By admin Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has restated the transformation potential of the Ekiti Knowledge Zone, describing it as a project that will redefine the state’s economic and industrial landscape, create prosperity and drive sustainable development.
Governor Oyebanji stated this on Thursday during a meeting with the team from African Development Bank (AfDB) led by the Chief Development Economist, Ms Rosemond Offei-Awuku and the Federal Ministry of Finance team led by Dr (Mrs) Akande Oyebola who were in the state on a supervisory mission to the Ekiti Knowledge Zone.
Highlighting that the EKZ draws from the intellectual and educational prowess of the Ekiti people, the Governor mentioned that this zone is ideally situated to draw investments and function as a center for knowledge-driven businesses in Nigeria.
The Governor explained further that the core objective of the project is to leverage the state’s intellectual capacity to promote industrial growth, create job opportunities, and enhance economic empowerment of the state, adding that the fact the state is known to be the most knowledgeable and educated in the country, should lead to prosperity, support industry and foster development.
He expressed optimism in the ability of the EKZ to stimulate economic activities and place Ekiti on the map as a knowledge-driven economy, stressing that the project aligns with global trends where innovation and intellectual capacity drive industrialization and wealth creation.
Assuring both the African Development Bank and the Federal Government of his administration’s ongoing collaboration to achieve cost efficiency and prompt project completion, the Governor stated that his government is committed to maximizing the potential of this initiative. This effort aims to position Ekiti State as a benchmark for knowledge-driven advancement.
He urged the African Development Bank (AfDB) to review its procurement process from the current approach, which often prioritizes the lowest bidder to the one that emphasizes quality, sustainability, and long-term benefits, stressing that focus should be on ability to deliver to cost m, value and time.
“Ekiti Knowledge Zone is one of the gains of continuity in governance, my predecessor started it and we are running with it because we believe that Ekiti is the Knowledge capital of the country. The Zone is not an accidental project, we believe that if they say Ekiti people are knowledgeable and are educated, it should count for something, it should support industry and lead to prosperity and development, “ Governor Oyebanji said, adding that the EKZ would be a game changer for the state and the country as a whole.
In her earlier comments, Ms Rosemond Offei-Awuku, the Chief Development Economist at the African Development Bank, showed happiness with the advancements made on the Ekiti Knowledge Zone project. She praised the state government for its dedication to fostering a knowledge-centric economy. She also highlighted how these ongoing initiatives correspond with the AfDB’s vision for sustainable development and innovation-led expansion.
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Displaying hopefulness regarding the Zone’s future influence, the AfDB representative emphasized its capability to emerge as a key magnet for the knowledge economy within the nation and across borders.
In her comments, Dr. (Mrs.) Oyebola Akande from the Federal Ministry of Finance praised the Governor for his forward-thinking guidance in utilizing the state’s expertise to foster wealth and prosperity. She mentioned that once fully functional, this area will bolster the state’s standing as an epicenter for innovation and play a substantial role in advancing global progress in technology, research, and education.
She assured the Governor that the federal government would continue to support the state to ensure the project achieves it objective.
The team which is in the state for a week long supervisory mission visit, was joined by members of the Project Implementation Unit for EKZ at the meeting.
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