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Text of the state address by His Excellency, Mr Biodun Oyebanji Governor, Ekiti State, to mark the occasion of the third anniversary celebration of his administration at the Ekiti State House of Assembly Complex, Ado-Ekiti, Thursday, October 16, 2025. PILLARS OF ADMINISTRATION MR Speaker, you would recall that we campaigned on a six-point agenda which later translated to the current Six Pillars of Administration. We have been very deliberate and faithful in the implementation of this agenda since the inception of our administration. It is important to note that the pillar of administration has its source in the visionary Ekiti Development Plan 2021-2050 which highlights the development projection of our State in the next 25 years; similarly, the Pillars are also consistent with the development objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 9. In a broader sense, the Six Pillars seek to cover the important parameters of functional and efficient governance, human capital development, human safety, food and social security, infrastructural development, economic prosperity and job creation. These, we have headlined into the following framework: 1. Governance, 2. Youth Development and Job Creation,3. Human Capital Development, 4. Agriculture and Rural Development, 5. Infrastructure and Industrialization and 6. Arts, Culture, and Tourism. 10. Therefore, policies, programs, strategies and capital expenditure of the government have been implemented under the following pillars. A. Governance: Law and Order 11. Mr. Speaker, the primary function of any government is to maintain law and order for the peace and development of the people. Since we came on board we have made the security of lives and property our main responsibility and focus. 12. As a matter of strategy, we adopted a bottom-up grassroots security and intelligence system to ensure local intelligence and community involvement in security architecture. To achieve this, I mandated all chairmen of the Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas to hold regular security and intelligence committee meetings and to establish grassroots intelligence units in their councils. This is to ensure that we keep a tap on the security system of our State comprehensively. In response to the threat of kidnappers who lurk in the bushes to lunch attacks, we created the Agro-Marshal Corp which is now working with Amotekun and other federal security agencies to ensure a better coverage of both rural and urban security landscape. The result has been quite exciting as incidents of kidnapping and related violence have drastically reduced to the barest minimum. 13. Once again, I want to thank the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed TinubuGCFR for the establishment of 148 Battalion of the Nigeria Army in Ikere-Ekiti. The Battalion has commenced operation and this has greatly helped in the deployment of more military presence in our State to strengthen the security of the State and her people. 14. The impact of this can be seen in the evident decline in the number of reported cases of serious crimes in the State and the acknowledgment of the State as the most peaceful State in Nigeria. I therefore want to express my appreciation to the security agencies, namely: the Police, the Directorate of State Security (DSS), the Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Amotekun, Agro-Marshal and a whole lot of other community-based security organizations, for their support and dedication to duty. It is our hope that they will continue to do better to ensure we are secured at all times. 15. Let me use this opportunity to allay the fear of our people in respect of the security situation in some of our neighbouring States. Be assured that we are doing everything possible to prevent any spill over effect in Ekiti. Our security agencies have been well mobilized, and the right technologies deployed to forestall any incursion. I call on all our people to be vigilant at this time and to report any strange persons or movements to the appropriate authorities. 16. Similarly, I want to commend the Speaker and the Honourable Members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly for being reliable partners in our quest to ensure our plans and policies for the transformation of our State are guided by enabling laws. Without these enabling laws, some of our greatest ambitions cannot be realized. For example, apart from the prompt screening and confirmation of nominees for high Government offices, the Assembly has passed the following bills in the last one year and I have assented into laws: i. Ekiti State Regulation Approval Law 2024 ii. Ekiti State Environmental Protection and Watershed Management Agency Law (First Amendment) 2024 iii. Ekiti State Legislative House (Powers & Privileges) Law 2024 iv. Ekiti State Regency (First Amendment) Law, 2024 v. Ekiti State Local Content (First Amendement), Law 2024 vi. Ekiti State Local Government Administration Law 2025 vii. Bureau of Asset Management Agency Law 2024 viii. High Court Law (First Amendement) 2024 ix. Ekiti Anti-Land Grabbing (Second Amendment) 2024 x. 2024 Supplementary Appropriation Law xi. Ekiti State Statistical (First Amendment) 2024 xii. 2025 Appriation Law. To ensure smooth administration of justice effortsts are being made by the Ministry to compile the Second Edition of the Laws of Ekiti. Similarly, the Volume I&II of the State Gazette on Chieftaincy Declaration, containing Declarations of 133 Chieftaincy Declarations have been published to ensure there is no crisis in Obaship selection process. 17. These laws were made to provide legal frameworks to some existing organs of government and the creation of new ones. I am grateful to this House for your timely consideration of our requests at all times. Administration 18. In the last one year, we have employed qualified persons in strategic places of need. The Civil Service Commission employed 41 senior officers and Office of Establishment and Service Matters employed 63 junior officers. Similarly, the Local Government Service Commission also employed 774 persons to fill consequential vacancies. More recently, we just employed about 1800 teaching and non-teaching staff into our secondary schools through the Teaching Service Commission, Last year, we had done the same in the primary school sector, when we employed over a thousand of them few years back. 19. In the security sector, we employed another set of personnel numbering over 600 to join the Ametokun Corps and the newly created Agro Marshal Corps, respectively. 