Vision, sacrifice paved way for Ondo’s emergence as oil-producing state –  Olanipekun

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Wole Olanipekun has said that the emergence of Ondo State as an oil-producing state was the result of visionary leadership, strategic sacrifice and collaborative governance.

Olanipekun made this known on Monday at the International Centre for Culture and Events (The Dome), Akure, during a public lecture titled “Ondo State: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”, organised as part of activities marking the state’s 50th anniversary.

He explained that Ondo State’s inclusion among Nigeria’s oil-producing states in the 1990s was not accidental but followed deliberate legal and administrative efforts driven by foresight and commitment to the state’s long-term interests.

Reflecting on his tenure under the administration of the late Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua, Olanipekun noted that the drafting of the decree that enabled Ondo State to benefit from its hydrocarbon resources involved collaboration among key stakeholders and difficult decisions taken in the collective interest.

“Leadership requires humility, the willingness to listen and adherence to truth. Ignoring advice born of experience is dangerous for any society. We are still young and we want you to lead us on,” he said.

He stressed that Ondo State’s achievements over the past five decades were products of careful planning, strategic thinking and respect for institutional memory, warning that neglecting history and the counsel of elders could undermine sustainable development.

Declaring the lecture open, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa described the Golden Jubilee as both a celebration and a call to responsibility, urging leaders and citizens to shape the next phase of the state’s development with purpose and clarity.

“Fifty years is not just a number. It is a milestone that challenges us to rise to the responsibility of shaping the next era with wisdom, courage and innovation,” the governor said.

He highlighted the state’s gradual transformation from a predominantly agrarian economy to an emerging industrial hub, citing projects such as the Sunshine Free Trade Zone, Golden Ceramics Industrial Plant, Ore Ethanol Plant and the Ondo Deep Sea Port as critical to industrial processing, value addition and export-driven growth.

Aiyedatiwa also identified tourism, culture and infrastructure as key economic drivers, pointing to coastal and eco-tourism initiatives, major road and bridge projects, transport corridors and energy investments aimed at improving connectivity and trade.

“Our youth are our most strategic resource. Through scholarships, vocational training, digital literacy and innovation hubs, we are preparing a generation ready to compete globally,” he added.

In her keynote address, the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Mrs Olu Verheijen, commended the contributions of ordinary citizens to the state’s growth, noting that farmers, teachers, civil servants, artisans and entrepreneurs had sustained Ondo State over the years.

She identified gas infrastructure development, the revival of the Odigbo power plants and modular LNG projects as key enablers of industrial growth, alongside major road projects, healthcare upgrades and the Ondo Deep Sea Port.

“Value addition is the foundation for job creation, revenue generation and the dignity of our people,” she said, urging the state to balance heritage preservation with innovation.

Delivering the guest lecture, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Prof Taiwo Oyedele, praised the foresight of Ondo State’s founding leaders, noting that their emphasis on education and opportunity produced generations of leaders and innovators.

He announced a ₦500,000 Golden Jubilee scholarship for the best graduating student in every public secondary school in Ondo State this year.

Oyedele highlighted the state’s natural endowments, including fertile land, a 180-kilometre coastline, the Idanre Hills and vast bitumen reserves, noting that industrialisation, infrastructure expansion and cultural tourism were repositioning the economy for long-term growth.

In his welcome address, the Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Fasoranti, described the Golden Jubilee as nostalgic and reflective, expressing appreciation to past leaders, traditional rulers and members of the anniversary planning committee.

The lecture was attended by the First Lady of Ondo State, Esther Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa; the Deputy Governor, Olayide Adelami; the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji; members of the State Executive Council; former governors and deputy governors; traditional rulers; lawmakers; security chiefs and other eminent personalities.