Oyebanji: 100 days on

• Published date: 03 February 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

Anew era of governance began in Ekiti State on that sweltering Sunday afternoon on October 16, 2022 when Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji took the oath of office as the governor in the Land of Honour.

His arrival at the hilltop Ayoba Villa marked the beginning of a new era; the first time power would transit from a departing chief executive to an incoming chief executive both of whom belong to the same party.

One hundred days down the line, majority of the people of Ekiti State are happy that they elected Oyebanji because of the immediate impact he had made within that very short time. The time may be short but things are turning in the right direction in Ekiti and the hope of a brighter future has been strengthened.

While staying the course of a lofty vision and mission in the last 100 days, Oyebanji has laid a solid foundation of good governance and sustainable development to be built upon in years to come.

The six-pillar development agenda of the Oyebanji administration are governance, youth development and job creation, human capital development, agriculture and human development, infrastructure and industrialization, arts, culture and tourism.

Oyebanji does not see his blueprint as just a mantra or a tool of sloganeering but he is already walking the talk in his avowed determination to make a difference in the lives of the people. With his belief that infrastructure is very key to his administration's economic development plan since no progress can be made without a deliberate investment in the sector, a major talking point among the Ekiti populace is the ongoing rehabilitation of major and nodal roads in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

The rehabilitated roads have given the state capital a new face thereby reducing the hardship hitherto faced by transporters and commuters in moving their goods and services around and connecting one place to another. Some federal roads in the state are also undergoing rehabilitation in the state.

Also, within the last 100 days, nightlife in Ado Ekiti has received a major boost with massive deployment of streetlights under the 'Operation Light Up Ekiti' with the scheme expected to be replicated in other towns this year. This initiative has boosted businesses at night and given cutting edge to security with many dark spots now lit up.

On human capital development, the Oyebanji administration is in discussion with critical government agencies to facilitate access to cheaper funds to support the growth of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises...