Ekiti: Oyebanji's Steady Governance Ushers in Era of Shared Prosperity.

Ekiti: Oyebanji's Steady Governance Ushers in Era of Shared Prosperity.

By Olamide Akinwumi 

As Ekiti State approaches the 2026 gubernatorial election, Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji's administration continues to highlight its achievements, emphasizing a long-term vision for sustainable development. With a 30-year plan guiding the state's progress, Oyebanji's leadership has focused on security, governance, and steady development, earning praise from stakeholders for fostering peace and inclusive growth.

Governor Oyebanji, who assumed office in October 2022, has prioritized fiscal responsibility and transparency, positioning Ekiti among the top states in budget management and civil service reforms. This approach has enabled significant investments across key sectors, delivering tangible results that align with his six-pillar agenda for shared prosperity.

In agriculture, the administration's "Bring Back the Youths in Agriculture" initiative has provided training, funding, and mechanized tools to young farmers, ensuring access to inputs, credit, and guaranteed markets.ca6204 These efforts have boosted economic growth, with stakeholders noting improved food security and job creation for women and youth.

Infrastructure development stands out as a cornerstone of Oyebanji's tenure. Over 350 kilometers of roads have been addressed, with 126 kilometers completed across all 16 local government areas, easing transportation and connecting rural communities to urban centers. Projects like the Ekiti Ring Road and the Agro-Allied Cargo International Airport have been advanced, opening new economic opportunities.

Healthcare reforms have also seen remarkable strides. Primary facilities have been revitalized, mobile health initiatives introduced, and access improved in underserved areas, reflecting a commitment to quality care for all citizens. Similarly, in education, public schools are undergoing renovations, with investments in teacher training, digital learning tools, and performance incentives to prepare students for a knowledge-driven economy.

Youth empowerment remains a key focus. The Ekiti Youth Economic Empowerment Programme (E-YEEP) has disbursed grants and vocational training to thousands of young entrepreneurs, fostering innovation and self-reliance. These initiatives, coupled with social investments in water and sanitation, underscore Oyebanji's people-centered approach.

Oyebanji's inclusive style has bridged political divides, promoting unity among elites, traditional institutions, artisans, women, and youth. "Governor Oyebanji's achievements in road construction, education, healthcare, and support for workers demonstrate a leader who listens, plans, and delivers," said a stakeholder during recent celebrations.

Awards such as the Governor of the Year 2025 from LEADERSHIP for transformative leadership and the Most Outstanding Governor for Inclusive Leadership affirm these efforts. As Ekiti looks ahead, calls for continuity echo the sentiment that protecting these gains is essential for a prosperous future.

In separate engagements, the Governor has reiterated his commitment to accelerating development in the state, assuring residents that his administration remains focused on the speedy realisation of rapid economic prosperity across Ekiti.

With security strengthened and governance calmer, the vision for Ekiti—a state of lasting peace and progress—appears clearer than ever.

More importantly, the future of Ekiti is clearer. With a long-term plan already in motion, each year builds on the last, ensuring that progress is protected and expanded. This is why continuity matters. It is not about politics; it is about safeguarding gains, completing ongoing projects and allowing a well-defined vision to fully mature.

For many residents, Governor Oyebanji remains the preferred choice because he plans and delivers. For the people, he symbolises peace that works and progress that is visible. For Ekiti as a whole, continuity represents the assurance that the state will continue moving forward rather than backward.

As discussions around the 2026–2030 period intensify, the message from Ekiti Kete remains clear: the state must finish what it has started, protect the vision and continue building an Ekiti that future generations will be proud to call home.

Ekiti oni  bàjẹ́.

BAO 4 + 4 = 8.

DA TI E MO 26 💚

Written by Olamide Akinwumi from Ise-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

VFNA, UNFDA Empower Ekiti Women on Safety, Leadership, Economic Skills.

VFNA, UNFDA Empower Ekiti Women on Safety, Leadership, Economic Skills.

Value Female Network Africa (VFNA), in collaboration with the United Nations Federal Development Agency (UNFDA), has empowered women in Ekiti State through a Safety and Empowerment Programme held in Ilawe-Ekiti.

