Fayemi: Ekiti GDP hits $3bn during my tenure

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, says the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the state has increased to $3 billion.

Fayemi made the disclosure while speaking at the valedictory session of the state Executive Council on Wednesday.

The session, which was attended by members of the council as well as members who served between 2010 and 2014, took place at the state executive council chamber, Governor’s Office, Ado- Ekiti, the state capital.

Governor Fayemi thanked all past and current members of the council for their sacrifices, patriotism, diligence and commitment to the development of the state.

The governor said Ekiti State made appreciable improvement in all aspects of development, through the collective contributions of members of the council.

He said: “Let me thank all of us, this is a historic day and we must start by thanking God Almighty for making this day possible.

“We’ve worked hard for the success of our state, for the development and growth of our people over the past few years and all of us have contributed immensely in the various capacities we have served Ekiti and I am glad that everybody was able to honour the invitation extended by the cabinet secretariat to this valedictory Executive Council meeting.

“I thank all of you, yes, the governor takes all the credits and also takes all the blames, but the reality is that there is nothing we were able to do in government that I have done alone. You have all contributed your quota to the development of our dear state.

“This certainly is not the Ekiti we met when we came in October 2010. Things have improved, the GDP per capital in our state has gone up to about $3 billion, population has also gone up, we see some evidence of significant progress on maternal mortality, child mortality, school enrolment, school performance record and on a whole range of indices that clearly depict that we have made significant progress.

“I must thank you for your service, your sacrifice to Ekiti State and to our people, some of them may not be recognised now but in future they will be recognised. We also have to thank Ekiti people for giving us the opportunity to serve and for also rendering the services to the best of our ability.

“Resources are not always unlimited and as a matter of fact we have to struggle over the years to maintain all of what we have done. Be that as it may, we’ve delivered on our own task, posterity would judge us one way or the other.”

Each of the executive members, who spoke about their experiences as members of the highest decision making body in the state, hailed Fayemi’s visionary and exemplary leadership in the state.

Ekiti State governor-elect, Biodun Oyebanji, who was the immediate past Secretary to the State Government and Cabinet Secretary, lauded the visionary leadership of Governor Fayemi as well as his commitment to the development of the state, saying: “I will follow in JKF footstep.”

Meanwhile, while Wednesday’s valedictory session marked the end of executive council meeting for the administration, which winds down on October 15, 2022, commissioners and cabinet members would continue with government activities till the last day of the administration.

The Star