By Oluwa- raise me up
A legal practitioner and private-sector investor, Mr. Tope Adebayo, has challenged Ekiti State to move beyond its identity as the “Land of Honour” and deliberately build a “Land of Opportunity” where education, talent and skills are converted into productive economic ventures.
Adebayo made the call on Tuesday while delivering the keynote address at a public hearing organised by the Ekiti State House of Assembly to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the creation of the state.
The event, held at the Hallowed Chamber of the Assembly, Ado-Ekiti, with the theme, “Ekiti at 30: Reflecting on Our Journey, Charting Our Future,” was attended by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, lawmakers, traditional rulers, former public office holders and other stakeholders.
Adebayo said the 30th anniversary should not merely be a celebration of Ekiti’s achievements but a turning point for the state to develop a sustainable economic model capable of creating jobs, attracting investment and retaining its talented young population.
He described the development of Ekiti as a continuum built by successive administrations, noting that the creation of the state in 1996 represented the fulfilment of the aspirations of a people determined to preserve and advance their identity, culture and intellectual heritage.
The keynote speaker commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration for its six-pillar development agenda, particularly its focus on governance, youth development and job creation, human capital development, agriculture and rural development, infrastructure and industrialisation, as well as arts, culture and tourism.
He said the administration’s philosophy of consolidating progress and scaling impact was important because meaningful development could not be achieved within a single political cycle.
Adebayo, however, stressed that the next phase of Ekiti’s development must be anchored on economic transformation, private-sector expansion, skills development and value addition, rather than relying predominantly on government as the major employer and driver of economic activity.
Presenting a five-point agenda for the state’s future, he said human capital must be converted into economic capital by creating stronger links between education, technical training and industry.
He urged the government to ensure that skills acquired by young people translate directly into employment, entrepreneurship and wealth creation.
Drawing from his personal experience, Adebayo, who was born in Igbara-Odo to illiterate parents and attended schools in Igbara-Odo, Ikere and Ado-Ekiti before becoming a lawyer and entrepreneur, said his journey reinforced his conviction that education and skills could transform lives when supported by purposeful leadership.
He disclosed that following his 2018 governorship campaign, during which human capital development was a major focus, he sponsored the enrolment of youths at the Technical School in Igbara-Odo. According to him, the intervention resulted in more than a 1,000 per cent increase in enrolment, with stipends provided for about 60 students.
“Skill acquisition is one of the most powerful pathways out of poverty. A young person who learns a trade should not be regarded as somebody who failed to go to university. That young person can become an employer of labour,” he said.
Adebayo also called for a fundamental transformation of the agricultural sector, urging Ekiti to move from merely producing crops to processing, packaging and exporting agricultural products.
He argued that the state’s agricultural potential would generate greater economic value when farmers were connected to processors, manufacturers, markets and export opportunities.
“Let us produce. Let us process. Let us package. Let us market. Let us export,” he charged.
The private-sector investor further urged the state to deliberately position itself as a preferred destination for private investment through predictable regulations, faster government approvals and reliable infrastructure.
He said infrastructure should no longer be provided merely for its aesthetic or social value but should be deliberately designed to support production, industrial activities, agriculture, logistics and commerce.
Adebayo equally challenged Ekiti to leverage its strong intellectual base to build an innovation-driven economy, arguing that the state must transform its educational advantage into technology, enterprise and commercially viable solutions.
He cited some achievements of the Oyebanji administration, including the clearing of more than 6,000 hectares of land for agriculture, support for thousands of farmers, road and rural infrastructure projects, investments in the Ekiti Knowledge Zone, MSME financing, digital and vocational training, as well as investments in education and healthcare.
He noted that these interventions had contributed to the state’s recognition in areas including ease of doing business, fiscal transparency and audit efficacy.
On governance, Adebayo called for the strengthening of institutions beyond individual administrations, stressing that governments would come and go but institutions must remain strong enough to sustain development.
He also commended the relationship between the executive and legislature under Governor Oyebanji and Speaker Aribasoye, describing the remodelling and digitalisation of the legislative complex as an investment in the dignity, efficiency and effectiveness of the legislature.
He said the ultimate measure of Ekiti’s development should not be how successful a few individuals become but how many more citizens are given the opportunity to succeed.
Adebayo envisioned a future Ekiti where young people would not be compelled to leave the state in search of decent jobs, farmers would have direct links to processing industries, and technology companies could operate successfully from cities including Ado-Ekiti, Ikere, Ikole and Ijero.
He therefore urged government, the private sector, educational institutions and citizens to work together to build an economy that creates opportunities locally and retains the state’s human capital.
According to him, the transition from the “Land of Honour” to the “Land of Opportunity” would require deliberate policies that empower citizens to produce, innovate, invest and create jobs, while building institutions capable of sustaining progress across generations.