…Celebrates gov’s Vanguard Newspapers, Energy Times’ honours
- By Demola Atobaba, Ado-Ekiti
The Ekiti State Commissioner for Youth Development, Gold Adesola Adedayo, has declared that Governor Biodun Oyebanji deserves another honour as the most youth friendly governor of the year.
Adedayo described the Ekiti Chief executive as outstanding and exemplary among his peers, in terms of execution of youth policies, initiatives and programmes.
He added that the Governor of the year in Good Governance and the Best Energy Governor of the Year conferred on Oyebanji by reputable organisation’s like Vanguard Newspapers and Energy Times, further amplified the level of recognition Ekiti has attained at the national level.
The commissioner said this in his congratulatory message to the governor and made available to TopNews in the on the twin awards conferred on him by the media organisations in Lagos on Friday.
Hailing the media outfits for deeming Oyebanji fit of being garlanded with the prestigious awards, Adedayo, said the governor had earlier been recognised for his enigmatic feat in good governance by Daily Independent Newspaper as Governor of the Year 2023 in Community Development.
The Commissioner catalogued other laurels garnered by Oyebanji to include: Silverbird Television Man of the year 2024 in Good Governance, Nigerian Human Rights Community Best Governor of The year 2024 in Political Stability and Peace and New Telegraph Newspaper’s Governor of the Year 2024 award in Good Governance and Grassroots Development.
He opined further that the Energy Times Governor of The Year and Vanguard Personality of The Year Good Governance, were loud testimonies that Oyebanji has become a focus, template and exemplar in politics, governance and peace building in the country.
Rationalizing why the governor deserves adding more colorful feathers to his numerous caps by being rated as the most youth friendly governor of the year, Adedayo said: “The Youth Back to Farm Programme initiated by the governor has attracted over 1,000 youth farmers, who are now making millions from the sale of their farming products.
“The governor has employed over 4,000 Ekiti job seekers , who are majorly youth as teachers and civil servants, while over 20,000 others have been provided with incentives to operate in the private and non-formal sectors, to reduce unemployment and the attendant crime rate in the state.
“The government has dedicated Youth Centre, where youth can meet and cross-fertilize ideas on businesses, academics and other ventures. Efforts are also underway for the construction of the multi billion Naira Indoor Sports complex that will develop the talents of the youth in sporting activities.
“The Adire Ekiti Hub, which was the brainchild of the First Lady has trained over 1,000 in the making of Adire fabrics. In fact, this fabric has taken over the market with people making millions from the venture”.
On exploits being made by Oyebanji to develop the business and entrepreneurial potential of the youth population, the commissioner, praised the governor for the construction of the Ekiti MSMEs’ Clinic and Garment Hub, where youth are exposed to vocational training, modern business enterprises and innovations.
“All the youth groups in Ekiti, including the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Ekiti Youth Parliament and others are receiving patronage from the state governor. Just recently, a staggering sum of N22.5m was disbursed to about 49 groups as running grants to ensure their smooth operations.
“Rating his performance from these optics, Governor Biodun Oyebanji deserves another Governor of the Year in Youth Development Award”, Adedayo maintained.
