OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, Lagos
The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the 2027 Ogun State election, Senator Solomon Adeola (Yayi), has unveiled a nine-point development agenda aimed at accelerating the state's economic growth, improving infrastructure and enhancing the welfare of residents.
Adeola presented the blueprint, tagged "ITESIWAJU" – a Yoruba word meaning Progress or Upward Movement during a courtesy visit to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Council, at the Iwe Iroyin Secretariat in Abeokuta.
The senator said the agenda focuses on key sectors including education, healthcare, women and youth empowerment, sports, tourism and the creative industry, agriculture, security and new town development.
He pledged to tackle youth unemployment by engaging industries operating in Ogun State to create employment opportunities for qualified indigenes, particularly at middle-management level.
According to him, many companies maintain factories in Ogun while locating their headquarters in Lagos, resulting in higher tax revenues and senior management jobs being retained outside the state.
Adeola said his administration would encourage such firms to establish regional headquarters in Ogun, while also securing employment quotas for the state's graduates.
He also promised to strengthen vocational and technical education, saying graduates of technical institutions would be equipped with tools to become self-reliant and employers of labour.
On sports development, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations said his administration would revive grassroots sports through the reintroduction of the Governor's Cup and the revitalisation of the state's football club to nurture young talents.
The APC candidate further pledged to embark on modern new town development across strategic locations, particularly along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway corridor, to curb the proliferation of shanties and improve urban planning.
In agriculture, Adeola promised to expand mechanised farming, provide modern equipment to farmers and establish an off-take system through which government would purchase harvested produce to encourage year-round farming and improve food security.
On security, he said his administration would establish a State Security Trust Fund, financed through government revenues, lotteries and contributions from industries, to strengthen the operational capacity of security agencies.
The senator also expressed support for local government autonomy, assuring that local councils would enjoy full operational independence if he is elected governor.
Adeola further promised to improve healthcare delivery, empower women and youths, promote tourism and the creative industry, and collaborate with the Nigerian Railway Corporation to improve rail connectivity between Ogun and Lagos.
He also proposed introducing a modern mass transit system on major routes, including Abeokuta–Sango-Ota, Abeokuta–Sagamu and Abeokuta–Ilaro, complete with modern terminals and ticketing facilities.
While commending Governor Dapo Abiodun for ongoing development projects, Adeola pledged to consolidate on the achievements of the current administration.
Earlier, Ogun State NUJ Chairman, Comrade Wale Olanrewaju, lauded the senator for his support to journalists and infrastructure interventions across the state. He appealed for assistance in constructing a permanent secretariat for the council, noting that the proposed site has remained undeveloped since 1987.
During the visit, Adeola was inducted as the Golden Jubilee Ambassador of the NUJ Ogun State Council in commemoration of its 50th anniversary.
He also pledged regular engagement with the media through periodic press briefings if elected governor and announced a donation of ₦50 million as seed funding for the construction of a new NUJ secretariat, in addition to promising to provide a utility bus for the council.
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