20. And to make the workers to work under a conducive environment, we have continued to respond to the challenge of office accommodation, the latest being the renovation of the former Local Government Service Commission building along old Iyin Road. Similarly, a new headquarters for the Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service has been completed and ready for commissioning. It will be equipped with modern office equipment and ICT facility to make tax administration more efficient. Similarly, we have also renovated another block of annex building in the State Secretariat. We have procured and supplied office furniture and equipment to 22 MDAs and the construction of new chalets in Government House for government guests is ongoing. 21. As part of effort to make workers to work more effectively and efficiently, we have procured some digital tools including project management software, data analytics platforms and cloud-based systems for real-time monitoring of performance and deliverable of the MDAs. In terms of training, we have trained a wide number of staff in the civil service, especially in the local government sub-service where some knowledge gaps existed. So far, we have trained about 820 staff facilitated by the Ministry of Capacity Development and Training. 22. Mr Speaker and Honourable Members, I am happy to report that we started the implementation of the New Minimum Wage of N70, 000 and have implemented one of the best salary adjustment across cadres in the country. We did not only increase workers salary, we also increased pension payment to minimum N20, 000 across board. We have also paid the seven month pension arrears owed between March to September 2018. 23. So far, we have paid over N10, 314, 285, 090:33 as pension to 10, 106 State retirees and gratuity of N5.6 billion to 1, 681 State retirees from October 2024 to date. Just on Monday October 13, 2025, we paid another N2billion gratuity making the total gratuity payment within the years to be N7.6billion to state retirees. We have also paid the total sum of N2, 740, 027, 673:56 has been paid as gratuity to 939 Local Government retirees since October last year. Meanwhile, the sum of N110, 899, 516:81 has been disbursed to 68 retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). As at today, there are 11, 720 participants in the CPS scheme across MDAs, local government, judiciary and tertiary institutions. Government has remained committed to the fulfillment of its monthly 10% contribution which at today, stands at N700, 059, 360: 13. 24. As part of our commitment to make life more abundant for our workers, we have made available the sum of N164, 135, 500:00 as Housing Loans to 760 beneficiaries and N195, 750, 000: 00 as Car Loan to 253 beneficiaries. Also, N1,048, 889,154: 15 as Car and Housing Loans to Teaching Service Commission. With the passage of the Local Government Staff Loan Law, we have injected a sum N100, 000, 000:00 recapitalization fund into Local Government Staff Loans Board. 25. In furtherance of our promise to address career progression among certain class of our teachers, we have approved career progression to Grade Level 16 for primary school graduate teachers. We have also approved the elongation of the career progression of graduate bursars from Grade Level 14 to 15. Just on Teachers’ Day celebration on the 5th of October, I announced that the new retirement age for teachers has been extended to 65 years in line with what is obtainable at the federal level. 26. In addition, we dearly value workers’ empowerment through further studies and we have granted opportunity to deserving persons to go on study leave under the appropriate arrangement and terms. As at now, about 460 of our staff are on study leave for further studies. Similarly, some staff have, after passing the appropriate conversion procedures, been upgraded and converted from one cadre to another. 27. The Local Government administration has been complementary in our shared prosperity agenda and they have continued to serve the basic needs of the people in the grassroots. The Local Government Service Commission has also been housed in a new office complex within the State Secretariat. This will enhance productivity and service delivery of the staff. Investment promotion: 28. One of the major objectives of this administration is employment generation and wealth creation, and without doubt, the major driver of employment and wealth is private sector investment, especially direct investment in agriculture and industrial sector. As a State, we are very aggressive in our efforts to mobilize both foreign and domestic investors to our State. I am happy to report that Ekiti was adjudged the sixth State in foreign direct investment in the first quarter report by National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). We have also been adjudged the most Fiscally Transparent State by the BudgIT 29. Ekiti State has been audacious in its aspirations, and we are pleased to announce that our efforts have not gone unnoticed. We were, in 2023, ranked number one in the ease-of-doing business by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PBEC) in its Sub-national Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) report and we have done well in subsequent outings. 30. All the concessioned enterprises such as Ikun Dairy Farms, Ikogosi Warms Springs and Resort, Ire Burnt Brick Ltd, Fountain Holdings among others are doing well. Within the last year, we have also concessioned the Asphalt Plant and the Omuo Truck Shop. We have also set up Ekiti Residency Card office to digitize Ekiti for efficient delivery of social services. 31. To further position our people for credit financing opportunity, export processing competence and create jobs, we have partnered with both private institutions and the Federal Government to secure the necessary assistance. For example, we were able to cumulatively secure credit from Access Bank, Omiye Microfinance Bank and Bosak Microfinance Bank to raise credit in excess of N2billion for over 3000 beneficiaries in the informal sector. 32. Similarly, we have provided Trade Test certification training to 250 artisans, just as we have trained over 600 youths and women under different empowerment training programs such as EKSG/Interweave Financial Literacy Training, Export Readiness Training with Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) on ease-of-doing-business and the facilitation of MSME ICT Training on in-demand IT Skills. All those being trained under these schemes will hopefully be assisted to secure employments in the relevant industries. In addition, the Federal Government is currently working in partnership with the government to establish a Fashion and Garment Hub just as we have established the Aso Oke Skill Acquisition Hub, in addition to Adire Fabric Skill Centre being championed by the Office of the Wife of the Governor. We will continue to explore all available opportunities to create job, promote investment and offer credit financing assistance to our small businesses. 