Gov. Oyebanji Approves Payment of Over N3.5 Billion Counterpart Fund For 2024 UBEC/SUBEB Intervention Projects.

Gov. Oyebanji Approves Payment of Over N3.5 Billion Counterpart Fund For 2024 UBEC/SUBEB Intervention Projects.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji has approved the payment of a whooping sum of N3, 554,642,584.46 as counterpart fund for execution of 2024 UBEC/SUBEB intervention projects.

This is coming at the heels of the bid opening ceremony signaling the commencement of the 2023 similar projects.

The approval was also upon the payment of an equivalent amount by the Commission as Federal Government Statutory Allocation of the UBE matching grant to the state.

The Executive Chairman of the state Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof. Femi Akinwumi in a statement, disclosed that the approval was a bold step by the governor towards providing conducive teaching and learning environment for public primary schools across the state.

According to him, Governor Oyebanji has within the last two years of his administration paid the UBEC/SUBEB counterpart funds for 2022 and 2023 matching grants apart from other landmark achievements of the governor in the basic education sector.

He added that other unprecedented development for the sector include procurement and distribution of instructional materials to enhance teaching and learning, employment of several teaching and non-teaching staff, construction and renovation of classrooms, training and retraining of teachers and provision of ICT equipment for the schools.

Prof. Akinwumi stated further that the approval of Governor Oyebanji to pay the counterpart fund would continue to strengthen the state’s collaboration with UBEC for execution of more developmental projects for enhancement of basic education and effective delivery of UBE programme.

He re – echoed the determination of the board to ensure the speedy and successful implementation of the 2023 projects so that those of 2024 can follow almost immediately, stressing that the governor having fulfilled his part would be anxious about the early completion of the projects according to specifications.

Prof. Akinwumi while thanking the governor for his passionate interest in the development of basic education in the state urged the successful bidders in the on – going 2023 UBEC/ SUBEB projects to comply strictly to the UBEC guidelines, the federal and state procurement acts for timely and efficient delivery of their contracts.

He also charged the teachers and other education stakeholders to be more proactive in the dissemination of their duties to ensure that the huge investment of the state government on education is not a waste of the state’s scarce financial resources.

Ojuawo Receives Award of Honour from Anti-Corruption Group.

Ojuawo Receives Award of Honour from Anti-Corruption Group.

Honourable Member representing Ekiti South Federal Constituency 1, Hon (AVM Rtd) Ojuawo Rufus Adeniyi, received the “Icon of Integrity” award from Zero Tolerance for Corruption Association (ZTCA), an anti-corruption group with nationwide networks.

ZTCA collaborates with the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit, and Nigeria Intelligence Agency to report corruption and financial indiscipline through project monitoring, surveillance, and mapping, as well as investigating individuals and public officers.

Ambassador Aminu Abass, ZTCA’s president, presented the award to Hon Ojuawo at his National Assembly office, praising his contributions to national development. 'We’ve been monitoring you, and your commitment, forthrightness, and honesty are exemplary. Hence, we present this award to encourage you to continue on this path.'

Hon Ojuawo thanked the group, acknowledging their complementary role in stamping out corruption. “Your award motivates me to do more. The greater Nigeria is our collective responsibility; I won’t rest on my oars' Ojuawo assured his guests.

OJUAWO MEDIA TEAM

EKITI GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF AYO FASANMI MODEL COLLEGE OVER STUDENTS’ SAFETY CONCERN.

EKITI GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF AYO FASANMI MODEL COLLEGE OVER STUDENTS’ SAFETY CONCERN.

Ekiti State Government has announced the temporary closure of Ayo Fasanmi Model College, Ado- Ekiti for the safety of students and teachers of the school pending the renovation of the defects noticed in the buildings.

Reiterating the commitment of the State Government to the safety and well-being of all and sundry in the State, particularly school-age children, the State Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun, in a statement made available to newsmen, also stressed the commitment of Government to the provision of conducive learning environment in Ekiti schools.

Olatunbosun explained that Government in collaboration with the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) is working round the clock to renovate the affected building, adding that arrangement has also been made to move the affected students to alternative facilities pending the completion of work at the school.

