, was rated among the top 10 states in the federation that published detailed and accessible budget information for all its Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). 

According to the report, Ekiti stands out by providing individual 2026 budgets for all the 16 Local Government Councils and 22 LCDAs, accompanied by signed PDFs, minutes of Town Hall Consultation meetings, and NCOA-formatted Excel templates.

This approach, BudgIT says,  emphasizes transparency and accountability, setting a great example for other states. 

In addition to the BudgIT report, Ekiti also came first in the just realised PLSI Subnational Audit Efficacy Index. The report shows Ekiti has successfully established the independence of the Auditor-General’s office, while also implementing the financial autonomy of the audit function. It acknowledges the effectiveness of the oversight function of the State Assembly, especially its Public Accounts Committee. 

The Biodun Oyebanji administration prioritizes citizens involvement in budget preparation. Aside its quarterly stakeholders engagements held on zonal basis, it holds a consultations across local government areas to get input into the budget preparations, it also mandates each local government to hold similar consultations ahead of  their respective budget preparations. 

Details of both the state’s annual budget, and the local government’s budgets as well as government procurements are published on the state websites, in line with the accountability and transparency policy of the administration. 

Commenting on the multiple accolades, Governor Oyebanji says the administration is an open book- made available to all citizens to access. He expresses his appreciation to the people of the State for their demonstrated support and cooperation with the administration adding that the success of the administration’s fiscal policies were made possible by their cooperation. 

He says his administration will continue to promote transparency and accountability in government in addition to prioritizing the wellbeing and welfare of the people.
The disclosure was made in a statement signed and released to the media by Olayinka Oyebode, Special Adviser (Media) to the Governor of Ekiti State, on Monday, April 2026.

Ekiti State Launches Innovation Enterprise Support Fund to Power Next Generation of Startups.

Ekiti State Launches Innovation Enterprise Support Fund to Power Next Generation of Startups.


 
The Ekiti State Government, under the leadership of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, has officially launched the Innovation Enterprise Support Fund (IESF) — a strategic initiative designed to support tech-enabled businesses, high-potential startups, and scale innovation-driven enterprises across the state.

The programme will support startups over a 2-month period, providing a structured pathway from ideation to scale through three phases: Ideation & Incubation, Pre-Acceleration, and Acceleration.

In addition to government backing, the programme is strengthened by additional funding support from FirstBank of Nigeria Limited, reinforcing a strong public-private partnership model for enterprise growth.

Beyond funding, the IESF offers:
-Expert mentorship and advisory 
-Market access and investor connections 
-Capacity development in digital and business skills 
-Technology-enabled selection and evaluation processes 

The Honourable Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Digital Economy, 'Seun Fakuade, emphasized:
“This is not just a funding initiative — it is a deliberate strategy to build a pipeline of globally competitive entrepreneurs and tech-enabled businesses from Ekiti. We are investing in ideas, but more importantly, in people and capacity.”

The initiative is designed to:
1. Strengthen Ekiti’s innovation ecosystem 
2. Create jobs and stimulate enterprise growth 
3. Support youth, women, and underserved communities (fund is intended for at least 40% female-led enterprises)
4. Position Ekiti as a leading subnational innovation hub 

Interested applicants can apply via:
https://iesf.ekitistate.gov.ng/