Leadership insights: 40 minutes with Oyebanji

SIR: I recently had the honour of visiting Ekiti State, where I embarked on a self-guided tour to explore the projects completed or underway by Governor Biodun Oyebanji. From the bustling streets of Ado-Ekiti to the quaint towns of Ikere-Ekiti, Ikole-Ekiti and Oke Ako-Ekiti, Oyebanji’s transformative initiatives have inspired optimism among residents, who appreciate his people-first leadership.

As I concluded my tour, I sought out the governor’s perspective on his administration’s progress. Our thoughtful discussion revealed a leader committed to redefining the boundaries of possibility for all Ekiti residents. With his dedication to the welfare of his people, Oyebanji indeed stands out as a refreshing anomaly in today’s political landscape. This commitment to progress is further reflected in his own assessment of his administration’s accomplishments.

Assessment of Administration
“As the elected governor of Ekiti State, I believe it’s not my place to assess my own administration. Instead, I leave that to the people who elected us into office. However, I can confidently say that over the past two years, we’ve made significant progress in delivering on our campaign promises, particularly across the six pillars of our administration: Governance, Youth Development and Job Creation, Human Capital Development, Agriculture and Rural Development, Infrastructure and Industrialisation, and Arts, Culture and Tourism.

“My greatest joy is that we’ve been able to restore trust in government, which I believe is essential for effective governance. We’re committed to continuing this progress and ensuring that our social contract with the people of Ekiti State is fulfilled. During my election campaign, I pledged to be open, responsive and responsible, and over the past two years, we have worked tirelessly to uphold these values, earning recognition from nearly all the critical stakeholders in the state for our commitment to transparency and accountability.”

Economic development
“Our campaign is built around the concept of Shared Prosperity, ensuring that everyone, regardless of background or education, can enjoy a quality life. In Ekiti, we believe that everyone deserves to live well. To drive growth, we’re focusing on supporting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which are the engine of our economy.

“We recognise that security is a critical prerequisite for development. As a government, we’re committed to making a distinction between growth and development. While growth refers to an improvement in per capita income, development is about building infrastructure and creating opportunities for all. Ultimately, our goal is to create a secure and prosperous Ekiti State where everyone can thrive.

“Ekiti State’s development strategies are designed to catalyze growth for the people. We’ve established the Bureau of Local Content to ensure that a percentage of our physical projects is reserved for locals. This approach promotes local economic growth and reduces capital flight. Contractors working in Ekiti State are required to retain a percentage of their income within the state, encouraging local investment and ensuring the state benefits from its development projects.”

Healthcare and Education
“Health and Education fall under our Human Capital Development pillar, built on the principle that ‘Health is Wealth.’ Upon taking office, we prioritised stabilising the health sector, which had been plagued by low worker morale due to poor conditions of service. We addressed the disparity in health workers’ salaries, bringing them in line with federal rates.

‘‘Notably, we’re one of the first states to pay Hazard Allowance, despite being one of the poorest states. We also pay the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) and have allocated funds to upgrade the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) facilities.’’
Abiodun Komolafe wrote from Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State.