I’ll Work For Economic Viability Of Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo/Odigbo, Reps Hopeful Ajayi

A House of Representatives aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress(APC) from Ondo state, Simisola Fajemirokun-Ajayi, has vowed to work for the economic viability of her Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo and Odigbo federal constituency.

Ajayi, a former Executive Secretary of the West Africa Economic Summit Secretariat stated while addressing journalists after she submitted her expression of interest and nomination forms in Abuja on Wednesday.

The former special adviser to the minister of foreign affairs said she would use her previous experience to bear on the development of her constituency which had been underprivileged

“Our experience in foreign affairs, our experience in organising the West Africa Economic Summit on behalf of the president, all of these experiences can help bring this economic corridor from from Ore to Okebun, to Iloluji and ensure that these places are viable economically. That’s why we’re here.

“The Ore corridor moves more daily traffic than any single Nigerian airport. Odigbo sits atop one of the world’s largest bitumen deposits. Ile-Oluji anchors a cocoa belt that contributes to Ondo State’s twenty-five percent share of national cocoa output;
a crop that earned Nigeria over N3.6 trillion in a single year. The resources exist.

“The representation has not matched them. I have spent years working at the intersection of policy, investment, and governance. What matters is ensuring that this experience translates into real outcomes for our people; across Ile-Oluji, Oke-Igbo, and Odigbo, with representation that is present, responsive, and delivers,” she said.

She noted that her development plan is anchored on unlocking these assets to drive industrialisation, job creation, and sustainable growth.

“I have spent years working at the intersection of policy, investment, and governance. What matters is ensuring that this experience translates into real outcomes for our people,” she stated.

Fajemirokun-Ajayi, former Senior Special Adviser to the immediate past Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, said with a track record that includes facilitating over $150 million in investment pipelines and coordinating regional engagements involving Heads of State, her ambition is driven by results rather than promises.

She emphasised that her grassroots interventions through the Read2Succeed Africa initiative, alongside her engagement with party structures and community stakeholders, demonstrate a balance between high-level experience and local impact.

Fajemirokun-Ajayi said her decision to contest is rooted in a desire to give voice to underrepresented groups, particularly women and youths, while ensuring her constituency benefits meaningfully from democratic governance.

She noted that elections offer citizens a clear choice between continuity and change, stressing that the power ultimately rests with the people.

“Every election cycle presents an opportunity for the people to decide whether they are satisfied with the status quo or ready for something new. Democracy is about the people, and they will make that decision. Our responsibility is to show that women and young people can step forward, lead, and deliver on the mandates given to them,” she said.

However, she expressed concern over the low participation and electoral success of women in Nigerian politics, describing it as a gap that must be urgently addressed.

There is clearly a shortage of women in key elective positions, including the National Assembly. That must change. Representation should reflect all segments of society, and when given the opportunity, women have the capacity to represent effectively and inclusively,” she added.