On Wednesday, a public hearing organised by the [Ekiti State House of Assembly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekiti_State) commemorated the 30th anniversary of the creation of [Ekiti State](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekiti_State) in 1996, with stakeholders urging greater unity, active citizenship and joint action to build on three decades of progress.
**Why was the hearing convened?**
The event, themed “Ekiti at 30: Reflecting on Our Journey, Charting Our Future,” gathered former governors, legislators, technocrats, academics and traditional leaders to assess the state's development and outline a roadmap for the next thirty years.
**What achievements were highlighted?**
Participants pointed to advances in infrastructure, education, human capital and economic growth, while stressing the need to position Ekiti as a hub for investment and prosperity.
Former Governor Chief Segun Oni congratulated residents on the milestone, noting the stability and growth achieved, and appealed for public support to Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration in deepening development.
Speaker of the House, Adeoye Aribasoye, explained that the hearing was convened to scrutinise the three‑decade journey, pinpoint challenges and produce actionable recommendations that will inform the legislative agenda of the Seventh Assembly and future parliaments.
“Thirty years is both a milestone and a moment of reflection. It gives us an opportunity to look back at where we started, examine the journey, appreciate progress, acknowledge challenges and ask what kind of Ekiti we want to build ahead,” Aribasoye said.
Keynote speaker, lawyer and philanthropist Tope Adebayo, argued that the state’s progress should be measured by the number of citizens given opportunities rather than by the success of a few, urging a view of successive governments as a continuous effort rather than a competition.
Elder statesman and first Commissioner for Finance, Chief Afolabi Ogunlayi, recalled the agitation against marginalisation in the former Ondo State that led to Ekiti’s creation, and observed that despite early difficulties the state has recorded substantial gains in infrastructure and population.
Former Deputy Speaker Karounwi Oladapo stressed that cooperation between the executive and legislature is essential to realise the founding fathers’ vision, citing the legislative act that transferred the former Ondo State University in Ado‑Ekiti to the state and renamed it the [University of Ado‑Ekiti](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Ado_Ekiti).
Commissioner for Finance Akin Oyebode reported that the economy has diversified, with agriculture’s share falling from 80 % in 2005 to 40 % in 2017, and that internally generated revenue rose from roughly N8 billion in 2020 to over N50 billion in 2025, now covering monthly salaries.
“Ekiti’s internal revenue now covers our monthly salaries, but we must move to the next frontier where the IGR covers all recurrent expenditure. This will mean that FAAC revenue can go solely to investment and capital projects,” Oyebode said, attributing recent fiscal strength to Oyebanji’s Shared Prosperity agenda and President Bola Tinubu’s reforms.
Vice‑Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Prof. Babatola Ayodele, called for active citizenship, stating that development is strongest when citizens act as partners rather than spectators. Stakeholders agreed that the next thirty years should focus on economic diversification, institutional strengthening, youth opportunities and attracting investment.