Celebration of 5 Decades of Progress and Agenda Setting for the Next 50 Years
A Golden Jubilee Commemorative Lecture
By
Prof. Taiwo Oyedele
Chairman, Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee
- Acknowledgement and Opening Remarks
It is with exceptional joy, immense pride, and profound gratitude that I stand before this amazing gathering of distinguished sons, daughters, and friends of the Sunshine State today to celebrate a monumental milestone: the Golden Jubilee of Ondo State.
Fifty years ago, on the 3rd of February, 1976, Ondo State was carved out of the former Western Region, beginning an independent journey of self-determination, progress, and unwavering commitment to the noble ideals of our people. This day marks not just an anniversary, but a powerful affirmation of the collective will and vision of our founding fathers.
Fifty years, that is half a century. This period transcends a mere timeline; it is a tapestry woven with monumental achievements and threads of struggle with collective sacrifice, but unyielding and resilient spirit of the great people of Ondo State. So, we are here to celebrate not just time, but 50 years of progress.
- Introduction: A Moment of Pride and Inspiration
Today is a day of deep pride and renewed possibility. Ondo State is fifty years old, a golden milestone that invites us to celebrate with gratitude, reflect with honesty, and look forward with confidence.
Fifty years ago, a new state was born with big dreams, strong values, and an unshakeable belief in education, hard work, and integrity. Today, we honour those who laid the foundation, those who sustained the journey, and those who will carry the dream forward. This celebration is not just about history. It is about our collective destiny and direction.
- Ondo State Yesterday: The Golden Foundation
Ondo State was not founded by accident; it was a deliberate creation rooted in a rich heritage of culture, exceptional intellect, and unwavering courage.
I) Our Purpose
The demand for its creation was spearheaded by intellectual giants and visionaries who sought a political and administrative structure where their people could effectively harness their immense human and natural resources. Our founding fathers envisioned a land where:
Education would not just be a right, but the primary currency of success.
Creativity and innovation would flourish unhindered.
Every citizen would have an equitable opportunity to reach their full, God-given potential.
II) Our Greatest Asset
This intellectual capital remains, undoubtedly, our most valuable, non-depletable asset. It is a profound testament to this founding vision that Ondo State swiftly earned the well-deserved moniker of having the highest concentration of educated elites in Nigeria. From our classrooms even in remote villages came teachers, jurists, economists, artists, engineers, and public servants who served Nigeria and the world with distinction. The legacy of our forefathers, especially free education policy lives on in the intellectual DNA of every Omo Ondo.
III) Legacy of Distinction
For five decades, Ondo State has been a fertile ground for national excellence with unwavering distinction across all fields of human endeavour, exporting its finest to shape the political, legal, economic, and cultural landscape of Nigeria and beyond. This profound influence is etched in the lives of figures like the first executive governor of the state, Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, and his successor, Chief Adebayo Adefarati, who were pillars of the progressive movement. In the judiciary, legal titans such as human rights activist Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, and former Chief Justice of Botswana, Dr. Akinola Aguda, exemplified a commitment to justice and the rule of law. Economically, individuals like former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Chief (Dr.) Joseph Oladele Sanusi and oil magnate Oba Frederick Obateru Akinruntan have driven industry and commerce. Furthermore, the Sunshine State has illuminated the world of arts and entertainment, producing global icons from the ‘King of Juju music’ King Sunny Adé to quintessential Nollywood stars like Omotola Jalade Ekeinde (MFR) listed among Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people and media moguls like Mo Abudu.
IV) A Personal Reflection on Community
My own journey, like that of many sons and daughters of this great state, is a product of these core values and the deep-seated sense of community. I stand here today as a proud son of Ondo State from Ikaram-Akoko. I recall a moment that cemented my belief in our collective spirit – the five hundred naira (N500) scholarship from my village association 35 years ago. That modest sum helped me register for my final secondary school examination. Without it, it is unlikely that I would be speaking to you today. This anecdote underscores a powerful truth – our strength lies in our community, our willingness to lift each other up, and our unwavering belief that greatness can emerge from anywhere, with just a little support and an unstoppable determination.
As a gesture of my gratitude, and hopefully to inspire others, I am announcing a scholarship of up to N500,000 to cover the final examinations of the best final year student in every public secondary school graduating this Golden Jubilee year across the state.
- Ondo State Today: Transformation and Progress
Today, Ondo State stands strong as the Sunshine State, blessed by nature and energised by its people. Geographically, we are blessed – with a fertile agricultural belt, an economically significant coastline that stretches over 180 kilometers, the towering, mystical hills of Idanre, and the vast, globally-significant bitumen reserves, considered as the second largest in the world – we can confidently assert that we are God’s favourites among equals.
Over the past 50 years, Ondo State has witnessed and spearheaded tremendous transformation, setting standards for good governance and human development.