The programme, which drew participants from the Ekiti South Senatorial District, focused on promoting women’s safety, leadership development, economic empowerment and community engagement.

Facilitated by Senator Yemi Adaramodu, the initiative equipped participants with practical skills, knowledge and awareness aimed at improving their livelihoods and strengthening their roles within their communities.

Speaking at the event, the organisers said the programme was designed to address critical challenges facing women while encouraging active participation in leadership and grassroots development.

The Chairman of Ekiti South West Local Government, Hon. Apolola Richard, represented Senator Adaramodu at the programme, reaffirming the lawmaker’s commitment to women-focused empowerment initiatives and sustainable development across the state.

VFNA also expressed appreciation to traditional institutions for their support, particularly the Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Ajibade Alabi, Afuntade I, for providing accommodation throughout the programme, a gesture the organisers said contributed significantly to its success.

The organisation commended Senator Adaramodu for his continued support and dedication to inclusive development, especially initiatives targeted at improving the welfare and capacity of women.

VFNA, in a statement signed by its Ekiti State Coordinator, Mary Olukayode, thanked all partners, stakeholders and participants, reaffirming the group’s commitment to building safer and more empowered communities through sustainable programmes and strategic partnerships.

Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji: A Narrative of Vision-Led Governance in Ekiti State.

Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji: A Narrative of Vision-Led Governance in Ekiti State.

By Asubiojo G .O & IILG Information And Civic Orientation Department Team.

In the evolving political and developmental landscape of Nigeria’s federating units, Ekiti State occupies a particularly compelling chapter — shaped in recent years by the leadership of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji. Since assuming office in October 2022, his administration has sought to strike a delicate balance between breadth of institutional reform and depth of human-centered delivery — blending technocratic policy with a grounded emotional appeal to the aspirations of Ekiti’s people. 

From the outset, Oyebanji’s governance style has rested on two interlocking pillars — strategic economic stewardship and institutional accountability. Ekiti State has maintained no new borrowing since 2022, while domestic debt has been substantially reduced. This fiscal discipline has underwritten confidence in governance and set a rare example of economic prudence among sub-national governments in Nigeria. 

Furthermore, Ekiti’s budget transparency and civil service reforms have earned acknowledgment from independent observers, situating the state among the top performers nationwide in accountability and expenditure oversight. 

Governor Oyebanji’s administration has placed physical infrastructure at the core of its developmental matrix.

 From major road rehabilitation projects connecting all three senatorial districts, to the completion and operationalisation of the Agro-Allied Cargo Airport and bus terminal, these projects have not only eased mobility but also laid connective tissue for economic expansion and market access across rural and urban communities. 

In a strategic redirection of service delivery, healthcare has emerged as a defining achievement under BAO’s watch.

Medical infrastructure has experienced a comprehensive uplift: rehabilitation of health facilities, construction of emergency centres in all local governments, and targeted upgrades including the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital as a higher-capacity referral centre. 

Crucially, policies such as hazard allowances, salary adjustments, systemic CONMESS and CONHESS implementation, and recruitment of health personnel have created safer, more dignified working conditions that renew confidence among frontline workers. 

Governor Oyebanji has anchored investment in education as a long-term national asset. His administration has rehabilitated over 1,000 classrooms, invested in digital learning infrastructure like the Smart School initiative, and supported tens of thousands of students through examination fee subsidies and stipend-backed bursary schemes. 

This investment in human capital, particularly through teacher recruitment and vocational training schemes, illustrates an understanding that sustainable progress is as much about minds as it is about material infrastructure.

Beyond physical infrastructure, Oyebanji’s focus on economic empowerment reflects a bold shift toward a more inclusive state economy. Initiatives like:

Ekiti Youth Economic Empowerment Programme (E-YEEP) — offering grants, skills training, and business support;

Agricultural support programs that link youth and farmers to tools, credit, and markets;

…all underscore an evolving ecosystem of local enterprise and agribusiness potential.

Arguably one of the most emotional and analytically significant achievements of Oyebanji’s administration has been the restoration of workers’ trust and welfare, especially among local government workers — a group historically marginalized in past administrations.

