Ekiti Must Build Economy That Sustains Future Generations — Ex-Governorship Candidate

Former Ekiti State governorship candidate and legal practitioner, Tope Adebayo, has called for a sustainable economic model that will create opportunities and prosperity for future generations.

Adebayo made the call on Saturday in Ado Ekiti while delivering a keynote address at a programme organised by the Ekiti State House of Assembly to mark the 30th anniversary of the state’s creation.

He said the present generation had a responsibility to strengthen the foundations laid by successive administrations and build an economy that gives more citizens the opportunity to succeed.

Adebayo, a member of the Ekiti State Economic Management Team inaugurated by Governor Biodun Oyebanji in 2023, said the state’s next phase of development should focus on connecting education, skills, infrastructure and entrepreneurship to jobs, markets, investment and wealth creation.

He advocated a transition from Ekiti’s traditional identity as the “Land of Honour” to a “Land of Opportunity”, where residents could translate their knowledge and abilities into economic advancement.

“The ultimate measure of the state’s development should not be the number of successful people it has produced, but how many more people can have the opportunity to become successful,” he said.

Adebayo acknowledged the contributions of successive administrations to Ekiti’s development, describing state-building as a continuous process in which each government builds on the foundations established by its predecessors.

He also commended the Oyebanji administration, citing reported improvements in fiscal transparency and audit performance, growth in internally generated revenue, and investments in roads and transport infrastructure.

He urged the state to consolidate these efforts by strengthening institutions and creating conditions that support long-term economic growth.

Adebayo further called for greater cooperation among the executive, legislature, judiciary, traditional institutions, the private sector and citizens. He said sustained development required collaboration while each institution maintained its constitutional responsibilities.

He also praised the Ekiti State House of Assembly for efforts to strengthen the legislature, including the remodelling of its complex and the digitalisation of legislative processes.

His remarks came as Ekiti marked three decades since its creation on October 1, 1996, with discussions focused on building a stronger economy and expanding opportunities for future generations.