Ado Ekiti Political Appointees Deepen Government Impact Across Wards

The ongoing ward-to-ward tour and financial empowerment by the Forum of Ado Ekiti Political Office Holders, under the leadership of the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Habibat Adubiaro, is a shining example of how governance should be felt at the grassroots.

So far, Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, and 13 have benefited from this outreach. On the tour with the SSG are the Forum’s Secretary, Mrs. Mary Oso-Omotosho, and Financial Secretary, Hon. Deji Adarabierin.

This initiative, now in its second round of financial empowerment, reinforces one truth: if all political office holders, both elective and appointed, actively engage their people in this manner, the impact of government will be felt more deeply across communities.

As Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji continues to provide inclusive leadership, ensuring that Ado Ekiti enjoys unprecedented recognition through the highest number of political appointments in history, his appointees from Ado Ekiti are not just echoing his vision; they are equally bringing it to life.

They are working tirelessly to complement his strategies, extending the tangible presence of government to the grassroots and turning promises into real, actionable change for the people of Ado Ekiti.

The tour continues next week.

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BAO TILL 2030: Oyebanji’s Bold Agricultural Vision Already Bearing Fruits in Ekiti

Ado-Ekiti | September 17, 2025

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, has continued to justify his declaration of 2025 as the “Year of Accelerated Growth in Shared Prosperity” as his far-reaching agricultural policies begin to yield results, reducing unemployment, boosting food security and turning youths into productive stakeholders in the state’s economy.

Since assuming office, Oyebanji has pursued an ambitious agricultural transformation agenda aimed at removing young people from the streets as beggars or criminals and re-directing their energies towards profitable agricultural ventures. 

His approach provides access to land, credit, training and modern technology while also changing long-held perceptions of farming from a menial job to a rewarding career.

A cornerstone of his policy is the “Bring Back Our Youths into Agriculture” programme, which provides land, subsidised inputs and training for thousands of young farmers. Complementing this is the establishment of the Ilu Eye Agro-Trading and Aggregation Company Limited and agric hubs such as the Oke-Ako Agro-Industrial Hub, designed to integrate every segment of the value chain, from production to logistics. Already, 32 farm clusters have been established across the state.

To ensure productivity, Oyebanji has rehabilitated farm roads, provided solar lighting, boreholes, sport facilities and other amenities for rural settlements, while also recruiting agro marshals and grazing managers to secure farmlands. Partnerships with private sector players, including YSJ Farm Limited, Cavista Holdings and Origin Tech Group, are further strengthening the sector.

The impact is visible. Crop productivity figures for 2024 show cassava output rose from 2,030,388 metric tonnes in 2023 to 2,077,087 metric tonnes in 2024, yam increased from 1,502,150 to 1,536,699 metric tonnes, and maize jumped from 257,635 to 268,971 metric tonnes. Similar improvements were recorded in poultry, aquaculture and livestock farming.

In addition, Oyebanji’s administration has distributed thousands of tonnes of fertilisers, seeds, farm chemicals and animal feeds to farmers, while providing subsidies for high-value tree crops such as cocoa, cashew and oil palm to restore Ekiti’s historic status as a leading cocoa producer. The state also commissioned the Ekiti Agro Cargo International Airport to open access for local products in international markets.

Notably, Ekiti markets, including the newly established BAO Market at Agric Olope, Ado-Ekiti, are now recording a sharp drop in food prices as supply outpaces demand, a direct benefit to households across the state.

Looking ahead to his second term, Governor Oyebanji has pledged to consolidate on these gains, positioning Ekiti as a hub of agricultural production, job creation and industrial raw material supply.

With agriculture already driving down food costs and creating employment opportunities, Oyebanji’s strategy appears to be paying off, reinforcing his “BAO Till 2030” mantra as more Ekiti youths embrace farming as a business, not just a survival strategy.

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Ekiti 2026: Kayode Ojo Should Report The Nation Newspaper to Its Owner, Tinubu

BAO Media Centre 

September 5, 2025 

When a man spends his days throwing stones at the rooftop of a house, he should not be surprised when a piece of that same house falls back on him. That is exactly the case with Engr. Kayode Ojo, who is now crying foul over The Nation Newspaper’s candid analysis of his weak political standing in Ekiti. 