The Commissioner appealed to parents and guardians of the students to be patient, assuring that no stone would be left unturned in ensuring the students do not suffer unduly. He added that the school would be reopened for academic activities as soon as it is safe to do so.

Don't make nonsense of our huge investment in agric, EKSG warns herders.

Don't make nonsense of our huge investment in agric, EKSG warns herders.

... as state Prohibits underage, night grazing.

Ekiti state government has issued a stern warning to herders operating in the state not to make a mess of government’s huge investment in agriculture by allowing their flocks invade and destroy farms in the state.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Brig. General Ebenezer Ogundana (rtd) gave the warning in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ meeting of Ekiti State Farmers’/Herders’ peace committee at Jibowu hall, Government House. He said government will henceforth invoke the full weight of the law on any underage found herding or anyone herding at night.

Gen. Ogundana, who is also the chairman of the committee, disclosed that Governor Oyebanji inaugurated the committee in 2023 in his effort to bring permanent end to farmers/herder clashes in the state. He affirmed that the ban became imperative in order to bring peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding between farmers and pastoralists in the state.

“Since the government will not fold its arms and allow the lawlessness to continue, the Herders/Farmers Peace Committee was inaugurated by Governor Biodun Oyebanji in 2023. The Committee is to interface between the herders and farmers. In addition, there are other policies and control measures put in place to strengthen the relationship between them.

“Some of these policies include; Anti-Grazing Law which is an Act of the state House of Assembly. The law is to ensure that there is no grazing at night, Prohibition of under-age from grazing, no grazing on the farmland and the defaulters are to be dealt with according to the law of the land. 

In the drive to also ensure effective coordination and compliance at Local Government levels, the committee inaugurated 18 local government Coordinators to serve as representatives of the committee at the LGAs. Gen Ogundana said the effort will bring about the desired cooperation among herders, farmers and the host communities. 

He called on traditional rulers, local government Chairmen and representatives of farmers and herders to create a forum where they can dialogue on the need to be inter- dependence and invariably address the issue of suspicion, trespasses by either party as well as educate one another on the importance of abiding with the Anti-Grazing Law of the state.

Gen Ogundana also hinted that government has set up Farm Settlements across the state in order to address food shortage. This, he said, is in addition to the Agro-Task Force comprising of Security Agencies to provide protection for farmlands and farmers.

“Identification of herders, farmers and the host communities staying on the farm settlements. Registration of the concerned groups is in progress. This will enable the communities to identify intruders or criminals entering the areas to carry out illegal activities, instead of allowing innocent people to suffer. You are requested to cooperate with the team that will be going round to carry out the exercise.

“There is the need to prevent herders migrating from other States to Ekiti State. It is a general belief that the migrating herders come from outside Nigeria to graze in Nigeria. This group of herders are suspected to have some criminal tendencies and they are destructive in nature.”, He asserted.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Ebenezer Boluwade also revealed Governor Oyebanji’s plan to invest heavily in agriculture in 2025 hence the need to make adequate preparation towards ensuring security and protection of farmers and farmlands from miscreants that that come in form of herders.

Boluwade also noted that there is hardly any society that can achieve development without peace, adding that this year alone, government had invested over N2Billion in agriculture stressing the importance of seeing the turnover to encourage both government and farmers to do more.

Speaking on behalf of all security chiefs in the state, Commissioner of Police, Kayode Akinwale commended the efforts of the state Governor at ensuring peace and security of the state and called on traditional rulers to take charge of the security of their domain by constitution security vigilantes to protect their communities.

The Chairman, Ekiti state Council of Traditional Rulers, represented by the Onisan of Isan Ekiti, Oba Gabriel Adejuwon, called on security forces to be alive to their responsibility as he expressed trust in the various commitment of government at ensuring peace and adequate security in the state.

Oyebanji commissions N800 million students hostel at College of Nursing Sciences.

Oyebanji commissions N800 million students hostel at College of Nursing Sciences.

Nursing education received another remarkable boost in Ekiti State under Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s infrastructure upgrade with the commissioning of 600 beds students’ hostel built by a foremost entrepreneur, Arch. Dipo Ajayi through Public/Private Partnership at the College of Nursing Sciences, Ado Ekiti.

