Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, has secured back to back Governor of the Year awards from Leadership Newspaper and New Telegraph, drawing praise from Prince Ayorinde Ejioye, who says the honours reflect measurable progress in infrastructure and youth development across the state.
In a statement released on Friday, Prince Ejioye described the recognition as proof that Mr Oyebanji’s leadership style, which he characterised as deliberate and people focused, continues to gain national attention. Leadership Newspaper named the governor its Governor of the Year 2025, while New Telegraph conferred on him Governor of the Year in Infrastructure.
Prince Ejioye argued that the awards go beyond ceremony. He said they signal a shift in governance that young people in Ekiti can see and touch. According to him, the administration’s Six Pillar Development Agenda has moved from policy speeches to visible projects and funding pipelines.
He cited the Ekiti Knowledge Zone, EKZ, as a clear example. The project aims to position Ekiti as a technology and outsourcing hub, with the promise of jobs for young graduates and digital entrepreneurs. He also referenced the Innovation Grant Facility, IGF, which provides funding support for startups and tech driven ideas.
Beyond technology, Prince Ejioye pointed to what he called a deliberate push to draw young people into agriculture and decision making. He noted that the governor has appointed younger professionals into strategic roles, a move he said signals trust in the capacity of the next generation.
He further commended Mr Oyebanji’s working relationship with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda has attracted federal backed road construction and power interventions to Ekiti.
The governor’s latest honours add to earlier recognitions from Silverbird and Vanguard, reinforcing his rising profile on the national stage.
For Prince Ejioye, the message is clear. He urged Ekiti youths to stay engaged and support what he described as a results driven administration, insisting that young people now occupy the centre of governance, not its margins.
