I visited Akure in June 2011 and was blown away by the massive on-going development of the town, the new street lights, even by the presence of the Street Cleaners in their bright orange outfits sweeping the street. I saw mainly the construction of roads, other visible new businesses and the Governor’s office, although just from the outside. To me, having been away for several years, I was happy to see the on-going development, not even being aware of the magnitude of other projects I was yet to see.
I came back to the UK and carried out research on Ondo State development and projects, without immediately thinking to find out who the ‘brains’ behind all this was. My excitement centred round the visible modernisation of Ondo State and its on-going potential, and what this could bring to the State if the development process was allowed to steadily progress.
I quickly located Ondo State websites dedicated to its growth and development, and it was via such sites that I came across his Excellency Dr Olusegun Mimiko - in my opinion a man of integrity, humility and a force to be reckoned with. I understand has been in power for just under 3 years and you will find that everything I present to you is based on my observations and experiences during a recent visit in the middle of January 2012.
Most impressively, he has built Mega Schools not just in Akure, but also in Ikare where I travelled to on Saturday 21st of January 2012. The Mega Schools possess state of the art classrooms, football pitch and an assembly point for the students which can also double up as a performance stage. The environment of the school is designed to encourage and stimulate the students’ potential and aspiration.
I also saw the new Market, and my younger sister who came along on the trip with me told me about the tragedy of the previous market when lots of people lost their lives when a lorry lost control and crashed into the crowded market at the bottom of the hill. This brought about the location of the new market in Ikare.
I also had the privilege to see the New Mechanic Village where many custom built workshops are currently being allocated to small businesses. Similarly, all car traders are now based at Automat, the massive new Car Mart. There is now a new Bus Terminal, and new Bus Stops, which should help create orderliness and safety for commuters trying to get on and off public transport - it works everywhere else so, why not in Ondo State. I also visited the new Nepa Market which was bustling and vibrant.
I must admit that I did not read the Governor’s Election Manifesto prior to him coming into power, but regardless of this fact, I would challenge anyone not to be impressed by his visible achievements across the State. There are still some challenges to be tackled with the many projects, but as the saying rightly goes, ‘ROME WAS NOT BUILT IN A DAY’.
For a social society to function, grow, and exist amongst its competitors there has to be a form of social order which should be reflected in the way we conduct ourselves both socially and privately.
Social order can also be reflected in our physical surroundings and infrastructure, how we shape and adapt to things around us, and how we live and interact within our society and environment. The projects I witnessed demonstrated our State positively utilizing the resources we possess to bring about a progressive, healthy, developing and economically viable society.
Ondo State is a unique state, as we have a high numbers of highly educated people, and one thing I can say for our State is we study hard, and we have had in the past a lot of highly placed Ondo sons and daughters holding powerful positions in the Nigerian Government & associated Organisations.
Ondo State is privileged to have Dr Olusegun Mimiko as your very own, a man of integrity and humility who has proven capable and with the winning formula for getting things done. He is well equipped to take the State into the future it well deserves through development, and promotion of its marketable resources. He is encouraging and developing the future generation, as demonstrated by the Mega School Project.
His projects will continue to bring about the creation of jobs, new career opportunities, economic growth and a visible demonstration of what a modern and efficient state government can achieve.
I am also amazed by the amount of awareness and support his Excellency has amongst many people I have spoken to on coming back to London, even with people who are not from Ondo State.
