Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has intensified his engagement with federal ministries and agencies to ensure greater federal presence in the state and fast-track development.
The Governor emphasized this on Friday, with visits to some ministries, including Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Ministry of Works and Ministry of Education, where he had engagements with the Ministers.
The Governor met with Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja. The meeting, which was also attended by the Chairman of the Federal Housing Authority, Hon. Oyetunji Ojo, focused on harnessing federal programmes to improve the lots of Ekiti residents.
Speaking with journalists after the closed-door session, Governor Oyebanji reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to exploring every opportunity to enhance the welfare of the people, noting that his discussions with the minister centered on federal initiatives such as livelihood support, conditional cash transfers for women, support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and assistance for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
“We had a fruitful meeting that will greatly benefit Ekiti people. I must commend President Bola Tinubu for appointing a capable hand to oversee this critical ministry. It is a strategic institution for improving livelihoods and providing safety nets for Nigerians.
“This visit was a follow-up to a phone conversation facilitated by Hon. Oyetunji Ojo, an illustrious son of Ekiti State. The discussions focused on leveraging federal programs to uplift our people. I am particularly grateful to Hon. Oyetunji Ojo for creating this opportunity, which reflects the quality of our representatives at the federal level.”
In his response, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe, praised the state government’s existing programmes noting that they have set a solid foundation for federal collaboration.
“The current administration in Ekiti has programmes that align perfectly with our ministry’s agenda. This makes it easy to partner and provide the necessary support,” the minister said. He assured the governor of increased federal assistance in 2025, particularly in areas such as job creation, social safety nets, and livelihood support for women and vulnerable groups.
Governor Oyebanji also met with the with the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, at the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja to secure federal support for key developmental initiatives in Ekiti State where he restated his administration’s resolve to foster meaningful partnerships that will transform education and human capital development in Ekiti State.
He also visited the Ministry of Works, where he held meeting with the Minister of Works, Engr Dave Umahi and the Permanent Secretary, Engr Adebiyi.