Akpabio at EKSU convocation, hails Oyebanji’s education policy
…As Gov Oyebanji Restates Commitment to Repositioning Education Sector
The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio has commended Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji for his commitment to leveraging education as a transformative tool to address the challenges confronting the society.
He stressed that the Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji administration’s huge investment in education has not only reshaped the future of the young people but has also served as a sustainable means of combating crime in the state.
The Senate President also directed members of the red chamber to ensure speedy appropriation for the construction of Ado- Ijan Ekiti road, along the new Ekiti Agro- Allied International Cargo Airport, stressing that improving road infrastructure in the state would further enhance access to the airport, boost economic activities, and facilitate movement of goods and services.
This, he said, would further complement the state’s achievement in the areas of infrastructure, education, human capital development and security.
Senator Akpabio stated these on Saturday at the 29th convocation ceremony of the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, where the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele; Chairman, Federal Internal Revenue Service, Dr Zacch Adedeji and Chairman board of Bank of industry (BOI), Dr Mansur Muhtar were awarded honourary doctorate degrees.
While commending the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele for the well-deserved honour in recognition of his outstanding contributions to national development and his support for education and youth empowerment, the Senate President said the recognition serves as a testament to Senator Bamidele’s dedication and exemplary leadership which has significantly contributed to the development of the institution, Nigeria and international community.
He also lauded Governor Oyebanji for his cordial relationship with members of the National Assembly, adding that the relationship has continue to yield positive results for the state and the country at large.
“To all the distinguished Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that are here, please stand so that people could see that the senators are here to celebrate their leader, the Senate Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamide and to the Senate Chairman of appropriation bill, I hereby direct that the road from the airport must be appropriated for and be done before my next visit. We cannot have the best brain here, best education facilities and not have the best roads.
“When you have a good product you do not need to hype it too much people will buy it anywhere, Ekiti people are good people, Ekiti people are the most educated. Whenever you open the door of education, you close the door of prison and I predict that in Nigerian prison today, no Ekiti child shall be there because you are educating them to know the right from the wrong and peace shall continue in Ekiti, nobody in Ekiti shall engage in banditry because you have given them quality education, the product they need to go through life”, the Senate President asserted.
Earlier in his address, Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji said his government remained committed to repositioning education capable of driving development to empower youths with qualitative and functional education and create a brighter future for them as well as lay a solid foundation for a prosperous and sustainable state.
The Governor maintained that his administration places a high premium on human capital development, noting that education remained the bedrock of any thriving society as well as critical pillar and Roadmap to Keeping Ekiti State Working.
He called on the Governing Council to allow creativity and innovation to drive progress in all sectors of the economy stressing the urgent need to embrace the spirit of inquiry and solutions to engender development and transform the standad of the institution and the state as a citadel of knowledge founded to drive global science and technological development.
The Governor observed that EKSU has consistently produced graduates who are well-equipped to compete in the global arena which culminated in the University’s recent acclamation of being ranked as the number one State University in Nigeria and securing the 12th position among over 270 Universities nationwide in the latest comprehensive ranking by Times Higher Education for 2025.
He used the opportunity to congratulate the Senate leader, Dr Opeyemi Bamidele and two other eminent Nigerians who are being awarded with the honorary Doctorate degrees in different fields for their remarkable contributions to the development of Nigeria saying he was very proud to associate with their individual achievements.
According to the Governor, ” The Leader of the Senate, Senator (Dr.) Michael Opeyemi Bamidele is no doubt, a worthy son of Ekiti who has distinguished himself, not only in Ekiti, but across the globe. He has made significant contributions to the development of education and invested in youth development through different initiatives. Just recently, the Bill for the Establishment of a University of Technology and Environmental Studies in Iyin-Ekiti, which he sponsored, was assented into law by the President. This is another addition to his long time investment in education, youth development and other interventions.
“This administration is committed to sustaining the ongoing investment in all our educational institutions by providing them with the necessary resources and support to excel. In furtherance of our support to institutions in the State, I recently approved the sum of N438,955,884.48 to enable the judiciary, legislature and the subvented institutions respond to the recent minimum wage increase. I hereby appeal to our workers to justify this huge investment in their welfare through improved productivity.” The Governor stated.
In his address, the Pro-Chancellor and chairman of the university council, Prof. Akin Oyebode expressed gratitude to Governor Oyebanji who is the Visitor to the University, for his efforts at improving the quality of education generally at all levels in the state commending the notable feat attained in the education sector especially in Ekiti State University despite the harsh economic situation in the country.
Prof. Oyebode assured the Governor that the Governing Council under his leadership will continue to work with the University Management to raise the bar of excellence in the University and register it as an adorable brand of global reckoning.
Delivering his address, the Vice Chancellor of EKSU, Prof. Joseph Ayodele, expressed appreciation to Governor Oyebanji for counting him worthy for appointment as the 9th Vice Chancellor of the university, adding that the Governor’s support for the university has been unprecedented in the anal of education development in the state which have continued to impact meaningfully on the growth and development of the University.
He said he could not but connect the superlative achievements in the university to the historic upward review of monthly subvention to the institution which assisted in no small way to defray the outstanding salaries and accumulated allowances helping as morale booster to staff and also promote stable academic calendars of the institution.
Speaking on behalf of the awardees, the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele expressed their profound gratitude to the institution’s Governing Council for recognizing their contributions to the society, emphasizing that the honour would serve as a motivation to further dedicate themselves to the advancement of education and national development.