Better days ahead for Nigeria, Ondo State — Gov Aiyedatiwa

…Unveils fresh investment drive for Ondo glass industry

By Tolulope Eniola

Ondo State Governor, Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has expressed optimism about the future of Nigeria and Ondo State, declaring that better days lie ahead for the country and its people.

Aiyedatiwa said Nigeria had overcome years of challenges and was now awakening to its potential, while assuring that his administration would continue to pursue policies and investments capable of improving the economy and the living conditions of the people.

The governor spoke on Sunday at the 2026 Independence Anniversary Thanksgiving Service held at Agape Christian Ministry, Akure.

At the service, Aiyedatiwa also unveiled a fresh investment drive for the state’s glass industry, disclosing plans to attract a new investor who would utilise Ondo’s abundant silica sand deposits for the production of glass for windscreens and housing.

He said the development was part of his administration’s efforts to harness the state’s natural resources, attract investments, promote industrialisation and create economic opportunities for the people.

Aiyedatiwa said the Independence anniversary was not only an occasion to commemorate Nigeria’s attainment of nationhood but also an opportunity to appreciate God for sustaining the country through its various challenges.

Quoting Psalm 100:4, he said Nigerians had gathered to “enter God’s gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.”

The governor said Nigeria had experienced “seasons of promise and difficulty, triumph and trial,” but had continued to make progress despite the challenges.

“My Lord Bishop said something that Nigeria is not where it used to be. It’s progressing. We are being regarded as the giant of Africa, but in time that giant was sleeping, but it’s now awake, awake to fulfil its destiny and to fulfil God’s purpose,” he said.

Aiyedatiwa, who also cited 1 Thessalonians 5:18, said thanksgiving should not be limited to visible achievements but should also reflect appreciation for the strength with which God had sustained the nation.

“The future of our Nigeria will be better. The future of Ondo State, our tomorrow is going to be better than today,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to remain hopeful about the country’s future, insisting that the younger generation should not grow up believing that the best years of Nigeria were in the past.

“We should not be those who will say we have seen a better Nigeria. A better Nigeria is ahead of us,” the governor said.

On his administration’s development efforts, Aiyedatiwa said the government had continued to implement programmes under the OUR EASE “O’datiwa Odirorun” Policy Agenda, with emphasis on security, infrastructure, healthcare, education, agriculture, energy, human capital development and entrepreneurship.

He said the state had recruited 500 additional Amotekun personnel and provided equipment and mobility support, while other security agencies had also received logistics and other forms of assistance.

According to him, infrastructure projects were ongoing across the state, including roads linking communities with farms to facilitate the movement of agricultural produce.

In the health sector, the governor said his administration was expanding healthcare infrastructure and had awarded contracts for 500-bed buildings across the state’s hospitals.

He also listed the procurement of an MRI machine for the teaching hospital, alongside a CT scan and other medical equipment, as part of measures to improve access to quality healthcare.

On education, Aiyedatiwa said classrooms were being constructed while the government had implemented agreed allowances for staff unions in tertiary institutions.

He acknowledged that there had been “a bit of push and pull” before the implementation but said his administration remained committed to strengthening the sector.

The governor said the government was also supporting smallholder farmers with agricultural inputs and had distributed seedlings to cocoa farmers.

He disclosed that a management board had been procured and inaugurated to improve cocoa yields, describing Ondo as the leading cocoa-producing state.

Aiyedatiwa said the state would continue to explore its natural resources and create an enabling environment for investors, stressing that responsible management of the resources remained critical to achieving sustainable development.

He said his administration would continue to support young people, women, farmers, retirees, the aged and public servants, while pursuing policies aimed at strengthening the state’s economy and improving public services.

The governor also appreciated the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for its continued partnership with Ondo State, saying collaboration between the two levels of government would promote economic development, strategic investment and other opportunities.

Speaking on the role of the Church, Aiyedatiwa urged religious institutions to continue to promote peace, truth, morality and unity, particularly as the country approaches another election season.

He cautioned against allowing political differences to result in hatred, violence and division.

“No political ambition is worth the life of a citizen and no election is worth the destruction of the peace of our communities,” he said.

The governor equally urged youths not to allow themselves to be used for violence, stressing that their future was more important than temporary political interests.

“The Nigeria we desire must be one in which young people are not merely beneficiaries, but active builders of it. The youth must be part of the builders of the future we are hoping to have,” he said.

Aiyedatiwa said Ondo State had the resources and human capacity required for greater development, citing its fertile land, strategic location, natural resources and enterprising population.

He said the resources came with the responsibility to harness them wisely and convert them into opportunities that would improve the lives of the people.

The governor prayed for peace, unity, stability and prosperity for Nigeria and Ondo State and wished Nigerians a happy 66th Independence anniversary.

In his word of exaltation, Bishop Felix Adejumo of Agape Christian Ministry described Nigeria as a great nation with a glorious destiny, saying the country had remained resilient despite its challenges.

Adejumo said Nigeria had survived the civil war and other difficult periods and deserved to be celebrated, urging Nigerians to approach the country’s future with renewed hope and thanksgiving.

He described Nigerians as courageous, determined, prayerful and resilient, adding that his belief in the country’s potential remained unwavering.

The bishop urged citizens to celebrate Nigeria’s achievements in entrepreneurship, technology, fintech, telecommunications, start-ups, agriculture, football, music and entertainment, among other sectors.

He also highlighted the contributions of Nigerians working globally as doctors, nurses, lawyers and engineers, noting the growing international recognition of Nigerian music and other creative industries.

Adejumo called for greater investment in Ondo State’s natural resources, particularly its rocks, sand and water, saying they could be harnessed to generate wealth and stimulate industrial development.

He urged the state government to prioritise youth empowerment, tackle unemployment, invest in education and capacity building, promote accountability in the management of public resources and establish institutions capable of leaving lasting legacies.

The bishop also called for continuous training of teachers and effective monitoring of educational programmes.

He urged youths to embrace productive work and called for moral renewal, reverence for God, kindness, mutual support and goodwill among Nigerians.

The service was attended by the Deputy Governor, Dr Olayide Adelami; Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Olusegun Odusola; Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji; Secretary to the State Government, Dr Taiwo Fasoranti; members of the State Executive Council; traditional rulers; political appointees; heads of security agencies, among other dignitaries.