FOR some, public service is a licence to lord things over others. To some, it is a call to serve – an opportunity to contribute to nation building through carefully thought-out developmental programmes. To that latter class belongs the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who upon assuming office some 16 months ago, is re-engineering the state and putting it on a totally new developmental footing. His major focus is how to make poverty history in the state.
With a background in journalism, academics, social justice crusade and politics, the Ekiti State Governor has demonstrated within a short frame of time that Ekiti can be peaceful and prosperous. All it takes is a leader that can bring compelling imagination and courage to the centre stage of transformative governance. Undaunted by some sharp arrows of prejudice shot from little minds inhabiting some dark corners, “Eyiyato” as he is fondly called, has taken some bold steps to bring about change in the state.
As Dr. Fayemi marks his 47th birthday, there is a lot we can point at in terms of development in the state. For instance peace, which had taken flight from the state, has since landed safely with its refreshing effect on all and sundry. Fayemi, with a doctoral degree in War Studies, apparently understands the importance of peace. He believes no development can take place in the absence of peace, hence he pursues the path of peace with diligence. Part of the gains is the return of international developmental agencies to the state, showing more interest in its development and the renewed partnership between Federal institutions /MDAs and the state.
With Fayemi in the saddle, it has become crystal clear that there are no people too difficult to govern, but difficult leaders, unprepared and unwilling to show consideration for the collective wish of the governed.
The creativity he has brought to governance is unprecedented. With a paltry N109 million monthly IGR he met in October 2010, Dr. Fayemi, has, through the introduction of a few innovations, succeeded in increasing it to N600 million monthly, by October 2011. This, he did simply by plugging some leakages in the system. His target is to hit N1billion by June. Even while seeking to bake a bigger cake, the Fayemi-led administration has not lost sight of the plight of the indigent elderly citizens, which has been worsened by the down turn in the economy. It has established a social security scheme for the elderly citizens of the state above 65 years. The monthly payment of N5,000 stipends commenced last October with a little over 10,000 beneficiaries. The figure has since doubled after more citizens got enlisted following their conviction that it was not a one-off thing.
The social security support for the elderly was preceded by a similar gesture to the youth. The state’s youth empowerment scheme has taken 5,000 unemployed youths off the streets, and placed them in some sectors after undertaking some training. The 5,000 are the first set of beneficiaries of the 20,000 new jobs planned for the youth before 2014.
In the area of education, aside its free education policy and the Computer-per-desk initiative for secondary school students, the governor had to put sentiments aside in effecting the merger of three state owned universities. He had wondered the rationale behind having several mushroom universities instead of having one well funded university that would be a pride to the state. The free medical health of the administration is with a difference. It focuses on the vulnerable members of the society – children under five years, pregnant women, physically challenged and the elderly citizens. Added to this is the free medical mission that takes medical care to the various communities. Over 400,000 citizens have benefitted from this scheme as at last quarter of 2011.
The much anticipated physical development has taken off with the flag off of 13 road projects last November. Today, the state is one huge construction site, with road construction and beautification projects going on in different locations.
Prior to his active involvement in politics, Dr. Fayemi was the pioneer Director of the Centre for Democracy and Development, a research and training institution dedicated to the study and promotion of democratic development, peace-building and human security in Africa.
He received his first degree in History and Politics from the University of Lagos in 1985, a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Ife, Ile-Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), in 1987 and his Doctorate in War Studies from the King’s College, University of London, England in 1993, specializing in civilian-military relations and defence planning.
Dr. Fayemi was the technical adviser to Nigeria’s Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission (known as the Oputa Panel) and also served on three Presidential advisory Committees on Conflict Management and Security Sector Reform; NEPAD and the Millennium Development Goals under the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo administration. He was also an Adviser to the President on the ECOWAS Commission, NEPAD Secretariat, African Union and United Nations Economic Commission of Africa on Governance and Security Issues. He was also a member of the Strategic Group of the African Union Secretariat, the Management Culture Change Committee of ECOWAS and Africa Policy Advisory Group of the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth office.
Fayemi has written and lectured extensively on governance and democratization. His recent publications include: Mercenaries: The African Security Dilemma; Deepening the Culture of Constitutionalism: The Role of Regional Institutions in Constitutional Development in Africa; Security Sector Governance in Africa: A Handbook, edited with Nicole Ball; Out of the Shadows: Exile and the Struggle for Democracy and Freedom in Nigeria; and Towards an Integrated development of the Niger-Delta.
He is also a recipient of several awards, fellowships and grants including the Ford Foundation Grant on the Special Initiative on Africa and the Macarthur Foundation Research Grant. He was named Governor of the Year, 2011, by the Leadership Newspaper.