I) Education and Human Capital: The Knowledge Advantage
Our commitment to education has been a sacred covenant, moving beyond mere access to unwavering focus on quality delivery and global competitiveness.
Result of Investment: Ondo State indigenes consistently produce some of the nation’s best minds, excelling in national examinations, technology, arts, and governance locally and globally.
The State With Least Poverty: An undisputable indicator of the state’s investment in human capital is our performance on socio-economic metrics. Despite ranking in the bottom 10 states in terms of budget size, Ondo State emerged as the state with the least percentage of its population living in multidimensional poverty in Nigeria according to the latest Multidimensional Poverty Index survey by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). This is not because we are the richest, it is because we care enough to invest in what truly matters to our people – education, health, and dignity.
II) Infrastructure and Economic Development: Building a Modern Economy
Successive administrations have played crucial and strategic roles in building the hard and soft infrastructure necessary for sustained economic growth.
Connectivity: We have seen significantly improved road networks connecting our agrarian and coastal centers to major market hubs, reducing post-harvest losses and boosting trade.
Industrial and Resource Exploitation: We are now witnessing a focused and deliberate drive toward industrialisation built on our inherent competitive advantages. Key among these are:
The Deep-Sea Port Project: This is a game-changer, positioning the state as a maritime gateway to West Africa and unlocking immense blue economy potentials.
Bitumen Exploration: We are relentlessly pursuing the full and responsible exploitation of our vast bitumen reserves.
Diversification: Robust activities in aquaculture, timber processing, and large-scale mechanised agriculture are positioning our economy for massive and sustainable non-oil expansion.
III) Culture, Resilience, and Lessons Learned
Ondo State is a living testament of rich and vibrant culture. We have successfully leveraged our cultural heritage (from the Ondo and Owo festivals to the Igbokoda water regatta) and breathtaking natural landmarks – from the pristine beaches of Ilaje to the ancient caves and hills – to promote high-value tourism, creating direct and indirect jobs.
But our journey over fifty years has been far from smooth. We have navigated volatile economic downturns, managed complex internal challenges, and confronted the immense demands of a rapidly modernising world. Yet, in the face of every trial, the authentic Ondo spirit -‘Ise ni Oògùn Ìsé’ (Work is the antidote to poverty) – has consistently shone through. This resilience is our heritage, and it is our greatest strength.
IV) Fiscal Governance and Transparency
Ondo State’s commitment to a modern, efficient state is reflected in its recent progress moving from 24th to 18th place in the BudgIT State of States fiscal performance ranking between 2020 and 2024 in the latest report. Furthermore, the state is enhancing democratic accountability through the publication of citizens’ budgets in both English and Yoruba, which are accessible on the state’s website ondostate.gov.ng. However, as we commend these achievements we must acknowledge areas for further work. The latest Subnational Ease of Doing Business report by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) shows that Ondo State is not ranked in the top 10, highlighting the urgent need for accelerated reforms in regulatory efficiency, investor facilitation, and digital service delivery among the other 16 indicators used for the evaluation and ranking. This is an opportunity to set a target to be in the top 5 states on the ease of doing business in Nigeria within the next 5 years.
- Ondo State Tomorrow: Our Purpose Reimagined – Agenda 2076
As we celebrate this Golden Jubilee, the most critical task is to pivot our focus decisively from reflection on the past to a calculated, strategic projection into the future. The next 50 years hold a clear imperative for Ondo State to assume its rightful position as a leading subnational economy in Nigeria and Africa.
Our vision for Ondo State Agenda 2076 must be audacious, our plans meticulous, and our execution disciplined and flawless. Let us develop a multi-stakeholder plan focusing on five strategic pathways:
I) A Productive and Diverse Economy: Sustainable Industrialisation
The future of Ondo State lies in value creation, not dependence. We must move decisively beyond primary economic activities and over-reliance on federation allocations through:
Maximising the Blue Economy: Through the deep-sea port, fishing, and related logistics.
Solid Minerals Value Chain: Establishing an industrial park around bitumen, limestone, and granite extraction.
Agro-Industrial Revolution: Shifting from subsistence farming to large-scale, technology-driven processing of cocoa, cassava, and oil palm. We must pivot from primary sectors to secondary and tertiary sectors – transforming cocoa to chocolate, establishing refining capacity, and becoming the mining capital of Nigeria.
Diversified Growth: Robust economic growth that aims to grow faster than the national GDP, achieve key Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and further reduce poverty, ultimately moving the state from middle power status to a leading state with an upper-income economy.
II) Technological Innovation and Digital Economy Hub
We must leverage our superior intellectual capital to build a future-proof, knowledge-based economy.
