Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has been named the recipient of Vanguard Newspaper’s Best Governor Award for Good Governance, with the award ceremony scheduled for April. A delegation from Vanguard, led by Deputy Editor Mr Adekunle Adekoya, formally presented the nomination letter to the Governor at his office in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday.
The newspaper’s Board of Editors declared that the award recognises Governor Oyebanji’s outstanding implementation of his administration’s six-pillar development agenda, particularly in human capital development, infrastructure, industrialisation, and the arts, culture, and tourism sector.
While receiving the letter, Governor Oyebanji expressed gratitude for the recognition, describing it as a motivation to intensify his administration’s efforts in governance and development. He attributed Ekiti’s progress to transparency, accountability, and continuity in governance, highlighting the completion of key projects initiated by his predecessor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, including the Ekiti Knowledge Zone, Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport, and Agricultural Processing Zone.
The Governor also acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms, which he said have enhanced state funding and facilitated the execution of critical projects and programmes. He further emphasised the success of the Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort’s revitalisation under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), noting that this achievement has paved the way for similar investments in Arinta Waterfall, Ipole-Iloro, and other tourism assets. According to him, discussions are already underway with potential investors to establish a Games Village and Zoological Garden to further boost the state’s tourism sector.
“On behalf of myself and my team, we express gratitude and appreciation to the board of Editors for counting us worthy for this award. This award coming from a credible organization like Vanguard Newspaper, to me, is exciting. I have looked at the trajectory of Vanguard over time and I see that it’s one of the most serious-minded newspapers in the country. They are objective, highly professional and they have survived the storm in the industry and that speaks to resilience of the management.”
“I am excited because of the pillar on which you are giving us this award, which is governance. We believe strongly that we must tilt government policies and processes to serve the people. We also believe that we have entered into a contract with Ekiti people, and we must be deliberate and intentional in ensuring that the terms and conditions of those contracts are met, and that is what we’ve been doing quietly here in the last two and a half years.”
“Gradually, people are beginning to see that Ekiti is working, and I am so glad that you alluded to the BudgetIT Report on Transparency and Accountability. We are a very small state, we are punching beyond our weight. On the ladder of Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), we are second or third to the last in the country, but we have kept the state running due to our commitment to good governance, transparency, accountability and self-denial. The little resources we have, we are spending it to give the best value to the greatest number in the society. And that is why we cannot afford to be irresponsible.”, Governor Oyebanji stated.
