L-R: Secretary to the Ekiti State Government, Alhaji (Dr) Ganiyu Owolabi; Commissioner for Eduction, Science and Technology, Dr Eniola Ajayi and Commissioner for Information and CIvic Orientation, Hon. Funminiyi Afuye, during a news conference on the activities for the second anniversary of the Dr Kayode Fayemi administration in Ado-Ekiti ..on Friday
No fewer than 12 major road projects, six water projects and seven rural electrification would be commissioned by the Ekiti StateGovernment this week as Ekiti State government flag off activities marking the second year anniversary of the Dr Kayode Fayemi administration in the state.
Also billed for commissioning are the 100 renovated public secondary schools under the Operation renovate All Schools in Ekiti (ORASE) and the commissioning of legacy projects including the Samsung Engineering Academy, Civic Centre, State Pavilion, Life Academy, Iluomoba, and the Governor’s Office and Governor’s House in Ado-Ekiti.
The state’s Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Hon Funminiyi Afuye, who disclosed this in a press conference in Ado-Ekiti, said the focus of the celebration would be on delivery of projects embarked on by the administration in the last one year. He added that the commissioning of projects would continue well after the period of the anniversary celebration.
Afuye said that the Dr Kayode Fayemi administration had every reason to celebrate, having delivered on the promises made to the people of the state at inception as well as some of the projects requested by different communities during last year’s town hall meetings by the governor. The theme of the celebration, according to him is “Reclaiming The Trust, Delivering the Promise”
The Commissioner said that the massive commissioning of projects is a product of a strategic developmental plans of the administration, adding that there is no single community where a project had not been completed in the last one year. He said the administration had laid a solid foundation for the success it has achieved by putting in place relevant laws and creating an enabling environment for good governance and private initiatives to thrive.
He added that a critical evaluation of the 8-point agenda of the government would show that that the government has performed creditably well and deserve to celebrate and be celebrated.
“We can boldly declare that the process of laying a solid foundation has paid off. With the relevant laws put in place, Ekiti State has emerged one of the safest places to live and do business. This is a clear departure from what was obtained some years ago, the years of the locust, when the state was always in the news for the wrong reasons. Today, the peaceful nature of the state has made it the beautiful bride for investors, international donor agencies and governments at different levels, many of whom are now partnering with the state in its strategic development plans.” Afuye said.
He added; “We owe these to the focused leadership that has been in place in the last two years, which has instituted good governance by putting in place relevant laws upon which good governance now thrive. Some of these laws include the Freedom of Information law, the Fiscal Responsibility Law, the Public Private Partnership Law, the Gender Based Violence Prohibition Law and the Social Security Benefit Law. These and several other relevant laws and policies of government have greatly enhanced governance in the state and created an atmosphere of peace which has also brought about prosperity.
“For instance, the Computer per child initiative of the administration is second to none in the country. Through this e-school project (aka Komputa JKF), no fewer than 35,000 laptop computers have been distributed to students of the state’s public primary schools in the last 10 months, while another 11,000 have been distributed to the teachers. Under the scheme a total 100,000 laptop computers are to be distributed to all secondary school students in the state by 2014. The idea is to equip our students- who are our future leaders- for the highly competitive world of technological development.
“The Social Security scheme, through which our indigent elderly citizens are paid a monthly stipend of N5,000, the first of its kind in Sub- Sahara Africa, is now a reference point in the country as it is giving new lease of life to thousands elderly citizens.
“In spite of its limited resources, the administration had through creative means and sacrifice undertaken some developmental strides and fulfill its promises to the people. This, no doubt has changed the face of development in the state. It is this ability to deliver on promises made to the good people of our state that forms the basis of our celebration. Our words have remained our bond, and integrity has remained our watchword.
“The evidence abound in the areas of youth and women empowerment, health care programme targeted at the vulnerable in the society; provision of free and functional education in a conducive atmosphere; massive investment in modernized and commercial agriculture leading to emergence of young and educated farmers; industrialization which has led to the resuscitation of moribund industries; tourism development, which has brought the state into global reckoning with the attendant boost to the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGI).
“Billed for commissioning are 12 major roads, six water projects, seven rural electrification projects and several school and building projects among others. The Governor will also be laying foundation of Legacy Projects namely: Governor’s Office, Ado-Ekiti, Governor’s House, Ado-Ekiti, Civic Centre, State Pavilion, Samsung Engineering Academy, as well as the Life Academy Iluomoba.”
Last modified: October 8, 2012