33. Currently, our Agricultural Processing Zone is home to some big players in Agric-value chains that are already generating hundreds of employment. For example, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in partnership with YSJ Limited, under a public private partnership arrangement, is setting up a Soya Oil Bottling, Rice and Shea Butter processing facility in Ikere-Ekiti. We have also carried out massive renovation of AgricOlope market and moved traders to the market. The market is already serving as a major farm produce and food stuff hub, while also relieving the city centre of the road trading chaos of the past. 34. I am also glad to report that as part of the outcomes of our relentless investment drive towards industrialization, we were able to secure $1 million funding that is targeted at strengthening agricultural cooperative and industrialization. Under this program, ten cooperative groups engaging in rice and cassava production and processing have accessed the first tranche of this fund. 35. In addition, the Ministry of Trade, Investment, Industry and Cooperatives facilitated the disbursement of the sum of N1, 150, 000, 000 at N50, 000 each to 23, 000 MSMEs, while another sum of N1.1 billion was secured under the EK-CARES RA3 Program disbursements. Under this, six hundred and seven persons were given operational grant, while 2,171 persons were given credit grant to support their businesses. 36. Furthermore, the State, in partnership with the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas lunched the Ilu-Eye Mass Transit Company with 15 Jet Mover CNG powered buses in its fleet. This is part of our shared prosperity strategies to make travelling cheaper for our people. We hope to deploy these vehicles as soon as practicable. Ekiti Economy 37. The economy of Ekiti State continues to hold an exciting promise in all ramifications. A quick summary of Ekiti’s GDP performance from the recently released NBS Report indicates that overall, the state GDP moved from 2.4 trillion in 2019, to 4.6 trillion in 2023, a growth of 90%. 38. This has moved Ekiti from the 33rd largest State to the 28th since APC was given the mandate to govern the State. Similarly, our contribution of the national GDP grew from 1.3% to 1.6%. Apparently, our economy is largely driven by trade which contributed 1.7 trillion (37%) and agriculture which contributed 1.05 trillion (23%). Both sectors contribute 60% to the State’s economy. See the table below for more illustrations: 39. It is for this reason that we have intentionally given more attention to trade, investment and agriculture since they have proved to be area of our comparative advantage. 40. Another sector that is receiving the attention of our government is the Knowledge Economy, which holds the key to the economy of the future. Already we have secured an $80million funding from the African Development Bank in support of our vision for the Ekiti Knowledge Zone. Construction works will commence at the Zone once all ongoing procurement processes are concluded. 41. Meanwhile, it gives me a great joy to announce here today thatwe have received the Federal Government approval to commence commercial flight operation at the airport. With the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport now certified to commence operations, a new frontier of economic activities around aviation services is bound to flourish. 42. We are hopeful too that Telecoms sector which already accounts for 600 billion (12%) will see an improvement once EKZ is fully operational, while real estate which contributes 450 billion (10%) will also grow significantly with the ongoing digitization of land administration and ease of doing business reforms which will smoothen access to land, spur more construction and real estate activities in the State. Currently, a massive estate development project tagged Ado-Ekiti New Town in partnership with Forte Realtors and Energy International is ongoing and very soon, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) will start the construction of the Renewed Hope Estate of about 200 units of houses along Ado-Iworoko Road. The Ojaja Estate and Park is another massive addition into the real sector of the State. The totality of this will greatly impact the economy of Ekiti for good. 43. Mr. Speaker and Honourable members, I am pleased to inform you that due to a lot of innovative ideas, administrative autonomy and strategies that we adopted, the monthly internally generated revenue of the State has seen a significant upward improvement. When we assumed office in 2022, the average Internally Generated Revenue of the State hovered around N650million to N700million monthly, totaling N16.7b in 2022, by the end of 2023, it had surged to N32billion. The trend continued in 2024 with a reconciled figure of N35billion. As at the last reconciliation in August, we have already attained N34.9billion, with all indications that we would near the N50billion mark at the end year, as we currently do over N2billion monthly. All of this are possible because of the impact of the institutional reorganization, digital transformation of tax administration, expansion of the tax net and improved business environment and the autonomy of the Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service (EKIRS) Traditional Institution, Boundary and Disaster Matters 44. Mr Speaker, our traditional institution occupies an important position in the governance structure of our State. Just about two months ago, a new Chairman of Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, HM Oba Samuel AdejimiAlagbado, the Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti was inaugurated after the expiration of the tenure of the immediate past Chairman, HRM Oba AyorindeIlori-Faboro, the Olojudo of Ido-Ekiti. 45. In the last one year, we have significantly improved on the welfare of our traditional rulers through a special arrangement that has greatly enhanced their monthly take home. We have also improved their transport and sitting allowance by about 500%. We are committed to our promise to them as we deeply appreciate the immeasurable roles they play in community development, social mobilization, stability of the society, security response and as custodian of our sociocultural heritage. 46. The State also responded to cases of natural disaster that affected our people in the course of the year. So far, the sum of N91, 300, 000: 00 has been paid to victims of fire and other disasters. Government has also approved N150, 000, 000: 00 to purchase relief materials for the victims of rainstorm disaster. 