Legal practitioner and former governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Tope Adebayo, has called for the creation of an economy in Ekiti State that can sustain opportunities for future generations. He made this statement during a keynote address at a programme organised by the Ekiti State House of Assembly to mark the state's 30th anniversary. Adebayo stressed the need to strengthen the foundations established in the last 30 years and move forward to build an economy that gives every citizen a genuine opportunity to prosper.
Adebayo, a member of the State Economic Management Team inaugurated by Governor Biodun Oyebanji in 2023, described the next chapter of Ekiti's development as a transition from a 'Land of Honour' to a 'Land of Opportunity.' He emphasized that education, skills, infrastructure, and entrepreneurship should be connected to jobs, markets, investment, and wealth creation. According to him, the ultimate measure of the state's development should not be the number of successful people it has produced, but how many more people can have the opportunity to become successful.
The former governorship candidate acknowledged the contributions of successive administrations to the development of Ekiti in different ways. He stated that an insightful reflection on the state's history is to recognise that state-building is a continuum, where one administration lays a foundation, another builds upon it, and one strengthens the structure while another comes along with a mandate for expansion. Adebayo commended the Oyebanji administration for its achievements, including improvements in fiscal transparency and audit performance, and reported progress in internally generated revenue.
Adebayo also lauded the Oyebanji administration for focusing on consolidation of progress, scaling impact, and strengthening systems capable of driving sustainable development. He urged stronger collaboration among the executive, legislature, judiciary, traditional institutions, private sector, and citizens, saying development can only be sustained when institutions work together while retaining their constitutional responsibilities. According to him, the 30th anniversary of Ekiti State is an occasion to recognise that the present Ekiti is the cumulative product of the sacrifices, policies, ideas, and institutions built by successive governments and citizens.
The ex-governorship candidate hailed the leadership of the State House of Assembly for strengthening the legislative institution, including the remodelling of the Assembly complex and digitalisation of legislative processes. He described the 30th anniversary as a celebration of the state's history and a challenge to move forward. Adebayo's keynote address was part of the programme organised by the Ekiti State House of Assembly to mark the state's 30th anniversary.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji inaugurated the State Economic Management Team in 2023, with Adebayo as a member. The team is expected to drive sustainable development in the state. Adebayo's call for the creation of an economy that sustains opportunities for future generations is seen as a challenge to the present generation to work towards a better future for Ekiti State.
The Ekiti State House of Assembly organised a programme to mark the state's 30th anniversary, which included a keynote address by Adebayo. The programme was attended by various stakeholders, including members of the executive, legislature, judiciary, traditional institutions, and private sector. The 30th anniversary of Ekiti State is a milestone that highlights the state's history and progress.
Key points
- Tope Adebayo calls for the creation of an economy in Ekiti State that can sustain opportunities for future generations.
- Adebayo commends the Oyebanji administration for its achievements, including improvements in fiscal transparency and audit performance.
- The ex-governorship candidate urges stronger collaboration among institutions to sustain development in Ekiti State.