Ekitis (home and abroad) and indeed all lovers of democracy and good governance surely have more than 47 reasons to chorus 47 gbosas in celebration of this man of honour.
• Oyebode is Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ekiti State, Nigeria.
With a background in journalism, academics, social justice crusade and politics, the Ekiti State Governor has demonstrated within a short frame of time that Ekiti can be peaceful and prosperous. All it takes is a leader that can bring compelling imagination and courage to the centre stage of transformative governance. Undaunted by some sharp arrows of prejudice shot from little minds inhabiting some dark corners, “Eyiyato” as he is fondly called, has taken some bold steps to bring about change in the state.
As Dr. Fayemi marks his 47th birthday, there is a lot we can point at in terms of development in the state. For instance peace, which had taken flight from the state, has since landed safely with its refreshing effect on all and sundry. Fayemi, with a doctoral degree in War Studies, apparently understands the importance of peace. He believes no development can take place in the absence of peace, hence he pursues the path of peace with diligence. Part of the gains is the return of international developmental agencies to the state, showing more interest in its development and the renewed partnership between Federal institutions /MDAs and the state.
With Fayemi in the saddle, it has become crystal clear that there are no people too difficult to govern, but difficult leaders, unprepared and unwilling to show consideration for the collective wish of the governed.
The creativity he has brought to governance is unprecedented. With a paltry N109 million monthly IGR he met in October 2010, Dr. Fayemi, has, through the introduction of a few innovations, succeeded in increasing it to N600 million monthly, by October 2011. This, he did simply by plugging some leakages in the system. His target is to hit N1billion by June. Even while seeking to bake a bigger cake, the Fayemi-led administration has not lost sight of the plight of the indigent elderly citizens, which has been worsened by the down turn in the economy. It has established a social security scheme for the elderly citizens of the state above 65 years. The monthly payment of N5,000 stipends commenced last October with a little over 10,000 beneficiaries. The figure has since doubled after more citizens got enlisted following their conviction that it was not a one-off thing.
The social security support for the elderly was preceded by a similar gesture to the youth. The state’s youth empowerment scheme has taken 5,000 unemployed youths off the streets, and placed them in some sectors after undertaking some training. The 5,000 are the first set of beneficiaries of the 20,000 new jobs planned for the youth before 2014.
In the area of education, aside its free education policy and the Computer-per-desk initiative for secondary school students, the governor had to put sentiments aside in effecting the merger of three state owned universities. He had wondered the rationale behind having several mushroom universities instead of having one well funded university that would be a pride to the state. The free medical health of the administration is with a difference. It focuses on the vulnerable members of the society – children under five years, pregnant women, physically challenged and the elderly citizens. Added to this is the free medical mission that takes medical care to the various communities. Over 400,000 citizens have benefitted from this scheme as at last quarter of 2011.
The much anticipated physical development has taken off with the flag off of 13 road projects last November. Today, the state is one huge construction site, with road construction and beautification projects going on in different locations.
Prior to his active involvement in politics, Dr. Fayemi was the pioneer Director of the Centre for Democracy and Development, a research and training institution dedicated to the study and promotion of democratic development, peace-building and human security in Africa.
He received his first degree in History and Politics from the University of Lagos in 1985, a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Ife, Ile-Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), in 1987 and his Doctorate in War Studies from the King’s College, University of London, England in 1993, specializing in civilian-military relations and defence planning.
Dr. Fayemi was the technical adviser to Nigeria’s Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission (known as the Oputa Panel) and also served on three Presidential advisory Committees on Conflict Management and Security Sector Reform; NEPAD and the Millennium Development Goals under the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo administration. He was also an Adviser to the President on the ECOWAS Commission, NEPAD Secretariat, African Union and United Nations Economic Commission of Africa on Governance and Security Issues. He was also a member of the Strategic Group of the African Union Secretariat, the Management Culture Change Committee of ECOWAS and Africa Policy Advisory Group of the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth office.
Fayemi has written and lectured extensively on governance and democratization. His recent publications include: Mercenaries: The African Security Dilemma; Deepening the Culture of Constitutionalism: The Role of Regional Institutions in Constitutional Development in Africa; Security Sector Governance in Africa: A Handbook, edited with Nicole Ball; Out of the Shadows: Exile and the Struggle for Democracy and Freedom in Nigeria; and Towards an Integrated development of the Niger-Delta.
He is also a recipient of several awards, fellowships and grants including the Ford Foundation Grant on the Special Initiative on Africa and the Macarthur Foundation Research Grant. He was named Governor of the Year, 2011, by the Leadership Newspaper.
Ekitis (home and abroad) and indeed all lovers of democracy and good governance surely have more than 47 reasons to chorus 47 gbosas in celebration of this man of honour.
• Oyebode is Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ekiti State, Nigeria.
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