Ondo @ 50: Celebrating enduring legacies

2026-02-15 - 05:59

By Adegboyega Adefarati Enduring Legacy refers to the lasting impact or influence that actions, policies, or decisions from the past have on future generations or systems. It denotes the persistent consequences that extend over long periods of time. The foundational and fundamental foresight for a formidable future determine the lasting impact of how enduring legacies would last. Virtually in every facet of life, governance, policy or decision making, and administration. Building an enduring legacy is the only panacea to legacies that could stand the test of time and an outlive. Celebrating Ondo State at 50 is a huge milestone achievement because of the many life-changing monument and infrastructures recorded right from the era of Captain Ita David Okpeme, who was the first person to preside over the administrative affairs of the state. Ondo being known for many prodigious nobility and iconoclasm, is first amongst equals. The State is blessed administratively, demographically, and naturally. The State’s natural resources if diligently and prudently harnessed is enough to place the State on an enviable independent and infrastructural pedestals. Ondo is not just being blessed as an oil producing State, but has the second largest bitumen deposits after Canada, and first largest bitumen deposit in Africa. Ondo’s contribution to oil production in Nigeria is enormous, just as the State is the 5th largest oil-producing state in Nigeria, contributing approximately 60,000 barrels per day (BPD). While often cited with significant potential, 2023 data indicated that it contributes roughly 3.36% to Nigeria’s total crude oil/condensate production. The state possesses vast offshore assets in Ilaje local government area. Ondo’s oil reserves is believed to hold around 4 billion barrels, both onshore and offshore. The discovery of oil in Ondo was in 1908. This discovery predated the later discovery of commercial oil quantities in Oloibiri, in 1956. Agriculturally, Ondo is one of the largest producers of cocoa in Nigeria. Not only that, other farm produce like palm oil, kolanut plantain, are all lagerly produced in Ondo. The piscatorial(fishing) business is also synonymous with Ondo, with many piscatorial communities like Okitipupa, Idanre, llaje, and other sundry towns where fishing is there major preoccupation. Ondo is not only a bituminous State but also rich in culture and traditions that are distinctly outstanding, and deeply rooted norms and mores. As a State that is rich in culture, Ondo has about 53 traditional festivals in some of the prominent towns: Akoko, Akure, Okitipupa, Ondo, and Owo. As a transportine State, its features a blend of tropical rainforests and a long coastline with mangrove swamps. Geographically, the State is situated in southwestern Nigeria, and its spans about 15,500 square kilometers that bordered by Ekiti/Kogi (North), Edo/Delta (East), Ogun/Osun (West), and the Atlantic Ocean (South). Going by this, the State is economically blessed because it borders the South, East, North, and West. This alone opens it to many commercial opportunities that by extension fosters development and accruable revenue. ““According to published survey, Ondo State is the 18th most populated state in the country, and the 25th-largest state by landmass. The state is predominantly Yoruba, and the Yoruba language is commonly spoken. Cocoa production, farming, asphalt mining, and activities related to the state’s extensive coastline also are part of the economy. It is home to the Idanre inselberg hills, the highest geographical point in the western half of Nigeria at over 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) in elevation. As part of the natural resources deposited in Ondo State, bitumen, coal, oil and gas, dimension stone, Feldspar, gemstones, glass/and granite, gypsum, kaolin, and limestone are all largely endowed in the Sunshine State. As a Southwest State, the predominantly speaking language is Yoruba. The Ijaw people, such as the Apoi and Arogbo populations dwell in the southeastern swamps close to Edo State. A very minute population of people speak a variant of the Yoruba language similar to the Ife dialect in Oke-Igbo town close to Osun State. Administratively, Ondo State has been blessed with brilliant leaders who have relentlessly transmogrified the State with traceable heartwarming transformational projects. The State is not just oil rich, but also rich in human resources. The administrative ingenuity of its past leaders has actually placed it on the map for global reckoning. This view is not as a result of being the son of one of the State’s former governor, but from observable and palpable perspective of the changes that Ondo has witnessed in the last fifty years of its creation. Though this may not be total but change is a gradual thing and its evolves with time. The evolution of change in the Sunshine State has made it the centre of attraction for tourists and businessmen. The State is so conducive that businesses thrive without encumbrance. Through her many prodigious endowments, the Ondo State has continually added value to Nigeria, not just as a coastal State but in human capacity, intellectual enterprise, entertainment, leadership, governance and administration.““Celebrating Ondo @ 50 without mentioning her past leaders both military administrators and elected civilian governors will be infinitesimally hemimetabolous. The vision for a prosperous Ondo State started with the first military Governor, Captain Ita David Ikpeme, followed by other civilian leaders like Michael Ajasin, Bamidele Olumilua, Adebayo Adefarati, Olusegun Agagu, Olusegun Mimiko, and Rotimi Akeredolu. As a State that prioritizes knowledge over hedonistic pursuit, the State hosts many higher institutions, both private and public: Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Akure, Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA), Akungba-Akoko,“University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo City, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa (formerly Ondo State University of Science and Technology), Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo City, “Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Achievers University, Owo, Wesley University, Ondo City, Sam Maris University, Supare-Akoko, Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, and Ondo State College of Health Technology, Akure. The state since its creation has had 12 military governors/administrators, and 7 civilian governors since 1976. It will be incongruously immodest if one fails to pause and appreciate the giant developmental strides of both the past and present governors who have had the opportunity to pilot the State affairs. Despite the many seemingly insurmountable administrative odds, the governors never faltered. They have instead trudged ahead to reposition the State, and each successive government has raised the bar of sound governance and left the State better than they met it. As a State, we’re not just celebrating the golden existence of the State, but the enduring legacies laid by our leaders.