Oyebanji Maps Out 30-year Blueprint for Innovation-led Economic Growth

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, last Wednesday unveiled an ambitious 30-year development blueprint aimed at transforming the state into a knowledge-driven, innovation-powered economy by 2056, declaring that the state’s future prosperity would depend more on ideas, technology, enterprise and innovation than on certificates.

The governor unveiled the long-term vision while delivering the keynote address at the Ekiti at 30 Future Summit in Ado Ekiti, a flagship event marking the 30th anniversary of the creation of Ekiti State.

Speaking on the theme: ‘Ekiti: Celebrating the Past, Creating the Future’, Oyebanji said the summit was deliberately conceived to shift attention from merely celebrating the state’s achievements to designing a practical roadmap for sustained economic growth over the next three decades.

He said the blueprint envisions Ekiti State becoming a leading centre of the knowledge economy, where education, innovation, technology, agriculture, tourism and entrepreneurship would combine to create jobs, attract investments and improve the quality of life of the people.

According to him, the future belongs to economies that can transform knowledge into wealth, stressing that certificates alone can no longer build industries, mechanise agriculture, create employment, expand tourism or compete in a rapidly changing global economy.

The governor urged young people to become creators of solutions rather than seekers of government jobs, charging them to embrace technology, acquire practical skills, identify challenges within their communities and develop innovative ideas capable of creating wealth and driving economic prosperity.

He explained that his administration’s vision is to build an Ekiti State where agriculture is modern, technology-driven and commercially viable, supported by an integrated value chain covering production, processing, packaging, logistics and exports.

Oyebanji also projected the state as a hub for digital innovation, where software developers, engineers, researchers, designers and technology entrepreneurs would provide services to global markets while living and working from their communities in the state.

He emphasized that the government alone could no longer employ everyone, adding that creating an enabling environment for businesses, investors, cooperatives, development partners and the Ekiti State diaspora remained central to his administration’s economic agenda.

On tourism, the governor described Ekiti’s waterfalls, warm springs, cultural festivals, historical sites, cuisine and artistic heritage as untapped economic assets capable of generating thousands of jobs across hospitality, transportation, entertainment, agriculture, and the creative industry.

He, therefore, called for increased private-sector investment, improved infrastructure and strategic promotion to unlock the enormous economic potential of the tourism sector.

Looking ahead to Ekiti’s 60th anniversary in 2056, Oyebanji challenged the present generation to lay the foundation for a prosperous future that would be remembered not for celebrating past achievements alone, but for creating new opportunities through innovation and enterprise.

“I envision a state that becomes a major centre of the knowledge economy. The intellectual capital of our people must be transformed into economic capital. We must produce software developers, digital creators, researchers, designers, engineers and technology entrepreneurs who can work for the world without abandoning their communities,” the governor said.

He added that Ekiti State must become a destination for investment by sustaining peace, good governance, and policies that encourage enterprise and private-sector participation.

The lead Speaker at the summit, Dr. Tunji Olowolafe, said Ekiti State’s future would depend on its ability to convert its rich educational heritage into practical innovations capable of creating jobs, reducing poverty, and accelerating economic development.

He stressed the need to deliberately connect education with reliable electricity, enterprise, technology and industrial partnerships, arguing that sustainable economic growth would only be possible when knowledge is translated into productive ventures.

Olowolafe urged young people to move beyond acquiring academic qualifications and begin to apply their knowledge to solving real-life problems and creating value for society.

In their separate remarks, the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, and the Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole, reflected on the sacrifices that led to the creation of Ekiti State in 1996 and commended the decision to use the anniversary to chart a development agenda for the future.

The monarchs called for stronger collaboration among government, traditional institutions and citizens to preserve the values that have defined the state while sustaining its development trajectory.

Earlier, African and World Spelling Bee Champion, Miss Damilola Adeolu, urged young people to actively participate in building the future of the state, noting that opportunities for transformation