30th Anniversary of Ekiti State

Ekiti kete, it is THIRTY YEARS since our Great State was created by the Military Government of General Sanni Abacha. On the morning of October 1, 1996, many Nigerians clutched to their radio, awaiting the announcement of the new States to be created. Many people did not think Ekiti State creation idea stood a chance, as we stood against more formidable contenders from the South West geopolitical zone seeking the only slot for the zone. But to the glory of God, we made it!

In many respects, the creation of Ekiti State 30 years ago, and one hundred and twenty years after Kiriji War, completed the epic struggle of independence that our forebears began in the liberation war of 1877-1893. A day like this is, therefore, not just historic to us as a people bound by common geography, culture, language and aspiration, it is our day of Independence and Thanksgiving.

It is therefore my pleasure to congratulate all Ekiti sons and daughters and all peoples of the world for whom, Ekiti has become home, on the 30th Anniversary and the 66th National Independence Day celebration.

I also want to congratulate members of the Committee for the creation of Ekiti State, who are still alive on seeing these 30 years of incredible transformation of Ekiti, in fulfillment of their dreams. Permit me to use the Chairman of the Committee, Chief Oladeji Fasuan and Aare Afe Babalola to express my profound gratitude and appreciation to them and the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti as a point of contact to our Royal Fathers who were the incubators of the State creation struggle. Similarly, we remember with fond memories, the patriotic sacrifices of many of the heroes and heroines of the creation struggles, who have joined our ancestors. Even, in their graves, they would be proud that their efforts were not in vain and that their vision of a prosperous Ekiti is on a high pedestal. It also gladdens my heart that as the then Secretary of the Committee for Ekiti State Creation, through the grace of God and the benevolence of Ekiti kete, I am in the saddle today when the State turns 30. This is very humbling and I return all Glory to God.

We remember, with fond appreciations, the pioneering role of late Lt. Col. Mohammed Inua Bawa (rtd.) who, literally, had to make bread out of stones as the first Administrator of Ekiti State. We also remember the leadership of Navy Capt. Atanda Yusuf (rtd) who succeeded Lt Col. Bawa and saw to the transition of the young State into democratic rule in 1999.

I want to specially acknowledge the important leadership, that Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, CON provided our State as the first democratically elected Governor. His leadership gave forms and structures to many of the governmental institutions that run our State today, and we are eternally grateful to him for his role as a pathfinder. His successor, Governor Ayodele Fayose did not only bring great energy and ebullience to Ekiti politics, he was known for his remarkable investment in the modernization and infrastructure renewal of the State.

I also want to commend Chief Segun Oni for his historic leadership that took development to every nook and cranny of Ekiti State, ensuring inclusion and integrated rural development across the State. He led with a culture of selflessness, probity and frugality. He exemplified the Ekiti simplicity.

We want to also commend Dr. Kayode Fayemi, CON whose transformative leadership and policy development initiatives have continued to positively impact the profile of the State. We commend him for his legacy of social protection policies, the development master-plan, critical infrastructures and the institutionalization of government policies and programs. Dr. Fayemi is the first elected Governor that has produced a successor since the creation of Ekiti State 30 years ago.

We also salute the supportive contributions of all former Deputy Governors in this transformative journey.

Special appreciations to all the people, living or dead, who have had the privilege of presiding over the State during transitions or interregnums, such as Late Chief Friday Aderemi, Late Brigadier-General Adetunji Olurin (rtd), Rt. Hon. Tope Ademiluyi and Rt. Hon. Tunji Odeyemi.

We recall with fondness, the patriotic leadership of all our former and present leaders of parliaments and their members, for their enduring contributions to the development of Ekiti through law making, oversight functions and effective representation that have brought about the current level of development in our State.

Special tribute to all past and present Chief Judges of Ekiti State judiciary and their brother and sister judges for their commitment to justice, mediation, arbitration, conciliation and administration of justice. Their legal wisdom, jurisprudential prowess, judicial pronouncements and general contributions to the economic, peace and stability of our dear State cannot be over-emphasized.

Many appreciations to the leadership of the civil service and all the civil servants who have served our State diligently for the past thirty years. We cannot forget your enormous sacrifices at the foundation of this State. We remember when many of you had to share chairs and tables, do your jobs under the trees for lack of offices, and many other personal sacrifices which became the building blocks for the Ekiti that we have today.

Similarly, we remain indebted to our revered traditional rulers whose pivotal roles led to the creation of Ekiti State thirty years ago. We are grateful for their vision, sacrifices, financial contributions, guidance, support and commitment to the development of Ekiti State at all times. May their reigns continue to bring peace and progress to our State.