47. In the year under review, many boundary disputes with potential for violent conflicts were resolved amicably through timely intervention by Her Excellency, the Deputy Governor’s Office. Boundary disputes between Epe-Ekiti and Osan-Ekiti, and between Epe-Ekiti and Iro-Ekiti in Moba LGA were resolved, similarly, the Ilawe-Igede boundary dispute has also been amicably resolved. Efforts are ongoing to resolve inter-state boundaries between us and our neighbours in Ondo, Kwara, Kogi and Osun. B. HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT 48. Education is the bedrock of all development and the leading factor in human capital development; so, we have always given a priority attention to education development. 49. We just finished a merit-based recruitment and posting of about 1800 teaching and non-teaching staff into our secondary schools to ensure some of the hard-to- reach places are served. In order to increase access to secondary school and to maintain healthy teacher-pupil ratio in our schools, we have completed the building of Ikere model schools, while the one in Ayedun is nearing completion. 50. We have paid the 2024 counterpart fund to the Universal Basic Education Commission to the tune of N3, 554, 642, 584: which has led to the release of fund for renovation of classrooms, construction of fences, construction of toilets and supply of furniture and instructional materials where necessary in our primary schools. Contractors are being mobilized to site as we speak. 51. The Adolescent Girl Initiative for Learning Empowerment (AGILE) project has greatly assisted our schools in meeting some of our most pressing needs. Many classrooms have been rehabilitated across the state, just as many school fencing projects have been completed. Many of our schools have also been provided with computer and ICT equipment, with solar inverter facility to ensure regular power supply. Apart from AGILE and IDEAS projects, the State spent additional sum of N1, 552, 118, 665: 46 on various emergency renovation and rehabilitation works in public schools through the Bureau of Special Projects 52. We remain committed to the payment of the examination fee for our final year students in secondary schools. For the 2025 exams, we paid the sum of N652, 798, 300 for the West African Examination Council (WAEC) fees for 17, 859 students that wrote the 2025 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination. We paid another N25, 884, 000 for NABTEB Exam for 800 students of Technical Colleges, while the State incurred the sum of N250, 034, 452: to conduct Basic Education Examination, Certificate and Unified Promotion Exams. 53. Similarly, Government has spent the sum of N994, 351, 500 as running grants to our primary and secondary schools for the 2024/2025 academic session. We also remain committed to giving bursary and scholarships to our indigenes in tertiary institutions of learning. In the last one year, we gave N57, 000, 000 to 380 Law Students as bursary to those in Law School. In addition, 1, 502 students of Ekiti origin in various tertiary institutions were given scholarship award totaling N120, 160, 000:00 and another N3, 800, 000 to 38 physically challenged persons. 54. So far, a sum of N6.2 billion has been released as subventions to the higher institutions of learning in the State. Government has also paid, on compassionate grounds, N2, 083, 400:00 as financial assistance to some fifteen vulnerable girls to complete their education. Similarly, we are currently processing bursary and scholarship payment for the 2023/2024 academic session to post graduate students of Ekiti origin. 55. To redefine the core mission of the College of Health, Science and Technology, Ijero, a bill is currently being considered in this House to elevate the status of the College from a monotechnic to a polytechnic, just as we are currently carrying out electrification project within the school. We have also completed the e-library project, perimeter fencing and gate house building at the Ekiti State Polytechnic, Isan-Ekiti. Special Schools 56. Our special schools at Ido-Ekiti, Ikere-Ekiti and Ikoro-Ekiti have received a great deal of attention as we have renovated the dilapidated infrastructures in the schools, increased supply of consumables, employed specialized teachers and provided them with school buses. 57. Another major achievement is the establishment of Ekiti State Therapy Centre at Oke-Oriomi, Ado-Ekiti. The facility was donated by the PremiumTrust Bank as an CSR project. The Centre provides children with critical disabilities, special therapies and services. Similarly, as part of our commitment to inclusivity, the first inclusive school in Ekiti was recently launched. The school was built and donated by Mr Akin Oyebode. The school provides students with special needs to be able to learn together in an interactive manner in a very conducive, inclusive and convenient environment. Digital Skill and Youth Employment 58. As part of our strategies to promote and accelerate digital education and skill among our youths, we organized the 2024 STEAM Bootcamp which drew participants numbering 250 from across the sixteen local government areas. The training introduced participants to hands-on learning in robotics, coding, renewable energy and digital creativity 59. Similarly, we organized the 2024 Ekiti Innovation Summit themed: ‘Digital Transformation for Inclusive Growth’. The Summit had 700 participants which included innovators, researchers, policy experts and investors. The Summit provided avenue for government, academia and the private sector to meet for collaboration. 60. We also facilitated the training of 2,000 youths in advanced digital skills, including cybersecurity, software development, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and block-chain technology, through the Ekiti Digital Academy in Ado-Ekiti, in partnership with Microsoft, Google, and Cisco. 61. Furthermore, we launched the Robotics Education Program which included 400 students across selected public and private schools The initiative introduced participants to basic programming, robotic design, fostering early exposure to artificial intelligence and engineering concepts. We have continued to strengthen the operations of the Ekiti Innovation Hub (Ekiti Start-up Garage) which hosts start-ups and innovators working on technology-driven solutions in agriculture, health care and education. We are committed to transforming the State into a knowledge-based and innovation driven economy. Health & Human Services 62. The health sector has recorded remarkable progress and received substantial support under our administration. Access to quality healthcare has expanded through infrastructure upgrades, hospital re-equipping, recruitment of health workers, and a notable slowdown in the emigration of health professionals. 