Dr. Muyiwa Igbalajobi, founder of Scholarships Cafe and the Muyiwa Igbalajobi Foundation, and a faculty member at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada, has urged Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, to prioritise industrialisation, youth development, inclusive governance and educational reforms in his second term.

Igbalajobi said greater attention to these critical sectors would help accelerate the state’s socio-economic development, create opportunities for young people and strengthen Ekiti’s capacity to compete in an increasingly knowledge-driven economy.

He also called for improvements in the state’s educational system, particularly technical and vocational education, as a means of equipping young people with practical skills required to meet the demands of modern industries and the evolving labour market.

According to him, the governor’s second term presents an opportunity to consolidate the achievements of his first administration while pursuing policies that deliver sustainable economic growth, expand employment opportunities and improve the living standards of residents.

On industrialisation, Igbalajobi stressed the need for policies and investments that would encourage the establishment and growth of industries, attract private-sector investment and promote the development of local enterprises.

He noted that a stronger industrial base could help Ekiti diversify its economy, generate employment for its growing youth population and reduce dependence on government employment.

The university don also emphasised the importance of creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, with particular attention to infrastructure, skills development and policies capable of attracting investors to the state.

He maintained that industrial development should be linked to the state’s human capital development strategy to ensure that residents, especially young people, possess the skills required to benefit from emerging economic opportunities.

The education advocate further called for inclusive governance that would ensure that the benefits of government policies and programmes reach all segments of society, irrespective of social or economic background.

He urged the administration to create more opportunities for young people to participate in governance, entrepreneurship, innovation and community development, stressing that youth development should be treated as a central component of the state’s long-term development agenda.

Igbalajobi also advocated a more accessible and responsive educational system that identifies and nurtures talent, removes barriers to academic advancement and provides students with the support needed to achieve their potential.

He called for stronger technical and vocational education, noting that practical skills training would help bridge the gap between classroom learning and the requirements of the workplace.

According to him, technical institutions should be adequately equipped, while their curricula should be aligned with the needs of industries and emerging sectors of the economy.

He stressed the importance of collaboration between the government, educational institutions, private organisations and international partners to expand scholarship opportunities, strengthen mentorship programmes and expose students to global academic and professional opportunities.

Igbalajobi, who founded Scholarships Cafe and the Muyiwa Igbalajobi Foundation to promote educational access and youth empowerment, has also championed mentorship initiatives designed to connect talented Ekiti youths with opportunities for postgraduate education and professional development.

Through initiatives such as the Ekiti 100 Scholar Mentorship Programme, the foundation seeks to guide qualified young people from the state’s 16 local government areas towards fully funded master’s and doctoral opportunities at leading universities worldwide.

The scholar maintained that investments in education and human capital development would be essential to building a productive workforce capable of supporting Ekiti’s industrialisation drive and sustaining economic growth.

He urged the governor to ensure that policies introduced during the second term are backed by effective implementation, measurable outcomes and accountability, so that the impact of government interventions can be felt by ordinary residents.

The call comes as Oyebanji begins his second four-year term following his inauguration on October 16, 2026, with the governor pledging to consolidate the achievements of his first administration and pursue greater economic productivity, innovation and inclusive development.

…Says reappointment means greater responsibility, less tolerance for lapses

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, on Tuesday swore in the reappointed Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Habibat Adubiaro, and Chief of Staff, Mr Oyeniyi Adebayo, charging them to deploy the wealth of experience they acquired during the first term of his administration to deliver on their responsibilities without delay.

The Governor declared that his second-term administration would not tolerate anything short of excellent service delivery, noting that the reappointment of the two officials placed greater responsibilities on them to serve the government and the people of Ekiti State.

At the brief swearing-in ceremony held at the Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office in Ado-Ekiti, Governor Oyebanji clarified the nature of the two offices, explaining that while stakeholders could nominate commissioners and special advisers, the SSG and Chief of Staff were his personal choices and closest administrative aides.

He commended the two officials for their loyalty, dedication and contributions to the administration, describing them as steady hands who had served creditably as foundation appointees since he assumed office four years ago.

The Governor stressed that their reappointment was a call to greater service and higher responsibility, urging them to hit the ground running and demonstrate renewed humility, commitment and dedication to duty.

Govenror Oyebanji cautioned them against becoming complacent, overconfident or too comfortable in their positions, emphasising that the demands of the second term required a higher level of diligence, discipline and accountability.

Governor Oyebanji also noted that the two officials would face considerable pressure in the coming weeks as they would be expected to multitask and provide administrative support to cover existing vacancies in government pending the constitution of the full cabinet.

The Governor reminded them that their appointments were made possible by the mandate freely given to the administration by the people of Ekiti State, urging them to remain accessible, respectful and compassionate in their dealings with citizens.

“Treat our people with courtesy; be compassionate, humble, fair and God-fearing. It is their votes that brought us here. So, by extension, they are our employer.

“They put us into this job. We cannot get to office and assume to be lords over them,” he said.

While congratulating the appointees, their friends and family members present at the ceremony, the Governor urged them to continue to pray for the success of the administration.

He described their reappointment as evidence that good performance attracts greater responsibility, while acknowledging that there were areas in need of improvement during the first term.

“This reappointment is, therefore, proof that the reward for good work is more work. But I will be dishonest if I do not acknowledge that there were areas in need of improvement.

“You, therefore, have no reason to grope around. The burden that comes with this, however, is that I will be less tolerant of lapses than I was in the first administration because you cannot claim inexperience again,” the Governor said.

Speaking on behalf of the duo, Prof. Adubiaro expressed profound gratitude to Governor Oyebanji for the confidence reposed in them, commending his compassionate leadership, humility and unwavering support throughout her public service and academic career.

She also lauded the Governor for what she described as an unbroken record of good governance in Ekiti State, noting that the developmental strides recorded during his first term had earned him widespread respect across different segments of society and laid the foundation for continuity and further progress.

The SSG pledged the renewed commitment of the two appointees to the service of the state, assuring the Governor that they would not take their reappointments for granted but would redouble their efforts to justify the confidence reposed in them .

The Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Pa Reuben Fasoranti, describing the late elder statesman as a patriot of exceptional integrity whose contributions to Nigeria’s political development will remain indelible.

Bamidele, in a condolence statement, said Fasoranti, the foremost leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, was a statesman who consistently placed the national interest above personal and sectional considerations.

He described the late centenarian as an accomplished educationist, school administrator and community leader whose impact transcended generations and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s development.

According to the Senate Leader, Fasoranti’s principled leadership, selflessness and unwavering commitment to true federalism, national unity and progress earned him a distinguished place in the history of the Yoruba nation and Nigeria at large.

Bamidele noted that the late Afenifere leader was among the last surviving disciples of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, adding that he served as a vital link between the politics of the First Republic and the Fourth Republic.

He said Fasoranti remained a custodian of Awolowo’s progressive ideals, providing moral guidance and principled leadership throughout his years of public engagement.

“His wise counsel, moral authority and stabilising voice will be sorely missed at this critical period in our national life,” Bamidele said.

The Senate Leader stressed that the late elder statesman’s legacy would endure through his commitment to selfless service, democratic ideals and the pursuit of a more united and prosperous Nigeria.

Bamidele, on behalf of his family, constituents and the Senate, extended his heartfelt condolences to the Fasoranti family, the government and people of Ondo State, Afenifere and the entire Yoruba nation.

He prayed for the peaceful repose of the departed elder statesman’s soul and asked God to grant his family and all Nigerians the strength to bear the irreparable loss.