Fiscal reform first met human redemption when BAO’s government cleared months of salary arrears and unpaid deductions owed to teachers and local government staff. This wasn’t bureaucracy — it was restoration of dignity. 

The introduction of a ₦70,000 minimum wage, consequential adjustments for salary bands, payment of long-delayed CONMESS and CONHESS allowances, and retroactive bonuses are tangible acknowledgements of workers’ essential roles. 

progressivenews.ng

These measures positioned Ekiti among the highest wage-paying states in the Southwest, triggering an unprecedented wave of workforce confidence and loyalty. 

Worker welfare has extended into non-monetary dimensions — official vehicles, modern office complexes, and improved working conditions permeate the local government service environment. These elements signal an emotional investment in public servants, affirming that their service is valued and their contribution appreciated. 

progressivenews.ng

Cultural and Tourism Renaissance::

One of the most lyrical aspects of Oyebanji’s reign is the transformation of Ekiti into a tourism and cultural destination.

At the Akwaaba African Travel Market, Ekiti State was honoured as the Most Active Tourism Destination, while Governor Oyebanji was named Best Tourism Governor — a recognition that reflects strategic policy, cultural reclamation, and global visibility. 

National Insight News

From revitalising Ikogosi Warm Springs to mobilising local communities around cultural heritage sites, tourism has become a bridge between identity, economy, and pride — connecting Ekiti to Nigeria’s broader socio-cultural narratives.

As Oyebanji embarks on a second term, expectations are anchored less in rhetoric and more in measurable promise:

Institutional sustainability — ensuring reforms endure beyond individual tenure;

Job creation at scale, especially for youths and women;

Augmented social services, including expanding healthcare and educational equity;

Inclusive digital economy strategies that leverage Ekiti’s human capital and diaspora networks;

Deepened agricultural value chains that position Ekiti as a national food security hub;

Enhanced tourism commercialization that cements Ekiti’s continental brand beyond awards.

In essence, the second term is not a reset — it’s a continuum of transformation rooted in the foundations laid during the first.

In the poetry of governance, Oyebanji’s administration reads like a carefully composed stanza — balancing heartbeat with hard facts, emotion with economy, and vision with verifiable delivery.

His achievements map a trajectory that moves from recovery (clearing arrears, stabilising economy) to revitalisation (infrastructure and human development), and now to reimagination — where Ekiti is being seen not as a periphery, but as a state of promise.

While no governance is without critique or complexity, the narrative emerging from Ekiti under BAO is one of shared prosperity, structural renewal, and inclusive hope — a legacy that future historians may well regard as a turning point in the state’s modern story.

Ekiti South Elders Forum hails Adebayo at 68.

Ekiti South Elders Forum hails Adebayo at 68.

The Ekiti South Elders Forum has congratulated the first Executive Governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, on his 68th birthday, describing him as a key figure in the state’s democratic development.

The forum, led by former Former Deputy Governor of the state, Surveyor Abiodun Aluko, said Adebayo’s leadership laid a solid foundation for governance in Ekiti State.

In a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday, Aluko described the former governor as an accomplished statesman and seasoned administrator.

He recalled that Adebayo, as the pioneer Executive Governor after the creation of Ekiti State, played a historic role in establishing the administrative and institutional structures that guided the state’s early growth.

According to him, Adebayo’s tenure was marked by prudence, due process and stability at a critical period in the state’s development.

The forum wished the elder statesman good health and many more years of service to humanity.

BIRTHDAY FELICITATIONS TO A STATESMAN AND PATHFINDER: OTUNBA ADENIYI ADEBAYO.

BIRTHDAY FELICITATIONS TO A STATESMAN AND PATHFINDER: OTUNBA ADENIYI ADEBAYO.

On behalf of the good people of Ekiti South Senatorial District and in my personal capacity, I, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, joyfully celebrate a distinguished statesman, consummate administrator, and pioneer leader, His Excellency, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, on the occasion of his birthday.

Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo occupies a unique and indelible place in the political history of Ekiti State as its first Executive Governor (1999–2003). His emergence at a defining moment laid the institutional and democratic foundations upon which subsequent administrations have continued to build. His tenure was marked by calm leadership, civility in governance, and an enduring commitment to public service.

