Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has reiterated his administration’s commitment to strengthening institutions and deepening merit-based governance, declaring that additional institutions will be created before the end of his tenure to secure sustainable development in the state.
Makinde made the declaration on Thursday at a high-level symposium organised to mark the 50th anniversary of Oyo State, held at the International Conference Centre of the University of Ibadan. The event formed part of activities commemorating the state’s golden jubilee.
According to the governor, his administration has deliberately prioritised strong institutions over strong individuals, insisting that enduring development can only be achieved when leadership is supported by resilient systems of governance.
“We’ve been talking about strong institutions. We don’t want strong individuals in our state; we want strong institutions,” Makinde said. “Yes, we want strong and committed leadership, but that leadership must be supported by institutions that will guarantee good governance well beyond the life of this administration.”
He explained that the agencies and institutions established so far were designed to make development in Oyo State irreversible, adding that his government was already working on a new long-term development framework.
Makinde disclosed that a fresh policy document, titled Roadmap for Continued Development of Oyo State: 2027 and Beyond, would be unveiled before the end of his tenure.
The roadmap, he said, would incorporate long-term development targets, including Agenda 2040, to guide the state’s growth over the next five decades.
“Before we leave, we will prepare another roadmap that will serve the people of Oyo State for the next 50 years, and we will circulate it,” he stated.
The governor also issued a caution to political actors nursing ambitions to succeed him, urging them not to take the people of the state for granted. He noted that public enthusiasm during recent anniversary celebrations underscored citizens’ desire for continuity in governance philosophy.
“Oyo State people don’t want the music of Omituntun to stop,” Makinde said, referencing his administration’s development agenda. “That message was clear from the turnout and reactions we saw during the celebrations.”
In his goodwill message, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, congratulated the government and people of Oyo State on the milestone anniversary, describing the state as a long-standing pacesetter in Nigeria’s socio-political evolution. He commended the hospitality of the people and prayed for continued progress.
Delivering the keynote address, Olu Ajakaiye, Executive Chairman of the African Center for Shared Development Capacity Building, praised Makinde for reviving and modernising the development ideals of the old Western Region through effective planning, transparency and accountability.
Ajakaiye commended the governor for integrating abandoned projects from previous administrations, institutionalising the State of the State Address, engaging stakeholders in budget processes and maintaining a skilled and motivated public service that has ensured industrial harmony.
He, however, urged the governor to give full legal backing to all institutions created under his administration and called for sustained efforts to eliminate criminality and insecurity across the state.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Oyo State at 50 Anniversary Committee, Saheed Akinade-Fijabi, said the symposium’s theme, “Celebrating the Legacy, Navigating the Present, and Reimagining the Future”, was particularly relevant amid Nigeria’s current economic and political realities. He noted that the forum was designed to encourage robust dialogue on pathways to sustainable development.
The symposium attracted an array of dignitaries, including former Oyo State Governor and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, former First Lady of Oyo State Mutiat Ladoja, Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, and presidential media adviser Sunday Dare.
Also present were the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, the Chief Judge of Oyo State, Iyabo Yerima, commissioners, permanent secretaries, traditional rulers, security chiefs and labour leaders.