Commissioning the N800 million hostel project at the school premises on Tuesday, Governor Oyebanji reiterated his commitment to aggressive infrastructure drive in the state’s education institutions with a view to repositioning and delivering effective and efficient higher education in the state.

Governor Oyebanji said his administration’s commitment to scale up access to education has made his administration commit more investment to Education and Technology in line with the agenda Three of his administration, adding that his remains focused on providing physical infrastructure that will enhance conducive environment for both teaching and learning in all state owned institutions.

The Governor also commended Arch. Dipo Ajayi, who is President of Architects Registration Council of Nigeria ( ARCON), for his unwavering commitment towards the development of the state by giving back to the state despite all the challenges he faced before he was able to deliver the project. 

“The CMD is aware that we went through a lot of challenges that at a point no investor would have staked his resources on this project. The processes made it impossible for you to commence this project on time and by the time we resolved the issues, the cost of construction had skyrocketed, but you said this is Ekiti, and that you are going to do it. Yes, financially, it may not be profitable, but Ekiti people value you, God bless you.

“What is happening today speaks to the strength of unity, when a people are united in an aligned vision and for the progress of their state, there will be development. You have done this sir, we still expect to see your footprints in all other higher institutions in Ekiti state. It won’t take long, once you are ready, in one month, we will conclude everything, we want to see you in EKSU, we want to see you in BOUESTI, because this is what you do all over the country.”

While assuring that waiting time for embarking on projects have been drastically reduced, Governor Oyebanji charged the students to take ownership of the project, make good use of the facilities provided and shun any form of vandalism that may render the Government’s effort useless.

The Governor commended traditional rulers in the state for their unflinching support for his administration in the last two years and promised to do more towards the development of the state in the next two years. “As your servant in government, I renew my commitment to you that as long as God lives, I will serve you with all the fiber in me and Ekiti during this time will be known for peace, progress and development. The Governor said.

In his remarks, Arch.  Ajayi who is also the chairman of Bver Hostels and Suites,  stressed the need for cooperation and unity among all stakeholders in the state in order to achieve the desired development.

The investor, who revealed that the 600 bed hostel was started six months ago, said a whopping sum of N800 million was expended on the project owing to high cost of materials. He also urged the Governor to ensure removal of all forms of bottlenecks inhibiting investors from contributing their quota to the development of the state. 

This he said will encourage investors to flood the state with their various development projects.

Arch. Ajayi, who commended the unwavering support of the people, also affirmed that the visionary leadership and progressive policies of the Governor have significantly enhanced not only the educational landscape but also the overall wellbeing of the people through investment in quality healthcare, improved infrastructure and impactful initiatives all making noticeable difference in the state.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Oyebanji Filani, in his address, described the Governor as a master builder who is building men and institutions. 

He revealed that the government had set a year deadline for the completion of a multipurpose 80 bed wing of the teaching hospital and has approved a 700 capacity lecture theater for the Colkege of Nursing Sciences. 

Dr Filani expressed appreciation to the investor for his vested interest aimed at lifting the status of the institution by providing highly conducive for the students.

Students of the institution demonstrated their joy by singing in praise of the Governor for the upgrade of their school and for various efforts at upgrading the school facilities.

Oyebanji Turns sod for 1,000 units Ado Ekiti New Town Housing project.

Oyebanji Turns sod for 1,000 units Ado Ekiti New Town Housing project.

…Says partnerships with private sector enhancing development.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji on Tuesday flagged off the construction of 1000 units of affordable housing units under the Ado Ekiti New Town Project. 

The project is in partnership with the private sector, which according to the Governor is one of the strategies of his administration to enhance growth and development. 

Governor Oyebanji disclosed during the ground breaking ceremony at the Ado Ekiti New Town along the State University Road, said his administration will prioritize provision of housing scheme capable of relieving the populace to overcome the stress of building houses for themselves.

He also disclosed that 100 units of the houses would be delivered within the space of a year. 

While promising to leave an indelible legacy in the provision of mass housing in Ekiti state, Governor Oyebanji observed that the deficit faced by the state in housing was not pleasant, stressing the compelling need for government to adopt a housing model that would harness limited space for delivery of safe home through public/private partnership for the Ekiti people.