63. Through our Ulerawa initiative, every resident of the State now enjoys an explicit and guaranteed package of essential services, free at the point of care. The benefit package covers maternal, child, malaria, family planning, and other core primary healthcare services. As of September 2025, Ulerawa has delivered 778,460 free health services, including 10,935 safe deliveries, 104,278 antenatal visits, 200,369 immunized children, 359,501 malaria cases treated, 40,784 family planning services, and 62,593 other essential interventions. These outcomes underscore Ulerawa’s transformative impact in reducing financial barriers, improving maternal and child health outcomes, and strengthening primary healthcare systems statewide. 64. The State has also been able to conduct 736,381 free malaria rapid diagnostic tests and has given out a total of 591,489 free doses of antimalaria ACT medication to those who tested positive while also giving 116,063 pregnant women sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) malaria preventive medication in the period under review, under the State Malaria Elimination Programme. The Sexual Assaults Referral Centre has been upgraded with the addition of a centre now opened at the General Hospital Oye Ekiti. There have been provisions of essential drugs and consumables at the center. The medical bills incurred were also settled. 65. Consistent with our shared prosperity mandate, this administration has improved the welfare and working conditions of health workers across all levels. We approved a revised salary structure, hazard allowance, and other benefits, which have significantly reduced the exodus of health professionals. Additionally, we engaged 100 health workers for our PHCs and 150 for secondary facilities. Our teaching hospital received enhanced subvention, stabilizing its operations, and we have paid the Medical Residency Training Fund to resident doctors. 66. In infrastructure, we are completing the revitalization of 103 PHCs across the State, while nine general hospitals have been fully renovated and equipped. At the teaching hospital, we have completed the renovation of key wards, including the children’s ward, and are constructing an 80-bed multipurpose building that will substantially enhance service delivery upon completion. 67. Furthermore, our administration secured a Federal Government’s approval to upgrade the Specialist Hospital in Ikole Ekiti to a Federal Medical Centre, a strong validation of our commitment to advancing healthcare, supported by national and international partners. We have also approved the establishment of three (3) Government Hospitals in Awo, Ipao and Ikogosi Ekiti. 68. Our collective efforts are already yielding measurable results, with progressive improvements in health outcomes and reduced mortality rates, particularly among children and pregnant women, as reflected in the recent National Demographic and Health Survey and other routine data sources. Social Welfare & Women Empowerment 69. As a State, we are reputable for our social inclusion, gender protection and empowerment for the vulnerable. Our government has remained committed to this. We are currently participating in the World Bank–assisted Nigeria for Women Project –Scale Up (NFWP-SU), having duly fulfilled all requisite conditions, including the payment of the Government Counterpart Cash Contribution (GCCC). Through this timely compliance and unwavering commitment, Ekiti State has distinguished itself as one of the leading participating States in implementing the project. The programme aims to enhance the economic empowerment of the unbanked and grassroots women. Sensitization on the programme is ongoing in the three pilot Local Government Areas: Efon, Moba, and Ayekire/Gbonyin. 70. In line with our commitment to women development initiatives, we sponsored about 7,000 women across the State to participate in the 2025 International Women’s Day celebration. The event provided an avenue to reach out to families, as all participants received food items to support household needs. In addition, 100 Multiple Birth Mothers were given financial assistance to ease the burden of caring for multiple children. 71. Furthermore, through the Adire Ekiti Hub, founded by the First Lady, 5,000 women and adolescent girls from various Local Government Areas were trained in the art of Adire making and supported with start-up kits to enhance their economic independence. 72. In alignment with the administration’s Shared Prosperity Agenda and its commitment to building an inclusive, compassionate, and family-friendly society, the government continued to provide comprehensive care and support for vulnerable groups, including survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV). The Transit Home for Abused Women and Girls referred shelter, protection, and rehabilitation to 110 survivors during the year, with educational and psychosocial support, extended to affected schoolgirls. The Erelu Adebayo Children’s Home Nursery and Primary School in Iyin-Ekit was renovated to create a more conducive learning environment for the children. Furthermore, the First Lady’s WAOH Foundation sustained its impactful interventions by providing educational, financial, and material assistance to children from indigent families through its Back-to-School Programme, while also awarding scholarships to fifty (50) orphans from the primary 73. For the vulnerable persons, numerous targeted interventions have been implemented to support the welfare and well-being of individuals with disabilities. Over 400 out-of-school children have been assessed and placed in suitable educational settings and therapy centres. There is an ongoing state-wide identification process for children with disabilities in all schools in Ekiti State, aimed at creating an effective support register for all students who require assistance. In addition to educational support, financial aid has been provided to approximately 60 individuals with disabilities to bolster their entrepreneurial efforts. Resettlement grants have also been awarded to graduates of the Nigeria Farmcraft Centre in Oshodi, Lagos. 74. In addition, we understand that some of the physically challenged persons have unique health needs, we have made efforts to attend to such persons. Therefore, we have carried outhearing assessments for 80 individuals, with hearing aids provided to those with mild to moderate hearing loss. The inaugural mental health training and screening for women with disabilities in Ekiti State highlights a holistic approach to addressing various aspects of the well-being and promoting awareness within the community. 75. The Government also provided tactical support for the Prosthetics Camp, facilitated by Hon Akin Rotimi and the Office of the First Lady. This program benefited 131people.We also intervened in sponsoring some specialized medical interventions (surgeries) for five persons with critical disabilities. Similarly, we provided assistive devices, including 50 clutches, 150 wheelchairs, 10 hearing aids, and 200 cane guides, for persons with disabilities. 