Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has called for collective action to shape the future of the state as he unveiled a 30-year development vision designed to guide Ekiti towards 2056.
Oyebanji made the call in Ado-Ekiti at the Ekiti at 30 Future Summit organised as part of activities marking three decades since the state was created.
The governor said the anniversary should not only be an occasion for celebrating past achievements but also an opportunity for Ekiti residents to determine the kind of state they want to leave for future generations.
He said the administration would focus increasingly on innovation, competence, enterprise and the ability to convert knowledge into economic value as part of efforts to reposition Ekiti over the next 30 years.
According to him, certificates alone cannot build industries, create sufficient jobs, mechanise agriculture or enable the state to compete effectively in a technology-driven global economy.
Oyebanji therefore projected an Ekiti where agriculture becomes a modern and profitable enterprise supported by technology and an integrated value chain covering production, processing, packaging, logistics and export.
He also outlined a vision of the state becoming a major centre of the knowledge economy, with its educated population developing software, conducting research, creating digital products and building technology-driven businesses.
The governor said Ekiti should be able to produce skilled professionals who can compete globally while remaining connected to and contributing to the development of their communities.
He further called for stronger private-sector participation, arguing that government cannot and should not remain the sole source of employment in the state.
Oyebanji said government’s responsibility should include creating conditions that allow businesses to start, survive and expand, while private companies, cooperatives, development institutions and members of the diaspora become active partners in economic development.
The governor also identified tourism and the creative economy as areas capable of generating significant opportunities, pointing to Ekiti’s waterfalls, warm springs, historic sites, festivals, cuisine, music and artistic traditions.
He said these assets could support jobs for farmers, transport operators, hotel workers, performers, photographers, tour guides, artisans and food vendors if properly developed and promoted.
The governor challenged young people in particular to take responsibility for the state’s future by acquiring relevant skills, embracing technology, identifying problems around them and developing practical solutions.
He said the 30th anniversary should encourage the present generation to become creators of new opportunities rather than simply beneficiaries of the achievements of those who came before them.
The summit also provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss education, infrastructure, power supply, innovation and the need to transform Ekiti’s strong educational heritage into practical economic opportunities.
Lead speaker Tunji Olowolafe said the state needed to connect education with skills, enterprise and innovation if it was to create sustainable employment and reduce poverty.
He urged young Ekiti residents to move beyond acquiring academic knowledge and focus on applying what they learn to solve problems and create economic value.
The governor’s vision builds on an earlier transformation agenda announced for the anniversary, which identified agriculture, agro-processing, technology, education, research, tourism, culture, creative industries and youth entrepreneurship as major pillars for Ekiti’s long-term development.
The state has also used the anniversary to encourage young people to contribute directly to discussions about its future through initiatives such as the Ekiti at 30 youth essay competition, which asked participants to imagine the state they want to see by 2056.
At the summit, traditional rulers including the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, and the Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Adewole, reflected on the struggles surrounding the creation of Ekiti State and called for continued unity and collective efforts.
The monarchs stressed the importance of preserving the values and identity that have shaped the state while developing a comprehensive plan capable of sustaining prosperity for future generations.
The event also featured the presentation of prizes to winners of the Ekiti at 30 essay competition, giving young residents an opportunity to present practical ideas for the state’s development.
As Ekiti moves beyond its first 30 years, the governor’s 2056 vision places greater emphasis on turning education, human capital, culture and natural resources into productive economic assets.
The success of that long-term ambition, however, will depend not only on government programmes but also on sustained participation from citizens, businesses, institutions and young people across the state.