The Nation Newspaper is not just any tabloid on the streets of Lagos; it is the media investment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. If Ojo is genuinely pained by what was written about him, he should take his grievances directly to the owner of the paper, the President himself. After all, he claims to have the ears of Abuja. Why complain in public if Abuja is truly in your pocket?

But the truth is that Ojo is not known in Abuja. Former Governor Ayo Fayose said it months ago, and he quoted President Tinubu categorically, that he had never even heard the name Kayode Ojo before. How then can a man unknown to the President pretend to wield influence in the corridors of power?

The irony is laughable. Here is a man who, through pseudonyms, has been launching cheap shots at President Tinubu, suddenly demanding sympathy when Tinubu’s own newspaper tells Ekiti people the plain truth about his serial failures in politics.

You cannot fight Abuja in the dark and then run to Abuja in the morning, begging for endorsement. Politics does not work that way. You cannot eat your cake and have it at the same time.

If Kayode Ojo has a problem with The Nation, he should stop wailing in Ado Ekiti. He should march to the Villa and tell President Tinubu to his face that his newspaper is unfair to him. Until then, Ekiti people should understand the real picture: Ojo is neither a force in Abuja nor a factor at home.

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Rare Show of Love as Ekiti LG Workers Donate ₦10m to Support Oyebanji’s Re-Election Bid

Ekiti State local government workers, on Tuesday, demonstrated their overwhelming support for Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s re-election as they collectively donated the sum of ₦10 million.

The cheque was presented to the governor by the Permanent Secretary, Local Government Service Commission, and the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Ekiti State chapter, in the presence of representatives drawn from all local governments and LCDAs across the state.

This gesture, described by many as unprecedented, comes weeks after the Ekiti State University (EKSU) Alumni Association purchased both the nomination and expression of interest forms for Governor Oyebanji, citing his strong ties as one of their own.

Beyond these, different groups and associations have continued to throw their weight behind the governor through self-sponsored endorsements, a trend political observers say shows the genuine love and acceptance Oyebanji enjoys across the state.

According to workers present at the donation, their support is not influenced or forced but stems from the governor’s humility, accessibility, and visible developmental strides in all sectors of Ekiti’s economy.

Political analysts note that this organic outpouring of loyalty reflects a rare bond between a sitting governor and the people, proving that Oyebanji’s style of governance resonates deeply with the grassroots.

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BAO’s Agribusiness Drive Creates Jobs and Wealth in Ekiti

…as Ekiti Leads in Cassava Production

The vision of Governor Biodun Oyebanji to make agriculture the backbone of Ekiti’s economy is steadily yielding results, with young farmers now recording impressive harvests under the State Government’s agribusiness initiatives.

Hon. Ebenezer Boluwade, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, disclosed this after receiving the first pepper harvest video from a youth farmer operating under the Ekiti Urban Farming initiative at the Erifun Farm Hub.

Boluwade explained that the Oyebanji-led administration deliberately invested in facilities at the hub to make farming more attractive and rewarding for youths.

“At Erifun Horticultural Hub, we have put in place the necessary infrastructure to support all-year farming. These include a desilted dam, a complete pipe reticulation system, drip irrigation layout, a solar-powered pumping machine, and conducive accommodation for farm operators. This is how we are making farming attractive and ‘sexy’ for our youths,” he said.

The Commissioner emphasized that Governor Oyebanji’s agribusiness drive is not only enhancing food security but also creating sustainable jobs and wealth for the people.

Highlighting cassava as one of the State’s major agricultural strengths, Boluwade noted that Ekiti plays a significant role in Nigeria’s global leadership in cassava production.

“According to FAOSTAT (2022), global cassava production was about 330 million tonnes, and Nigeria alone accounted for 18% of this, making us the largest cassava producer in the world. Here in Ekiti, cassava is more than food on our tables; it is jobs for our farmers and income for families across our communities. When our farmers thrive, everyone eats better,” he added.

He assured that the Oyebanji administration will continue to prioritize agribusiness by supporting farmers with modern infrastructure, improved seedlings, and policies that drive productivity across the state.

“These milestones are proof of Governor Oyebanji’s absolute commitment to repositioning agriculture as a source of pride, prosperity, and growth for Ekiti people,” the Commissioner stressed.

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