76. In order to mainstream our gender policies and laws, Government has continued to create awareness and organize training workshop for traditional rulers, local government officials, women groups, religious leaders, among others. C. AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT 77. Agriculture remains a vital sector in our shared prosperity agenda. Apart from being a major source of employment to millions of our people, it is also the second sector with the highest contribution to our GDP. More importantly, food security is human security, as it is said that a hungry man is an angry man. Our policies are geared at massive cluster farming, food prices reduction, harvest wastage elimination and bringing new energy, innovation and modern agricultural practices to farming. As a result, we have deliberately come up with incentives to bring the youths back to agriculture. 78. To achieve large scale farming, our administration has been able to clear up to 5,000 hectares of land for youths, communities, individual farmers and cooperatives for intensive agricultural production. The 50% Subsidized Tractorization Scheme has impacted more than 6,000hectareof land in ploughing, harrowing and ridging. The Governmenthas also built dormitories in five farm settlement, locations (Iyemero, Ikere, Ado, Eporo and Aramoko) out of the 12 farm settlements created for the youths in agriculture project. The dormitories are solar powered and fully furnished with all necessary items. About 500 Agro Marshal, AmotekunCorps and Grazing Management Marshals were recently recruited to compliment the regular security outfits in ensuring security of lives and properties at the farmsteads. Modular solar powered irrigation systems are presently being constructed and installed at Ose (Emure), Ikere, Ado and Aramoko. As part of effort to increase yeild and better harvest, 11,886 liters of agrochemical and 3,300 bags of fertilizer were distributed to 3,996, 550 farmers respectively this year. 79. Presently, about 5,000 youths are engaged in agriculture, which are divided into 4,765 of youths in crop production under the Bring Back our Youths to Agriculture (BBYA), 126 youths under the Ekiti State Broilers Production Scheme (EBOPS) where 160,000 birds have been raised from the DOC to the table size since inception in 2023. In another development, 75 youths are presently engaged under the Ekiti Youths in Urban Farming (Horticultural production) and 25 youths in fishery production. The World Bank, through the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Scheme (L-PRES), has awarded the contract for the construction of 20,000 Poultry Pen capacity in each senatorial district, cattle markets in Ado &Omuo, Poultry Processing Plant and a dual-purpose modern abattoir. This will create additional job opportunities for youths across the livestock value chain. 80. For the first time, Ekiti State has the lowest food inflation figure for the month of August, 2025 according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).This is as a result of huge investment made by the Government into the sector and most recently, the setting up of the State Owned Enterprise named Ilu Eye Aggregation and Trading Company limited and Ounje Ekiti – retail outlet. Our objective is to make food accessible, available and affordable to every Ekiti citizen. At present, we are retailing garri, beans and rice that are produced in Ekiti to the citizens, and arrangements are in place to open the outlets soon in Ido Ekiti and Ikere Ekiti before extending it to other local government headquarters in 2026. To ease the movement of agricultural products from the farm gates to the markets, the state has constructed and rehabilitated 161km of rural roads and 101 culverts/mini bridges across the state through the FADAMA CARES Program. 81. Through our Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), the following roads are being constructed and at different stages of completion i. EnuOdi junction-Itaeku-Igirigiri Road, ii. Omisanjana-Ben Folarin-OkeAso Road, iii. Ikogosi-Aba Osun-Aba Oriokuta Road, iv. Oye – Are Road, v. Afolu – Odofin Road, vi. Erinmope – Irare – Ikosu Road, vii. Ilupeju – Igbo Egan I – Ayede Road, viii. Ise – Imola Road, ix. Iye-Isapa-Olopomeji-Ikun Road. x. Ijero-Epe-Araromi xi. Ido-Ipere-Iludun xii. Afolu-Odofin xiii. FMS farm-OkeAko xiv. Ara-Ekameta Road xv. Agbado-Ipole-Ise Road xvi. Abekoko-Ijarigbin Road Another phase of the project is expected to take off soon. INFRASTRUCTURE AND INDUSTRIALIZATION 82. Infrastructure development has been a major focus of our administration from day one; and I am glad to report that we have made some progress in this respect. We have pursued an aggressive infrastructural development across power, transport and urban development. Power Infrastructure 83. We appreciate the reality that without the availability of power infrastructures, there can be no sustainable private sector businesses that can generate employment. It is for this reason that we have made investments in electricity infrastructure a priority. Apart from the re-connection of many communities which had been without electricity for nearly fifteen years, to the national grid, we have also invested in Independent Power Project, which is powering critical government buildings, thus, paving the way for the daily megawatt supply from the Disco to Ekiti electricity consumers, to increase. 84. As part of efforts to resolve the long challenge of electricity regulation and fair business deal, we established the Ekiti State Electricity Regulatory Bureau which is charged with the responsibility of regulating the power sector in Ekiti across the streams. Through this, there is an ongoing massive house metering scheme which our government is driving. We negotiated affordable meters and licensed some meter providers to supply communities. This has significantly helped to reduce issues of over billing, energy theft and waste, in addition to thousands of houses being metered. 85. In anticipation of the energy need of the State to support the upsurge of investment presence in the State, we are currently undertaking expansion projects in the electricity transmission infrastructure. This is part of the efforts to ensure the State has better capacity to receive more power supply from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). We are currently working in conjunction with Sustainable Power and Irrigation in Nigeria, (SPIN) in constructing 2 x 60 MVA transmission stations in Ikere-Ekiti, Ijesa-Isu and Ilupeju-Ekiti respectively. To ensure prompt delivery of the project, we have paid compensation to those affected by Right of Way. Additionally, work is ongoing on the expansion of 132KV lines to enhance system capacity for the transmission and distribution of power in Ekiti. 