Ekiti: It’s time for new direction — Otunba Fayose

A businessman and governorship hopeful in Ekiti, Otunba Emmanuel Fayose has stated that for Ekiti, the government must move towards innovation and look towards a new direction.

This is coming just as Otunba Fayose lauded past governors of the state for the development strides that have so far been recorded since the creation of the state in 1996.

Otunba Fayose in a statement issued to newsmen by his media office on Saturday in Ado Ekiti, said the call becomes pertinent in the light to reposition the state for growth, self-reliance, and digital economy.

Appraising the development of the state so far, Otunba Fayose who lamented that the state appears to be slipping down the abyss under the current government, warned that innovation and new direction remain the best way to reposition Ekiti State.

“Having appraised the state of affairs in our dear Ekiti State, I have concluded that we will need to move to a new direction of doing things, an innovation for wealth creation for our people and a new way we run our affairs.

“When you look at the world today, development are being driven by innovations in technology, crafts, IT and the likes and Ekiti State cannot be the exception to the norm,” Otunba Fayose wrote.

According to the governorship hopeful, such innovation when deployed must be people-centric by ensuring an all-round human capital development of the Ekiti sons and daughters.

“Our schools must be upgraded and made up to date with quality teaching personnel who would utilise modern teaching and instructional materials to impact knowledge in a very conducive ambiance.

“Modern tablet with all accredited courses and and approved syllabus must be provided for pupils in both primary school and secondary school students”, he said.

He further added that apart from reworking the state’s formal education systems and processes, there is also the need for the encouragement of non-formal and vocational training and education, these are the only ways we can make Ekiti independent and self-sufficient.

“All over the world today, emphasis of governments has been on vocational training and practical learning of students, not the theoretical approach being applied.

“The federal government is now proposing a new Tax bill, what are doing to meet our obligations in the state, can we truly say we are ready? So we must change direction and embrace innovation.

“As we look into the future and new directions, we must exploit our vast agricultural advantage to create wealth, employment. The problems of insecurity, poverty, inflation, and food insufficiency would be permanently eradicated with an improvement and innovations in agricultural production in the state.

“Ekiti State cannot in anyway be an exception to this if indeed, the focus of government is growth, development and progress of the people,” he said.

Otunba Fayose lauded past governors of the state for their unwavering commitment and accomplishments in the development strides that have so far been recorded since.

“I am placing it on record that past governors of the state have made their individual efforts in the developmental journey of Ekiti.

“They have done their best and Ekiti State will forever remain grateful to them all. So it’s time for a new direction, innovation and wealth creation”, he concluded.