Silicon Coast Initiative: Positioning Ondo State as the premier hub for technology and innovation in Africa through focused investment in tech incubation centers and digital skills training.
Innovation, Research and Development: Leveraging inventions like those by the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) to stimulate more innovation and positioning our citizens to play a leading role in the new global AI-powered world.
Digital Governance: Implementing comprehensive digital solutions, e-government and investment in broadband infrastructure to improve service delivery, transparency, and internally generated revenue (IGR).
III) Security, Peace and Investment Climate
A progressive economy requires a safe and predictable environment, and a system that enables success.
Strengthened Security: Continuously strengthening our security architectures, including the successful Amotekun corps.
Land Reform: Implementing crucial land reform to provide ease of property ownership and transfers, with transparency and opportunities to unlock value for our citizens. Ondo state can lead Nigeria in this regard.
Ease of Doing Business: Fostering an environment of robust legal protection and predictable policy to reduce bureaucracy. We must improve tax registration, simplify regulatory fees, and advance service harmonisation across the state.
Government Efficiency: Crucially, the state should establish a Task Force on Government Efficiency and accelerate the implementation of comprehensive e-government solutions to improve service delivery and transparency.
Investing for Tomorrow: We need to strengthen the State’s Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MoFI) to effectively hold and manage the state’s investment in assets and state-owned enterprises, beginning with the creation of a proper assets and investment register.
Tax Reform: Implement the new tax reform acts, enact the State Tax Harmonisation law to curb nuisance and illegal taxes. The state can even host the national Tax Ombud office for the South West region to lead in taxpayer rights and protection.
Fiscal Transparency and Direction: Beyond implementing the new tax reform acts and the State Tax Harmonisation law, Ondo State can introduce a Tax Accountability Report to be sent annually to every taxpayer and develop a holistic State Tax and Fiscal Policy Framework to guide spending, revenue mobilisation, and debt management.
Grassroots Accountability: To ensure inclusive development, Ondo State should facilitate the creation of an economic development plan by each Local Government Council and establish a dedicated micro portal on the state’s website for all LGs to report their long term economic plans, annual budgets, and audited financial statements for proper financial accountability.
IV) Comprehensive Youth Empowerment and Inclusion
Our dynamic youth population is our most energetic resource.
Job Creators: We must create structured, scalable platforms for our youth to transition rapidly from being job seekers to becoming serial entrepreneurs and prolific job creators.
Targeted Investment: This requires massive investment in technical and vocational education, strategic mentorship programs, and the provision of access to capital and startup grants for innovative entrepreneurial ventures.
Inclusive Economy: The economy of Ondo State must work better for everyone – from market women to fishermen to tech-savvy youths. Inclusion is not charity; it is social contracts and smart economics.
V) A Long-Term Development Mindset
True development is built over decades, not election cycles.
Consistency and Strong Institutions: Ondo State’s future will be strongest when policies are consistent, institutions are strong, and plans look beyond every administration.
Govern for Generations: We must govern not just for today, but for generations yet unborn, ensuring stable electricity, reducing poverty, and creating lasting wealth and prosperity.
This future vision is not a government project alone; it is a collective responsibility. The government must provide the platform, the private sector must drive the growth, our traditional institutions must enforce social cohesion, and every citizen must work hand-in-hand, committed to diligence and unity, to build the prosperous and exemplary Ondo State of our dreams.
- Conclusion: The Future is Bright
The story of Ondo State at 50 is a powerful narrative of immense promise fulfilled and extraordinary potential waiting to be fully realised. We stand today at a powerful intersection: a moment to genuinely honour the sacrifices of yesterday, celebrate the achievements of today, and most importantly, to boldly embrace the possibilities of tomorrow. According to Abraham Lincoln, the best way to predict the future is to create it.
It is a celebration of who we are, and a declaration of our next level aspirations. We have the talent. We have the resources. We can create bigger opportunities and multiply our impact faster and better. What we need now is shared commitment, from government, from communities, from the private sector, and from every citizen.
If we stay united across communities and generations notwithstanding political or religious differences, there is no limit to what Ondo State can achieve. If we work together, plan wisely, and stay true to our values, the next 50 years will deliver more prosperity, greater opportunity, and enviable dignity for our people.
Let us rise from this celebration not just with cherished memories, but with a renewed, unapologetic commitment to excellence, unity and progress. Let us continue, in word and deed, to be the true Sunshine State – a radiant source of light, inspiration, innovation, and unwavering progress for the entire nation and the continent.
Personal Commitment
As a proud son of Ondo State, I am offering my support to the government of Ondo State in designing and implementing these transformative fiscal and governance reforms.
May Ondo State always rise. May our dear state prosper even more. And may we continue to shine.
Happy Golden Jubilee, Ondo State! May our sun never set.
May God bless you all.
May God bless Ondo State.
And may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