86. One of the challenges facing power supply is the issue of lack of transformers. So far, we have responded to requests for transformers from communities. I want to assure all the communities who have made similar requests, that we will soon attend to their requests. I also thank our National Assembly members who have assisted their constituents in this regard. Transportation Infrastructure 87. Ekiti has the disadvantage of being landlocked and as a result, cannot take the benefit of the coastal economy. We are however convinced that any State that will make any impact in the future must be connected to the international market. More importantly, for the agricultural industry to connect with the right market internationally, we need to have an airport that could facilitate trade and drive our tourism potential. 88. Similarly, our administration is currently working on over 200 kilometers of rural and 131 kilometers urban roads across the different local government areas. Many of the roads have been completed while many are at different stages of completion. Some of the roads that have been completed in the last one year, include the Ekiti Ring Road Phase I, Ado – Ikere Road, Ikere – Igbara-Odo Road, Ikere – Ilawe Road, Ikere – Ise Road, Isinbode – Ara – Ikole, Itapa – Ijelu Road, Ikogosi – Igbara-Odo Road, Ilawe-Erijiyan Link road, Itawure-Okemesi Road. We have also rehabilitated critical road infrastructure such as the Ado to Ifaki road, major street roads in Ado-Ekiti and many others. 89. Furthermore, the following projects were awarded and ongoing from October 2024 till date i. Construction of 1KM BOVAS Filling Station-Spotless Hotel road, Ado-Ekiti ii. Construction of 1.95KM GRA 3rd Extension road-Phase III, AjilaJakande Crescent-TAJ Suites Hotel road, Ado-Ekiti iii. Rehabilitation of 30.2KM OkeAyedun-Ipao-OkeAko-Irele road iv. Reconstruction of 4.96KM Ikogosi Township roads &Ikogosiwarmspring roads v. Rehabilitation of 13.27KM Itawure-Okemesi road vi. Construction of 3.9KM Alanaka road, EfonAlaaye vii. Construction of 20KM FMS Farm Internal Roads, Iyemero-Ekiti. viii. Rehabilitation of 17.5KM Ilawe-IgbaraOdo-Ibuji road. ix. Rehabilitation of 13.2KM Emure to Eporo Road/ Ondo State Boundary. x. Rehabilitation of 19KM Ita Ido-Ido Ile & reconstruction of Ido Ile-Okemesi-Ikoro roads. xi. Construction of Access road to the 80-bedded Multipurpose Building in EKSUTH, Ado-Ekiti. xii. Rehabilitation of 17KM Ikogosi-Ipole-EfonAlaaye Ekiti road. Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport 90. The Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport, Ado-Ekiti recently received approval for scheduled commercial flight operations, effective from October 4, 2025, and I want to use this opportunity to congratulate us all for this epoch-making achievement. This approval followed an initial nine months of non-scheduled approval to cater for chartered flights which is the aviation industry’s best practice to allow new airports to test their procedures and systems before commencement of more demanding general passenger flights. 91. In this regard, we are partnering with a commercial airline, to be unveiled soon, to commence flights to and from Ado-Ekiti, Abuja and Lagos in the first instance at least 3 times a week beginning from 1st or 2nd week of November 2025. Other airlines will join these routes and others to be developed as time goes on and as demand dictates. 92. This airport approval is indeed a major achievement for Ekiti State as it has already opened up a wide range of opportunities for the State and its indigenes, and there are prospects for increased benefits. On jobcreation, the airport management team engaged by the State, recently gave direct employment to over 130 indigenes to man various positions at the airport. Some of these personnel have received various levels of aviation specialized training to position them for service delivery. 93. There are prospects and potentials for more direct and indirect aviation and aviation-related job opportunities from the airlines, aviation fuel company, tourism, transportation, hospitality and other businesses to be established in the airport environment. On the Economy, the airport will boost agribusiness, tourism development and commercial activities. It is poised to become a strategic revenue driver by unlocking new streams of income through innovation and the education economy which Ekiti State is known for as a mainstay of the State’s economy. 94. Indeed, through careful planning and development of hitherto unestablished flight routes, we are looking at the future of Ekiti becoming a second regional hub in the South-West. To enhance these prospects, we have paid for the installation of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) at the airport to foster the possibility of 24-hours flight operations and for all weather conditions. 95. Finally, I urge Ekiti citizens to embrace the airport as their own, take good care of the facilities provided when opportune to utilize them and think outside the box to be able to key into the opportunities provided by the airport infrastructure. Sports Infrastructure 96. This administration appreciates the importance of sports in the overall well-being of the populace and especially as major source of empowerment for talented young people, we are currently undertaking a comprehensive rehabilitation of the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, when completed, the Stadium will be one of the best in the whole federation. 97. Similarly, as part of our efforts to diversify sporting opportunities and to encourage recreational sports for body fitness, we are currently building a massive Ekiti Indoor Sports Hall which will be one of the best when completed. The project will soon be ready for commissioning. 98. Environment, Water, Sanitation & Waste managment 99. As an administration in tune with international best practices, and aligning local needs with global commitments, we have demonstrated a keen interest in environmental sustainability and combating climate change. To this end, we have undertaken dredging and desiltation activities to mitigate the impact of flooding. The channeling of water ways, dredging of rivers across all the local government areas and desiltation of the culverts and channels have contributed to the absence of flooding and overflows that usually confront our State during heavy raining season. 100. We are also achieving remarkable progress in water supply and sanitation, leading to Ekiti’s recognition as one of the best-performing states in the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (SURWASH) programme. In the course of the year, we constructed, upgrade and rehabilitated 122 water and sanitation and hygiene facilities in schools and health centers across the State. Similarly, we constructed and rehabilitated 121 boreholes across the State. 