By Law Ibitoye
Lawyer and private-sector practitioner, Mr. Tope Adebayo, has called for increased investment in human capital, technical education, entrepreneurship and skills development to reposition Ekiti State for greater economic prosperity as it marks 30 years of creation.
Adebayo made the call on Tuesday at a public hearing organised by the Ekiti State House of Assembly in Ado-Ekiti as part of activities marking the state’s 30th anniversary, with the theme, “Ekiti at 30: Reflecting on Our Journey, Charting Our Future.”He said the anniversary provided an opportunity for the people of Ekiti to honour the past, assess the present and envision a more prosperous future, stressing that the state’s development remained a continuous process requiring contributions from successive administrations and all stakeholders.
Adebayo identified the people of Ekiti as the state’s greatest asset, urging the government to prioritise investments that would equip citizens, particularly young people, with relevant skills to participate meaningfully in the modern economy. He noted that young people trained in technology, agriculture, fabrication and other productive skills should not merely be viewed as job seekers but as potential employers capable of creating employment opportunities for others.
The keynote speaker also advocated stronger linkages between educational institutions and industries, improved infrastructure, agricultural value-chain development and greater private-sector participation.
He said Ekiti must move beyond producing graduates and exporting raw materials to develop an economy capable of processing, packaging and exporting finished goods and services.
The public hearing, held at the Hallowed Chamber of the Assembly, brought together lawmakers, government officials, traditional rulers, academics, private-sector operators, civil society organisations, youth and women groups as well as community leaders to deliberate on the state’s journey and future.
Former Governor of the state, Engr. Segun Oni, called for greater citizens’ engagement with public institutions, describing accountability as a critical requirement for sustainable democratic governance.
Oni advocated transparency in the management of public resources through independent audits, open budget reports, freedom of information, citizen-led monitoring, public performance dashboards and regular engagement between government and the people.
He also canvassed enhanced civic education, participatory budgeting, institutionalised citizen consultation and community-based monitoring of government projects, including the use of digital platforms to expand citizens’ participation in governance.
According to him, citizens should move beyond merely participating in government programmes to actively monitoring projects and budgets, providing feedback and collaborating with government and civil society organisations.
He stressed that development would be stronger when citizens operated as partners with the government rather than spectators.
Also speaking, former Deputy Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Karounwi Oladapo, urged the legislature to become more proactive and development-oriented in addressing the emerging needs of the state.
In a presentation titled “Legislative Contributions to Ekiti Development: The Future Legislature as a Driver of Progress,” Oladapo said the legislature must go beyond its traditional lawmaking and oversight responsibilities to provide effective legislative frameworks for economic growth, human capital development, innovation, investment, youth empowerment and accountability.
He maintained that a stronger and more responsive legislature would be critical to driving sustainable development in Ekiti in the years ahead.
In his welcome address, Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, said the 30th anniversary offered the state an opportunity to reflect on its achievements, challenges and lessons of the past three decades.
Aribasoye stressed that the future of Ekiti could not be built by the government alone, urging citizens, institutions and other stakeholders to contribute practical ideas and solutions capable of moving the state from the “Land of Honour” to a “Land of Opportunity.”
He identified education and human capital development, agriculture and food security, technology and innovation, healthcare, infrastructure, tourism, employment, entrepreneurship, environmental sustainability, good governance and institutional accountability as critical areas requiring sustained attention.
The Speaker said recommendations from the public hearing would help shape future legislative and policy actions, urging Ekiti people to celebrate the state’s achievements over the past 30 years without becoming complacent.
The stakeholders consequently called for a renewed development agenda that would harness Ekiti’s human and material resources, strengthen accountability and citizen participation, attract private investment and create sustainable opportunities for the younger generation.
