Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has announced plans by his administration to honour prominent citizens of the state, including the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), with legacy projects.
Oyebanji made the disclosure on Monday during the commissioning of the Ayodele Fayose Lodge, a new facility within the Government House Complex in Ado Ekiti, named after former Governor Ayodele Fayose.
The governor also revealed that the honour would be extended posthumously to former military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, who created Ekiti State on 1 October 1996.
According to Oyebanji, the initiative is aimed at recognising the contributions of individuals who have played significant roles in the development and history of Ekiti State.
He announced that the next former governor to be honoured would be Chief Segun Oni, whose name would be attached to another facility within the Government House premises.
Oyebanji said other distinguished Ekiti indigenes would subsequently be recognised through legacy projects before the end of his second term in office.
“What we are doing today is to appreciate you for your service to our state and to let you know that we appreciate you. We will continue to build on the blocks of courage and development which you laid,” he said.
The governor said he was grateful that Fayose was being honoured while alive rather than after his death, describing the project as a token of appreciation for his service to the state.
He noted that during his tenure, Fayose named public projects after prominent Ekiti figures, including former Deputy Governor Funmi Olayinka, former Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Archbishop Abiodun Adetiloye, former Western Region minister Chief Oduola Osuntokun, and Nigeria’s first female university graduate, Lady Deborah Jibowu.
Oyebanji also commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing Fayose as Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), saying the appointment reflected the President’s support for Ekiti State and had increased the number of Ekiti citizens holding significant federal positions.
The governor praised Tinubu’s administration, saying the state had benefited from increased federal allocations, major development projects and appointments of citizens into key government positions.
Following his recent re-election, Oyebanji urged Ekiti residents to support President Tinubu in the January 2027 presidential election, saying the state should reciprocate the support it had received from the Federal Government.
Speaking at the event, Fayose thanked Governor Oyebanji for promoting unity among political leaders in the state and for extending respect to former governors regardless of party affiliation.
Fayose, who attended the event with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the 2022 election, Chief Bisi Kolawole, and other party leaders, said Oyebanji’s leadership style had helped create a more peaceful political environment in Ekiti.
The former governor said he had no regrets supporting President Tinubu and Governor Oyebanji despite not being a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He described Oyebanji’s administration as inclusive and urged the governor to continue implementing welfare-focused programmes that would improve the lives of ordinary citizens.
Fayose also pledged to use his position as Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency to expand electricity access to rural communities in Ekiti State and across Nigeria.
Traditional rulers and other dignitaries at the event, including the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti and Chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Adejimi Adu Alagbado; the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe; Chief Bisi Kolawole; and the Anglican Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Rt Rev’d Olusola Ajayi, commended Oyebanji’s leadership and Fayose’s contributions to the state.
