WRITTEN BY: PRINCESS EIGBOKHAN ORIH

Ondo State is a state in Nigeria created on 3rd February 1976 from the former Western State. It originally included what is now Ekiti State, which was split off in 1996.


During past administrations Ondo State, has witnessed years of the negative aspect of good governance, which has put the state into comatose.


The Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN, is a great man who believes that he is on a mission to turn the face of Ondo state around thereby making it a viable place for investment and economic growth, by creating an enduring economic legacy that will open up Ondo State to employment and economic opportunities for the youths and engender sustainable development.


Ondo state is richly endowed with natural resources, ranging from favorable climatic conditions for crop production to huge mineral deposits, rich forest resources with the longest coastal line of over 180km in Nigeria. The economy of Ondo State is also the sixth largest in Nigeria and is dominated by oil and crop production which should be adequately harnessed to create wealth for its residents and the Rotimi Akeredolu led administration will leave no stone untouched in his poise to ensure the success of the Aketi Dream for Ondo state. This includes partnering with investors in the building of an industrial estate (Ondo-Linyi Industrial Hub) that will enliven economic activities in the area.


The exceptional leadership prowess of Governor Akeredolu is evident in his prudent management of the state resources, capacity building programmes, political inclusiveness and landmark infrastructure across the state despite the economic recession experienced globally.


The administration of Governor Akeredolu is doing what we really wanted by creating the enabling environment for business.


It worries to say that after several years of oil exploitation in ondo state, we don’t have even a single refinery anywhere in the state. This feat which seems to be only in our dreams is gradually coming to reality with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a privately owned oil refining firm, Crown Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited whose business is the refining of crude oil into premium petroleum products. This is another milestone for the Akeredolu led administration targeted at providing more employment opportunities to the Ondo state’s workforce.


Ondo state is strategically positioned to make serious-minded and genuine investors reap from their investments. It is imperative that we re-engineer the economy and place it on a trajectory of sustained growth.


Akeredolu said “Our focus is to ensure rapid growth, development and sustainability of the economy. We have developed the ‘Blueprint to Progress,’ a policy document which encapsulates the five cardinal programmes of this administration.”


These five cardinal programmes are:
Job Creation Through Agriculture, Entrepreneurship and Industrialization;
Infrastructural Development and Maintenance;
Functional Education and Technological Growth
Qualitative Health Care and Social Service (Delivery);
Rural Development and Community Extension Services.


This visionary leader Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has able to do all this with limited financial resources. The Ondo state Governor Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN said “There can be no real development without the support of ondo state citizens towards the affairs of the State. Therefore, the time has come when all those who truly desire progress for Ondo state must be willing to sacrifice.”


Governor Akeredolu is a wise leader who values his team and the people. Success is only achieved with the help of others. What’s more, genuine appreciation provides encouragement, develops confidence, and builds on strengths.


Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) is a man who understands the pains of his people. He is a great listener who once said ‘The state will initiate policies that will encourage less dependence on revenue allocation from the center progressively”.
Trust and confidence in leadership is a reliable indicator of the people’s satisfaction. Good leaders aren’t afraid of being challenged. Their confidence inspires.


Ondo State is a state which contributed immensely to the economic growth of the defunct Western Region almost helpless without the hand-outs from the Federal Government”. That is why it is said that Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu is the right person chosen at the right time to turn Ondo state around.


Compassion is strength. Good leader uses compassion to perceive the needs of those they lead and to decide a course of action that is of greatest benefit to the person and the team.


In health care the Governor distributed multi-millions Naira medical and laboratory equipment to the health facilities across the 18 local government areas of the state, and employed more health workers in the state. The provision of accessible, affordable and qualitative health care is one of the five point’s agenda of The Oluwarotimi Akeredolu administration.


With the ongoing renovations and construction of over 400 new schools in Ondo state, and with more schools in the state soon to witness such capital projects in other to bridge the infrastructural gap that has made learning not conducive in our various schools in Ondo state Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to the infrastructure development of schools in the state.



Fairness is what people want. Good leaders don’t have favorites in the people who they lead, irrespective of the political party you belong. They reward for results not partiality; they promise fairness.


One of the qualities that define a good leader is honesty. When you are responsible for a team of people, it is important to be straightforward. Your political office and the people are a reflection of yourself, and if you make honest and ethical behavior as a key value, your team will follow. So remember to lead by example. The words of Governor Arakunrin Oluwarotin Odundayo Akeredolu