In a thought-provoking media discussion with journalists in Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State, the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) gubernatorial candidate, Olaniyi Ayodele Praise, outlined his vision for Ekiti State’s economic development. Praise emphasised the need for a private-sector-driven economy, leveraging agriculture as a key driver of growth and industrialisation.
According to Praise, Ekiti’s vast agricultural potential, particularly in cocoa production, can be harnessed to make the state a major export hub in Africa. “If Ekiti decides to focus on cocoa alone, we can become the foremost state to export cocoa on a large scale, not just in Nigeria but in Africa,” he stated.
The PRP candidate also highlighted the importance of value-added production, citing the recent commissioning of the state’s airport with cargo facilities as a game-changer. “We need to stop exporting raw materials and focus on producing finished products to drive economic growth through industrialisation,” he stressed.
Praise’s economic blueprint emphasises identifying and utilising the strengths of various zones in Ekiti, establishing cottage industries, and empowering local farmers. “We have to identify the resources we have in some of these zones… and empower them by establishing cottage industries, creating jobs and removing the dependency on civil service to a private-sector-driven economy,” he explained.
The gubernatorial candidate’s vision aims to improve Ekiti’s Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) and create an agricultural revolution, ultimately moving the state away from a civil service-driven economy.
With his ambitious economic plan, Praise is positioning himself as a leader who can drive meaningful change in Ekiti State. As the June 18 election approaches, voters will be keenly watching to see whether his vision for the state’s future resonates with them.