101. Notably, we have awarded the contract for the construction of three mini water schemes: Odo-oja Water Supply Scheme, Ikere-Ekiti, Iyin Ekiti Water Supply Scheme and IkogosiErijiyan Water Supply Scheme. Efforts are ongoing to restore water supply at Ero Dam, Ikun-Ekiti, while the Federal Government is currently undertaking a study of Itapaji Dam. 102. We are combating illegal deforestation and logging that deplete the State’s forest cover and contributes to climate change. As part of efforts to increase forest surveillance, we recently employed and deployed more forest guards into the forests. In our effort to make hygiene and clean water available in the rural areas, 103. You would recall that this Assembly passed the Ekiti State Water and Sanitation Regulatory Agency last year, the establishment of the Agency has brought about improvement in the institutional capacity to regulate the sector. We have also established a state-of-the-art Drinking Water Quality Laboratory in Ado-Ekiti and procured 10 modern testing equipment, kits and consumable. Within the year, 107 water quality tests have been conducted on 242 water service providers. This is made possible because of the institutional framework, equipment and technical capacity that we have facilitated. 104. To strengthen our waste collection capacity and in recognition of the importance of effectively managing waste, its environmental factors and its effect on the health of citizens in the state, we have procured six brand new Sinotruck vehicles and sixty fabricated Dino Bins to improve waste collection and disposal in the state. In addition to this, motorcycles were purchased for monitoring exercises. Also, 2000wheeling bins have been purchased and distributed across the residents of Ekiti State. 105. For more efficient wast collection, we have increased the participation of the Private Sector Partners (PSPs) from four to 15 which has helped to increase service delivery. 106. We have also effectedabout 400% increase on the salary of road sweepers from ₦6,000to ₦12, 000, and to ₦35, 000 monthly in a bid to enhance their productivity. The sweepers were also equipped with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and working Tools such as caution cones, reflective jacket nose masks, hand glove, Broom, packers etc. there has also been regular provision of palliatives for the sweepers. ARTS, CULTURE AND TOURISM 107. For us, arts and culture are big economic spheres that we can leverage to create jobs, income and generate revenue. Therefore, our disposition is to promote our culture and arts for economic benefits to the people and Government. It is for this reason that we transformed the Ekiti Cultural Troupe to Ekiti State Performing Arts Company which has become a source of revenue generation to the State. The Company has also done well in representing Ekiti in national and international arts and cultural events. 108. I am excited to announce to you that Ekiti State is set to unlock the enormous creative potential of its young and talented population as it launches the $15m Ekiti State Creative Impact Fund (EKCIF) in partnership with Circuits, a leading African content distribution platform. EKCIF will train and empower tens of thousands of Ekiti youth, create over 250,000 direct and indirect jobs, add enormous value to our GDP, and put Ekiti stories and culture on the global map. It’s a new dawn for the creative sector in Ekiti State. 109. In the last one year, we hosted Ekiti State Festival of Arts and Culture which provided our people in the arts, culture and tourism sector to display their talents and crafts and created economic opportunity for thousands of our people. 110. In the meantime, we have created an Arts Endowment Fund, which is accessible to our arts and culture practitioners to leverage on, and increase their capacity to expand their trade. The fund is given out as a form of loan with a single-digit interest. This is a great creative solution to help many talented persons who could not secure the necessary financial capability that is required to fund their crafts. 111. To create an art and culture ecosystem in the State, we are currently building the International Centre for Arts and Culture in Ado-Ekiti. When completed, it will have a theatre, museum, art gallery, multipurpose hall, space for performing arts, visual arts and crafts sections. It will provide avenue for artists and artistes to practice and market their trade. 112. We are also committed to the promotion of Ekiti as a preferred destination for tourists. We have continued to seize every opportunity to market the tourism potential of Ekiti through visibilization marketing of our popular festivals, historical sites and tourist centers. It is our hope that our investment in road and aviation infrastructure will further help in driving tourists to Ekiti State in no distant time. 113. Mr. Speaker, as I conclude this address, I want to assure you that we remain committed to our social contract with Ekiti people. We are in a hurry to ensure an earlier realization of our dream of rapid economic prosperity of Ekiti for all. Even though we acknowledge the socioeconomic difficulties that we collectively face as a people at this time, we will do our best to continue to fulfil our aspiration. GENERAL APPRECIATIONS 114. I also want to thank the leadership and members of the legislature and the judiciary for steering the other arms of government in the direction of peace, progress, and justice for our dear State. 115. I also express my profound gratitude to members of the National Assembly under the leadership of Senator Opeyemi Bamidelefor being worthy partners in progress. 116. To Mr. President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on behalf of the Government and people of Ekiti State, I once again express my profound gratitude and appreciation for your very strong support for our administration. 117. I would like to thank our elders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, organized labour, our senior citizens, opinion leaders, leaders of thoughts and respected political leaders for their sound advice, guidance and wise interventions from time to time. 118. To my party, the All Progressives Congress, and our leaders, thank you for this platform of service you have afforded me, and for your steady guidance towards the fulfilment of our party’s progressive vision for our dear State. 119. Finally, I like to express my profound gratitude to my dear wife, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, the Deputy Governor, members of the executive council and all the people serving with me in Government. Thank you all for your sacrifices and patriotic service to our State. May Ekiti continue to prosper. Thank you for listening. BiodunOyebanji Ekiti State Assembly Complex Ado-Ekiti |October 16, 2025