He reassured that government will embrace the global housing policy that will make people become homeowners through an inclusive and convenient financing system based on their incomes, adding that the policy, along with outright purchase for those who can afford it, will support a sustainable system in which houses are consistently available to the populace.

While affirming publicly that he would subscribe to one unit of the housing scheme, Governor Oyebanji said his administration will attempt exploring innovation and partnership with more private investors to attract more housing projects to the state. He added that government is unequivocally committed to driving development in all sectors of the economy, working with private sector players, institutions and development partners.

He thanked the management of Citec International Estates Limited led by its Managing Director, Dr Oludare Bello for their agreement to invest in the state, stressing that his administration will not relent in promoting urban harmony and set new standards for property development with a view to ensuring that all category of residents are presented with opportunities to acquire property without living any one out of the arrangement.

“I give glory to God for a day like this and I am happy that we are all here to do the ground breaking of this Ado Ekiti New Town. What excites me about this project is the preservation of the Ado culture, we are not disrupting the old Ado, and we are building a new city. So, it tells me that development can happen without distorting our culture and our tradition, so, this is the new town, that place will be called the downtown, we now have an idea of what it used to be and what is possible.

“You said in the next one year, one hundred keys will be given, I will be one of them by God’s grace, my wife too will be one of them and Kabiyesi the Ewi of Ado Ekiti just announced now that he would subscribe to one unit as well.

“I just plead with all of us to take position, the structure is flexible, what has been brought to the state is joy, prosperity, development, and job creation. 

“To those people saying Ekiti is not fertile for investment, we shall see, the risk has been taken and I appeal to all other blessed Ekiti indigenes , the time is coming when we will not beg them and they will have to beg us to take a position in this state. 

Governor Oyebanji also called on civil servants, artisans, market women and Ekiti citizens in the diaspora to develop vested interest in acquiring properties in the new town saying there is property for all categories of people in the state. He added that his government is moved by renewed drive to provide and deliver affordable housing units for the people as he promised to continue to encourage private developers to invest in the state.

“I am happy the Head of Service is here, the SSG is here, I will also talk to the labour union, this is not based on politics, it is  based on interest and commitments. Nothing stops the civil servants, drivers, artisans, market women from getting property here. Everybody has a space here and I don’t want us to be intimidated. Like the investor said, let us live in a community that is structured. Where we live is very important, because the opportunities here cannot be found elsewhere”. He said.

Earlier, the Managing Director of Citec International Estates Limited, Dr Oludare Bello, expressed appreciation to Governor Oyebanji for his rare kind of leadership and for giving him the opportunity to invest in the housing project aimed at repositioning housing facilities in the state.

Dr Bello noted that the project of 1,000 housing units in Ado Ekiti was almost impossible except those who could fathom what the future holds for the state, adding  it was his pleasure to replicate what his organization is doing all over the country in Ado Ekiti by bringing people out of their abysmal living condition and deliver to them houses that will redefine their ways of life with the most modern facilities.

He disclosed that 100 units of the housing scheme would be delivered by October 2025, to mark Governor Oyebanji’s third anniversary. He also disclosed that there are nine distinct strata of the project cutting across various classes of the society as it is expected to redefine standards and offer Ekiti residents a wide range of top quality affordable houses with flexible payment regimes.

The Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejuyigbe, expressed delight at the project and hailed the Government for doing it in a manner that does not distort the the original structure of the city. He also expressed willingness to subscribe to one unit in the project, saying he would like to occasionally leave the “ downtown to the new town”.

Oyebanji Commissions Ikole Township Road, electricity project.

Oyebanji Commissions Ikole Township Road, electricity project.

...Says Cultivation of More Land for Commercial Agric Has Reduced Kidnapping.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, on Tuesday inaugurated the Ikole Township road and Ilumoba- Ijesa Isu- Ikole 33kVA electricity project, with a declaration that the cultivation of more land for commercial agriculture has reduced the menace of kidnapping in the axis.

The Governor said his administration, in addition to power and road infrastructure development, would focus on agriculture in order to ensure food security, create economic opportunities, ensure proper utilization of land and drive industrialization. 

The events presented the people of the area an opportunity to comment on the Oyebanji administration. Apparently impressed with the life-changing policies and projects executed to the benefit of their people in the last two years, traditional rulers, eminent personalities and residents of communities in Ikole Local Government unanimously endorsed Governor Oyebanji for another term in office.

