Oyo at 50 Celebration: Ex-administrators, Govs, Makinde, Awe, Late Aboyade, Daughter Funke, Others Honoured

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

Former military administrators and governors of Oyo State were on Tuesday night honoured with merit awards at the closing ceremony/award night to celebrate the state’s golden jubilee, held at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan.

Others also honoured include Governor Seyi Makinde; Prof. Bolanle Awe; late Chief Omowale Kuye; Prof. Tunji Olaopa; Ms. Funke Aboyade, SAN, and late Prof. Ojetunji Aboyade.

Governor Makinde while speaking at the event attended by over 1,600 guests, said the state @ 50 celebration will continue over the next one year with the commissioning of key projects and building of stronger institutions.

He declared that some projects that will transform transportation, logistics and economic growth across Ibadan and beyond, such as the upgrade of the Ladoke Akintola Airport and the 32-Kilometre first segment of the Senator Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road, would be commissioned before the end of the first quarter.

He further stated the surveillance aircraft purchased to fortify security in the state would soon be delivered, adding that modern electric buses would also soon be delivered as part of his administration’s commitment to expanding transport infrastructure and ensuring that public transportation remains efficient and affordable for the people.

According to the governor, all past leaders of the state have made specific and general impact on the state, laying strong foundations, which successive administrations continue to build on, leading to the state having an advanced public service and an improved education and social development.

The governor noted that part of such impact was the free education introduced by the former Governor Bola Ige, which he (Makinde) benefited from as a student in the state, stressing that his government is also leaving a legacy of delivering long-term, system-driven infrastructure and transport reforms targeted at further expanding the economy of the state.

He said, “As we draw the curtain on this 10-day celebration of Oyo State at 50, I am reminded of a simple but enduring truth: government will come and go; administrations will begin and end, but Oyo State will remain.

“What we celebrate tonight is not the achievement of one government. It is not the achievement of one political party. It is not the celebration of one moment in time. We are celebrating a living state.

“This state has been shaped by many themes. You saw from General David Jemibewon, as the first military governor of Oyo State, how he contributed his own quota. His team contributed and then successive administrations also did.

“Interacting with them, what we have seen is we’re celebrating a state shaped by many themes, strengthened by many sacrifices, and carried forward by generations of people who believe that Oyo State will always be a place better today than it was yesterday.

“From the foundational years, after Oyo State was created in 1976, when early administration, beginning with the military government of then, Colonel David Jemibewon, focused on establishing the structures of governance to the Second Republic, when Chief Bola Ige administration placed emphasis on public service, education, and social development, our state continues to evolve through different national seasons.

“Subsequent military administration carried on with the task of developing Oyo State. With the return of democracy in 1999, attention shifted towards rebuilding democratic institutions, strengthening urban governance, and responding more directly to the expectations of our people.

“In the years that followed, infrastructure renewal, security reforms, and urban modernisation became defining priorities, reshaping how our cities function and how communities experience governance.

“Let us not forget that Oyo State has passed through moments of tension, transition, and institutional testing. And each time, we emerged stronger, wiser, and more committed to stability and progress.

“Today, we are building on all that has come before, delivering long-term, system-driven infrastructure, transport reforms, and economic projects that will be commissioned throughout this anniversary year. So, people may think this is the end of Oyo at 50. Well, it is just the beginning. We will celebrate throughout the year.

“We have projects to be commissioned, and we have structures to be built as well. So, this anniversary is not an isolated achievement, but it is part of a continued promise to future generations. So, this celebration will continue with the steady commissioning of projects that reflect both continuity and progress.

“In the coming months, we will formally commission the completed Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport. It has been upgraded to an international airport providing an important gateway to the world.

“We will also continue to work and commission key sections of the Senator Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road project, a transformational infrastructure that reimagines mobility, logistics, and urban growth across Ibadan and beyond.

“As a matter of fact, within this first quarter, the first segment of that road will be commissioned. That is before the end of March 2026.

“Beyond roads, the future we are building is already arriving. I spoke with my Chairman; the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum. We spoke about the surveillance aircraft that we ordered.

“Well, as we speak, we are tracking the vessel. Three days ago, it was at Lome. Now, the vessel is at the port in Lagos. So, that is also being delivered. And it will help us, both Oyo and Kwara, to ensure that we can have surveillance across our common areas and deep into our states.

“Also, as part of this celebration, we have ordered modern electric buses. This will also be delivered later in the year. It will expand our transport infrastructure and ensure that our public transportation system becomes efficient and affordable for our people.

“So, we have a lot of projects in the pipeline because development is not a spectacle, it is a system, and systems endure when they are designed for people, not optics, not politics.”

The governor, who also congratulated the recipients of the Oyo State Merit Award, charged the coming generation of Oyo State residents to contribute their quotas to the development of the state, Nigeria and the betterment of the society, noting that such efforts will be duly honoured in future.

A total of 74 people from different spheres of life such as, governance, public service, philanthropy, business, sports, academia, military/paramilitary, entertainment, banking/finance, judiciary/law, religion and medical sciences were presented the Oyo State Merit Award for contributing to the development of the state.

Some of the former administrators/governors, including Major General David Jemibewon (Rtd), the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, who served as the 14th Governor of Oyo State; family members of former Governors Bola Ige, Omololu Olunloyo, Alao-Akala and Abiola Ajimobi, who were honoured at the event as well as recipients of the Oyo State Merit Award, congratulated the people of the state, while also lauding the governor on the historic event.

In his goodwill message at the event, the Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazak, commended Governor Makinde for reclaiming the former glory of the state through various projects.

AbdulRazak, who lauded Governor Makinde, for embarking on the total rebuilding of infrastructure in Ibadan and other parts of Oyo State, noted that he had passed through the state more than 20 times, adding that knowing how the state used to be and how it is now, Makinde deserved to be commended for building on the foundations and legacies left by successive leaders.

He challenged Nigerians asking for how governors had been spending improved resources accruing to their states to come to Oyo State and see Makinde’s works, pointing out how he (AbdulRazak) flagged-off the 76km Iseyin-Fapote-Ogbomoso Road, and how he was a part of its commissioning about 18 months after as well as the ongoing upgrade of Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, and the Ibadan Circular Road, among others.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of the Oyo at 50 Committee, Hon. Saheed Akinade-Fijabi, thanked the governor for the opportunity to celebrate the state, describing him as a leader that believes in the development of others irrespective of their political affiliations.

The event had in attendance former military administrator of Oyo State, General Oladayo Popoola (Rtd); former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion; former governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau; former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Deacon Emmanuel Udom; Wife of the Oyo State Governor, Engr Tamunomini Makinde; former First Lady of Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Mutiat Ladoja; deputy governor of the state, Barr Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal; former deputy governor of the state, Engr Hamid Gbadamosi; National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Kabiru Tanimu Turaki; former Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Bode George and former Minister for Trade and Investments, Chief (Mrs) Onikepo Akande.

Others were the member representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency, Hon Fola Oyekunle; member representing Ibadan Kajola/Iseyin/Iwajowa Federal Constituency, Hon Shina Oyedeji; former Chairman of the Nigeria Communications Commission, Prof. Adeolu Akande; members of the PDP National Working Committee; local government chairmen, religious leaders, traditional rulers and service commanders, among others.