Ekiti kete, we have every reason to roll out the drums and celebrate what is obviously a remarkable moment in the history of our State. Ekiti was created along with five other States in 1996. One is proud to note that, even though, we are on the lowest line of the ladder in terms of Federal Allocation to States, Ekiti leads its contemporary and many before it, including far richer states, in critical matrices of human development.

Although, we have had a fair share of challenges and unpleasant experiences in the last thirty years. We have gone through very scary season of instability, economic down moments and security challenges, but to the glory of God, we have moved on stronger and better.

Today’s anniversary celebration is therefore a moment of great delight and an important milestone in the history of our State. Today, we celebrate our struggles, our challenges and our victories. We celebrate our unity as a people, we celebrate our resilient spirit and unbroken determination to be the State that leads in every aspect of human development.

Today, we celebrate the valority of our heroes, the sacrifices of our forebears, the strives of our youths, the toils of our mothers, the wisdom of our elders and the industry of our people. As Ekiti, we are a people reputed for honesty, integrity, industry, scholarship, restrain, intellectual elegance and courage. These attributes have continued to define us globally and they remain our guiding creeds wherever we find ourselves.

As the crest of our State suggests, we are a people woven by the cord of communal cooperation and collective survival. We do not propitiate to the gods of greed, desperation, kleptomaniac accumulation and imperial arrogance. Ekiti are not vainglorious, we are not reckless but we are frugal, enterprising, industrious, loyal, courageous and God fearing.

I therefore invite all Ekiti to continue to uphold these values and cherish them; even, in this globalized world, where traditional values are being imperiled by the invisible, but ubiquitous hands of globalization, we must jealously protect and promote these values that symbolize the Ekiti personhood.

As Government, I want to assure you that we remain committed to the founding ideals that inspired the creation of Ekiti State. The vision of the founding fathers was to have a State where Ekiti people can utilize their God given natural and human resources in the most efficient, effective and inclusive manner, for the prosperity of our people. They envisioned an industrialized Ekiti, where private sector capital is at the centre of the economic nervous system of the state and where enterprise and productivity are the pillars of prosperity.

The theme of the anniversary is ‘Ekiti at 30; Celebrating the Past and Creating the Future’. We have decided to use the 30th anniversary as the Launchpad for a 30-year Transformation Agenda that will make Ekiti a leading Centre of Agricultural Production and Agro-Processing, Innovation and Tech Development, Quality and functional Education, Research and Skills Development, Tourism, Culture and Creative Economy and Youth Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development. To achieve the foregoing, we will be having a conversation with Ekiti Youth on October 7, 2026 at the Obafemi Awolowo Civic and Convention Centre. We intend to achieve three important things: to remember with gratitude, to assess the present with honesty, and to approach the future with confidence and determination.

Our agenda is therefore to work aggressively to ensure that the socio-economic infrastructures we have built in these thirty years lead to real economic growth that produces quality employment, crystallize productivity, support enterprise and enhance quality of life.

For example, the ongoing multi-billion naira Ekiti Knowledge Zone (EKZ) project is a technological park and economic ecosystem to support the innovative and creative ingenuity of our young population.

It is our dream that in another three decades, the tag of Ekiti as a ‘civil service’ state will have yielded to Ekiti as a Tech Hub in Nigeria’ and a major commercial centre for international trade and commerce. This is our promise, and we are resolutely committed to it. The Special Agric Processing Zone (SAPZ) will also take off soon. These two projects, upon completion, will transform the economic outlook of the State and drive our government’s Shared Prosperity Agenda.

Finally, my appreciation to all political office holders, especially my colleagues in the executive arm of the government, National Assembly members, members of Ekiti State House of Assembly, religious and traditional leaders, international partners, and everyone who has been of help to Ekiti State since the beginning 1996.

Before I end my speech, while thanking you for our re-election into the office, I am pleading with Ekiti kete to troop out in large number in the January Presidential election and vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. It is on record that Mr. President has been so supportive of our administration and the support is responsible for our ability to deliver on our promises to our people. A vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR is a vote for the continuation of our shared prosperity mantra in Ekiti State.

Finally, I congratulate all Ekiti people; especially, members of the academic community, students and youths, artisans and unions, women, community organizations and People With Disabilities (PWD) and indeed, every Ekiti man and woman. May the good Lord continue to prosper our dear State. Congratulations.

Long Live Nigeria

Long Live Ekiti State.

Biodun Oyebanji

Governor, Ekiti State, Nigeria