Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has officially taken office as the governor of Ondo State, marking the start of his first full four-year term following the death of his predecessor, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, in 2023.
The inauguration ceremony took place on Monday at the Ondo State Sports Complex in Akure, the state capital, two months after Aiyedatiwa won the governorship election representing the All-Progressives Congress (APC). The event was officiated by Justice Olusegun Odusola, the Chief Judge of Ondo State.
After his deputy, Olayide Adelami, took the oath, Aiyedatiwa expressed his commitment to making Ondo a model of sustainable development and effective governance. He presented his administration’s “Ease Agenda,” which focuses on several key areas: maintaining order and security, advancing both urban and rural development through agriculture and the blue economy, fostering technological innovation and industrial growth, improving healthcare and socio-economic welfare, ensuring access to reliable power and affordable energy, promoting sustainable infrastructure, enhancing tourism, and developing education and entrepreneurship.
As the seventh elected governor of Ondo State and a native of Obe-Nla, an oil-rich community in Ilaje Local Government Area, Aiyedatiwa stated, “Our goal is to position the state as a premier tourist destination while fostering sustainable infrastructure development. We aim to achieve this through investments in eco-friendly infrastructure, the establishment of tourist facilities, and the preservation of our cultural heritage. Our priority will be to create an environment conducive to the tourism sector’s growth while ensuring that our infrastructure projects are sustainable and socially responsible.”
He assured that all ongoing infrastructure projects across Ondo State’s three senatorial districts would be completed during his administration, aiming to cultivate a vibrant tourism industry that would provide job opportunities, boost economic growth, and enhance the quality of life for residents.
Aiyedatiwa envisions a future where Ondo State is celebrated for its natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and warm hospitality. By realizing this vision, he believes they can improve the livelihoods of the citizens while safeguarding their cultural identity and protecting the environment for generations to come.
