Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has set a new economic agenda to be pursued by the state in the next 50 years.
He expressed optimism that the next fifty years would be driven by economic diversification, technology and innovation, human capital development, and strong institutions.
The governor spoke at a public lecture themed “Ondo State yesterday,today and tomorrow” as part of activities marking the golden jubilee celebration of the state’s creation.
Aiyedatiwa, while declaring the public lecture open, outlined a bold vision for the state’s next fifty years, anchored on industrialisation, innovation and youth-driven growth.
He said, “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.”
Noting the state’s transformation from an agrarian economy to a hub for industry and enterprise, he highlighted key projects such as the Sunshine Free Trade Zone, Golden Ceramics Industrial Plant, Ore Ethanol Plant and the Ondo Deep Sea Port, designed to enhance industrial processing, value addition, and export-driven growth.
He also stressed the importance of tourism and culture as engines of opportunity, citing coastal and eco-tourism initiatives that foster entrepreneurship and stimulate local economies.
Also Speaking, a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, attributed the state’s emergence as an oil-producing state to visionary leadership, strategic sacrifices and collaborative governance, warning that disregarding the counsel of elders and the lessons of history could jeopardise the state’s development.
Olanipekun who chaired the occasion, recounted the painstaking steps that positioned Ondo alongside Abia and Imo states as Nigeria’s oil-producing states in the 90’s under the administration of Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua.
He noted that their joint efforts, alongside other stakeholders, led to the drafting of the decree that enabled Ondo to tap into its hydrocarbon potential.
In his lecture, the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, charged the Ondo State Government to fully implement the new Tax Reform Acts and enact a State Tax Harmonization Law to curb nuisance and illegal taxation.
He advised the state government to introduce a Tax Accountability Report, to be issued annually to every taxpayer, and to develop a holistic State Tax and Fiscal Policy Framework to guide public spending, revenue mobilisation, and debt management.
Oyedele also called on the government to facilitate the development of economic development plans by each Local Government Council to enhance transparency and accountability.
According to him, strict adherence to these reforms would stimulate job creation and significantly boost the state’s economy.
