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Ondo @ 49

FEBRUARY 3, 2025, marks another milestone in the history of the Sunshine State, as exactly 49 years ago  today, Ondo State was created from the defunct Western Region of Nigeria, with its administrative capital in Akure.

IN the last two-score and nine years, the state has come a long way, having produced 19 great leaders who contributed their quota to the development of the state, among which there are seven civilians. The civilian governors include: Michael Adekunle Ajasin (October 1979 – December 1983); Bamidele Olumilua (January 1992 – November 1993); Adebayo Adefarati (May 1999 – May 2003); Olusegun Agagu (May 2003 – February 2009); Olusegun Mimiko (February 2009 – February 2017); Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu (February 2017 – December 2023); and Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa (December 2023 till date).

NO doubt, Ondo State has benefitted immensely from the good leadership skills and people-oriented policies of its past and present leaders.

It would be recalled that Chief Ajasin, who had been a key part of the Action Group administration in the old Western Region, made education a priority during his tenure. When he presented his budget in 1980, he allocated N7.4 million to free textbooks and stationery materials for primary schools. He increased the number of secondary schools from 250 to 473, expanded the existing 10 teacher training colleges, and even set up the old Ondo State University, now Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti.

HE equally set aside N3.5 million for operating expenses in schools, N2 million for science education, and N40.77 million for the Central School Board. He canceled all tuition fees in schools and distributed free textbooks, workbooks, and stationery materials to students, likewise establishing the Teachers’ Housing Loan scheme, alongside several other giant strides that today have contributed to the educational development for which Ondo is known in the comity of states.

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THE same administration also put Ondo State in the industrial limelight by establishing industries such as Owena Bank, Confidence Insurance, Oluwa Glass industry, Ire burnt bricks, NIROWI Timber Industries, and several others.

NAVY  Captain Bode George also established the Ondo State Polytechnic (which later became Rufus Giwa Polytechnic) and Owena Press Limited which today is the Publisher of The Hope titles.

CHIEF Adebayo Adefarati who took over from the military in 1999 established another university for Ondo State in Akungba-Akoko, the first one having gone with Ekiti State in 1996, and named it Adekunle Ajasin University. He also established an intervention agency for the coastal areas of the State, which he dubbed the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) having received statutory backing in 2001. The other oil-producing States followed suit, thereby making OSOPADEC a trailblazer as far as the development of the Niger Delta area is concerned.

DR  Olusegun Agagu, in line with his Road Map to Progress, carried out exploits among which was the setting up of Ondo State University of Science and Technology, now named Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa.

TO address the poverty rate in the state, Agagu established the Ondo State Microcredit Agency and endowed it with over N3.2 billion for credit to farmers, entrepreneurs, and workers. He also set up 200 basic health centres for each of the 203 wards in the state.

THE same administration also mooted the idea of the Olokola Deep Sea Port which is gradually coming to reality.

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HIS successor in office, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, took education and healthcare in Ondo State to another level through various programmes and projects such as the creation of a specialised medical university (Ondo State University of Medical Sciences), the first of its kind in Nigeria and second in Africa; Mother and Child Hospitals; Abiye Maternal Care Centres; Mega-Primary Schools; and free shuttle buses, among others.

THE late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu recorded landmark achievements in the area of security, having taken over the government at a time when the entire nation faced an overwhelming security challenge. The Western Nigerian Security Network (Amotekun) which he spearheaded is still showing how grassroots initiatives can help to curb the perennial challenge of insecurity. The Anti-Open Grazing Law which he led other southern state governors to make (being the Chairman of the Southern Governors Forum) has also helped to address conflicts between farmers and herders.

TO improve access to affordable healthcare, Akeredolu introduced Orange Health Insurance Scheme (ORANGHIS) for workers in Ondo State, a programme that has continued up till now.

He also followed up the establishment of Olokola Deep Sea Port which Agagu mooted till it gained Federal Government approval during President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term.

THE incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who served as deputy to the former governor, has left no stone unturned in continuing the legacy of his former principal, especially in the areas of infrastructure, security, health, and workers’ welfare.

WHILE we congratulate the government and people of Ondo State for another anniversary of the state’s creation, The Hope hereby charges the present administration to continue the good work that the founding fathers of this state started.

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THE Hope admonishes the government of the day not only to follow up on all projects started by past admirations but to envision better ways of making Ondo State the state to beat by the 35 other states in the country.

ONDO  is rich in human resources, as seen in the quality of intellectuals and captains of industries that the state has produced. The state government should engage as many of such human resources as possible to provide a development blueprint for the state.

LIKEWISE, Ondo is blessed with vast mineral resources, including the largest deposit of bitumen in Africa and one of the largest in the world. The state government should engage all relevant stakeholders and deploy all necessary human and material resources to ensure that the state’s mineral resources are properly harnessed for all-round development.

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