LEADERSHIP Governor of the Year 2025: Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji

For turning humility into policy, and quiet purpose into measurable progress.

A New Model of Leadership

In just three years, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji has redefined what people-centred governance looks like. He has led Ekiti State with rare humility and quiet resolve — proving that transformation does not always come with noise.

His mission has been simple but profound: make government visible not in slogans, but in service. Under his watch, Ekiti has seen a burst of inclusive growth that links every project to human impact — from new roads and modern schools to thriving farms and better healthcare.

Service is not about noise; it is about proof.

Six Pillars of Purpose

Governor Oyebanji’s administration is anchored on six strategic pillars:

Governance; Youth Development and Job Creation; Human Capital Development; Agriculture and Rural Development; Infrastructure and Industrialisation; and Arts, Culture and Tourism.

These guiding principles have shaped policy and investment across the state’s 16 local governments. Within three years, 577 major projects — 368 completed and 209 ongoing — have touched over 200 towns and villages, advancing education, health, power, agriculture, and social inclusion.

Infrastructure that Connects People

Nowhere is Oyebanji’s impact more visible than in infrastructure.

New roads like Ikere–Igbara-Odo, Ogotun–Ikogosi, Isinbode–Ara–Ikole, the Ado-Ekiti Ring Road (Phase I), and Omu–Ijelu–Itapa have opened new economic corridors.

Urban mobility has improved through projects such as Spotless Hotel Road, GRA Third Extension, and the Okeyinmi Flyover, now under construction.

The jewel in the crown is the Ekiti State International Cargo Airport, recently cleared by the NCAA for commercial operation — a gateway positioning Ekiti as the logistics hub of the South-West. Parallel investments, including the International Centre for Arts and Culture and an 80-bed medical ward at EKSUTH, show a government thinking beyond its term. He builds not for applause, but for posterity.

Farming for the Future

Agriculture sits at the heart of Oyebanji’s economic blueprint. Over 5,000 youths have been engaged in commercial cluster farming under initiatives such as the Broilers Scheme at Erifun Farm and the Bring Back Youth in Agriculture Programme.

The government’s investment in free land clearing, dormitories, tractors, and modern farm equipment at Oke Ako Farm Settlement has boosted food security and rural jobs.

To safeguard farmlands, 400 Amotekun operatives and agro-marshals have been recruited — linking community security directly with agricultural productivity.

Education as Legacy

For Governor Oyebanji, education is not expenditure; it is investment.

He increased monthly subvention to tertiary institutions from N767.8 million to N1.27 billion, clearing salary arrears and funding facility upgrades.

Across all local governments, hundreds of classrooms and laboratories have been rebuilt, while a Children’s Service Centre for children with disabilities and 16 smart classrooms equipped with interactive boards underscore a commitment to digital learning.

The recruitment of 1,600 teachers and 200 non-teaching staff has strengthened teaching quality, ensuring every classroom remains a seedbed of opportunity.

He treats every classroom as the seedbed of tomorrow.

Health for All

In healthcare, the administration has delivered results that speak for themselves.

A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Dialysis Centre at EKSUTH now serve thousands; an 80-bed medical complex is under construction; and five general hospitals — in Oye, Ijan, and Ifaki Ekiti — have been fully rehabilitated.

Through the Ekiti State Health Insurance Scheme, 19,000 pensioners now access free healthcare. Over 3,700 free surgeries have been performed, 600,000 malaria tests conducted, and 500,000 ACT drugs distributed statewide.

A further 250 health professionals have been hired, ensuring care reaches those who once felt forgotten.

Inclusive Governance and Safe Communities

Social inclusion has become a hallmark of Oyebanji’s leadership.

His administration renovated the Transit Home for Abused Women and Girls, provided vocational tools and hearing aids to persons with disabilities, and funded flood-control projects worth over N300 million under the WASH Initiative.

New drainage systems in Ado Ekiti have drastically reduced flood risk, while extended 33 kV power lines and IPP connections have improved electricity supply to key public institutions.

Restoring the Dignity of Labour

A defining feature of Oyebanji’s governance is empathy. He introduced a free mass-transit scheme for civil servants and students, and cleared longstanding pension arrears — paying N4.9 billion to 2,260 pensioners in one tranche, N1.3 billion to 348 retirees in Ado LGA, and over N40 billion statewide within three years.

He governs with empathy — and Ekiti feels it.

Empowering Youth and Industry

Ekiti’s youth have found new hope under Oyebanji.

The Skill Acquisition Centre in Ado Ekiti, Aso-Oke Weaving and Market Centre, and Oodua Textile Complex remodelling have revitalised traditional and creative industries.

Through a partnership with SMEDAN, over 5,000 young people have been trained in entrepreneurship and financial literacy, while 250 artisans earned trade certificates — tangible steps toward youth self-reliance.

Harmony as Governance

Perhaps Oyebanji’s most remarkable achievement lies in politics — or, more precisely, in transcending it. He has united Ekiti’s political class in a rare spirit of cooperation.

All former governors — Niyi Adebayo, Ayo Fayose, Segun Oni, and Kayode Fayemi — have publicly commended his humility and maturity.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele describes him as ‘a man of rare grace and humility.’

This broad consensus has anchored political stability, enabling sustained development and a calmer civic life.

A Humble Beginning, a Steady Rise

Born December 21, 1967, in Ikogosi-Ekiti, Oyebanji is proudly homegrown. He holds a B.Sc. in Political Science from Ondo State University (now EKSU) and an M.Sc. in International Relations from the University of Ibadan.

A former lecturer, banker, and one of the architects of Ekiti’s creation in 1996, he has spent over 11 years in public service.

Married to Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, a senior lecturer at the University of Ibadan, they are blessed with three children.