Fayemi’s Legacy, Ekiti Development Dominate Afenifere Renewal Group Colloquium

A high-level colloquium in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday placed the legacy of former Ekiti State Governor, Dr John Kayode Fayemi, at the centre of renewed conversations on accelerating the state’s development ahead of the 20 June governorship election.

The event, organised by the Ekiti State chapter of the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), brought together policy experts, political leaders, and development advocates who examined Ekiti’s growth trajectory and mapped out pathways for sustaining progress.

Professor Azeez Olaniyan moderated the session, while the Director-General of the DAWN Commission, Seye Oyeleye, media executive Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, and former Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Professor Taiwo Owoeye, served as panellists. They reviewed key reforms introduced during Dr Fayemi’s administration and assessed the capacity of current governance structures to sustain the momentum.

Speakers credited the former governor with laying foundations in institutional reforms, regional collaboration, and technology-driven governance, describing those initiatives as critical to the ambition of positioning Ekiti as a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy. They urged voters to support continuity in policy direction, noting that development programmes often require long implementation cycles before delivering full economic impact.

In a keynote message delivered via telephone, former ARG National Chairman, Olawale Oshun, stressed the importance of regional partnerships across the South-West to unlock faster economic growth and infrastructure expansion. He argued that coordinated development strategies among states in the geopolitical zone would strengthen competitiveness and attract investment.

Representing the celebrant, former Chief of Staff to the Ekiti State Government, Tolu Ibitola, thanked participants for recognising Dr Fayemi’s contributions to the state’s institutional and socio-economic development. Family members, political associates, and ARG members attended the event, which also featured goodwill messages from stakeholders.

Fayemi’s Legacy, Ekiti Development Dominate Afenifere Renewal Group Colloquium

A lighter moment came when Omidan Diamond, a five-year-old content creator popularly known as “Ogo Ekiti,” entertained guests, adding a cultural touch to the policy-focused gathering.

Participants concluded that Ekiti’s long-term development depends on sustaining existing reforms, strengthening regional cooperation, and maintaining policy stability beyond electoral cycles. They maintained that continuity in governance remains central to realising the vision of a technology-driven “Silicon Valley-style” innovation ecosystem in the state.