They pledged their support in their respective speeches at the venues of the project commissioning in Ikole Ekiti. 

Governor Oyebanji, who personally inaugurated the projects, said the commissioning of the Ikole Township Road was another gain of the continuity overwhelmingly voted by the people of the state in the 2022 governorship poll, noting that the project was started by his immediate predecessor in office, Dr Kayode Fayemi.

The Ekiti helmsman said the execution and completion of the power project was testament to his administration's resolve to boost social and economic activities in the axis and breathe more life into grassroots economy and investment.

He said that his administration attached much importance to Ikole council area, which accommodates the state’s Special Agriculture Processing Zone (SAPZ) and which has attracted government and private sector investment. 

He explained that the opening up of more land for commercial farming has reduced the incidence of kidnapping and other forms of criminal activities in the axis. He urged more citizens to embrace agriculture, adding that government would provide necessary support. 

The Governor also called on citizens of the state to take advantage of the investment opportunities offered by the Agric Processing Zone, while pledging that his government would continue to provide necessary infrastructural support that would make the state attractive to investors and make the environment conducive for living and investment. 

Speaking at the event, the Elekole of Ikole Ekiti and Paramount Ruler of Egbeoba Land, Oba Adewumi Ajibade Fasiku who spoke through the Olotin of Ikole Ekiti, Chief Oluwasayo Okunola, said the people of the kingdom are solidly behind Governor Oyebanji to continue his good works beyond 2026 owing to what he described as his very commendable performance.

The Alaaye of Oke Ayedun Ekiti, Oba Olufemi Aribisala, who spoke on behalf of other monarchs present said the people of the council areas were appreciative of what the Governor has done for them across all sectors and they would reward him with their votes at the right time.

The first elected Deputy Governor of the State, Chief Paul Alabi, asked the crowd present who they wanted as the Governor in the next dispensation and they replied that "we have agreed to re-elect BAO (Oyebanji)."

The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, said many good things are happening in Ikole LGA, Ikole West LCDA, Kajola LCDA and Ajoni LCDA under the watch of Governor Oyebanji and they must not be allowed to stop.

Rt. Hon. Aribasoye explained that under two years, economic activities in the axis have been on the upward swing with commercial farming in SAPZ in Oke Ako and Iyemero with investors like YSJ, FMS and Agbeyewa Farms turning around the fortunes of the youths.

He noted that apart from the township road and electricity projects, work is ongoing on Isinbode-Ara-Ikole Road in addition to many communities benefiting from the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) rehabilitating roads leading to farmsteads.

The Governor urged the benefiting communities to protect the projects commissioned in their areas and prevent them from being vandalized noting that enormous resources were committed into them.

He promised to look into complaints of non-energizing of transformers in some localities explaining that the inauguration marked with the switching on of the electricity project was the first step to be taken while other issues would be looked into.

Oyebanji also assured that adequate compensation would be paid on any land used for development purposes assuring those who are yet to be compensated in agric processing zone would be duly compensated.

The Governor further disclosed that the contractor handling Isinbode-Ara-Ikole Road has been asked to move to Oke Ako-Ipao-Irele Road for rehabilitation owing to its importance and being an access road to SAPZ.

He equally disclosed that the contractor handling Ado-Iluomoba Road will get to site next week, adding that government has secured assurances to extend the work from Iluomoba to Ikole.

The Governor urged the people of Ikole council area to cooperate with his administration to do more in years to come noting that their sons and daughters working with him are doing extremely well and adding value to governance.

Speaking on the impact of his administration in the area, the Governor said: "This local government hosts our Special Agriculture Processing Zone. We thank our Obas for their support and cooperation, we are going to sort out issues of compensation.

"Opening up more land for agriculture has reduced kidnaping in this axis. We are injecting more money into the grassroots economy to assist our local artisans, traders, beer sellers and others doing business in our localities.

"We are working with our National Assembly members to ensure that all dilapidated federal roads are rehabilitated. We are presently spending Ekiti resources on Ado-Ifaki Road which is a federal road but we cannot continue spending our money on federal roads because we will not be refunded; that is why we are collaborating with our National Assembly members." He added.