Beyond Ekiti State, Otunba Adebayo served Nigeria meritoriously at the federal level as Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, where he brought experience, depth, and statesmanship to national economic management. His career as a legal practitioner, administrator, and public servant reflects decades of disciplined service and unwavering dedication to national development.

As a leader, mentor, and elder statesman, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo continues to command respect across political, generational, and ideological lines. His life exemplifies dignity in leadership, restraint in power, and loyalty to democratic ideals.

On this special day, I pray that Almighty God grants him continued good health, long life, and peace, as he remains a source of wisdom and inspiration to Ekiti State and Nigeria at large.

Happy Birthday, Your Excellency.

Signed:

Senator Yemi Adaramodu

Senator, Ekiti South Senatorial District

Olarewaju Hails Adebayo at 68, Describes Him as Pillar of Ekiti’s Democratic Foundation.

Olarewaju Hails Adebayo at 68, Describes Him as Pillar of Ekiti’s Democratic Foundation.

An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Reps), Hon. Ibraheem Kunle Olarewaju, has congratulated the first Executive Governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, on the occasion of his 68th birthday.

Hon. Olarewaju, in a congratulatory message made available to journalists, described Otunba Adebayo as an accomplished statesman, seasoned administrator, and a foundational figure in Ekiti State’s democratic evolution.

He recalled that as the pioneer Executive Governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Adebayo played a historic role in laying the administrative, political, and institutional foundations of the state following its creation. 

According to him, Adebayo’s tenure was marked by a commitment to due process, prudence, and stability at a critical period in the state’s early development.

The presidential aide further noted that beyond his years in office, Otunba Adebayo has remained a respected voice in national affairs, contributing to democratic consolidation and good governance through various public service roles. 

He added that Adebayo’s calm leadership style, integrity, and ability to build consensus across political divides have earned him widespread respect.

Hon. Olarewaju also acknowledged the elder statesman’s mentorship of younger leaders, noting that his legacy continues to inspire a new generation of public servants committed to progressive ideals and national unity.

He wished Otunba Adebayo good health, long life, and continued wisdom, praying that his wealth of experience would remain a source of guidance to Ekiti State and the nation.

OYEBANJI CONGRATULATES EX-GOV ADEBAYO ON 68TH BIRTHDAY.

OYEBANJI CONGRATULATES EX-GOV ADEBAYO ON 68TH BIRTHDAY.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has congratulated the first democratically elected Governor of the State, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, on his 68th birthday anniversary.

Governor Oyebanji in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, felicitated Otunba Adebayo for witnessing his 68th birthday in sound health, excellent spirit and in great fulfillment.

He hailed Otunba Adebayo for being one of the pillars of the Fourth Republic in Nigeria and for laying a solid foundation for the socioeconomic growth and development of Ekiti State.

The Ekiti Governor described Otunba Adebayo as one of the most respected contemporary political leaders who brought integrity and humility into politics and governance for which he is highly loved and revered.

Governor Oyebanji described Otunba Adebayo as a father, a teacher, a mentor and role model who has been famously declared as an Omoluabi that is worthy of emulation by contemporary and future leaders.

According to him, history would always be kind to Otunba Adebayo on how he successfully navigated the sheep of the state with very minimal resources accruing to the state during his governorship but still succeeded in recording notable achievements.

He further described Otunba Adebayo as the father of progressives politics in Ekiti State and a man who has enjoyed God's grace to produce two successors from the same ideological leanings.

Governor Oyebanji further hailed Otunba Adebayo's contribution to national development as a former All Progressives Congress (APC)  National Vice Chairman, former Chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Board and former Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment.

He also extolled Otunba Adebayo's legacies in the corporate world as well as his contribution to the investment profile of his home state and the Southwest geopolitical zone.

Governor Oyebanji prayed God to grant Otunba Adebayo long life, sound health and outstanding success in his future endeavours and quest for a greater Ekiti and a more prosperous Nigeria.

“On behalf of the Government and good people of Ekiti State, Land of Honour, I felicitate this great leader, the first democratically elected Governor of our dear State and pray that God grants him many more glorious and prosperous years in the land of the living”, the statement added.