Iyabo Obasanjo people-centred development pledge highlights education, healthcare and youth skills as key priorities in Ogun governorship ambition

Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress in Ogun State, on Friday said her administration would prioritise people-centred policies, insisting that infrastructure alone cannot transform society without deliberate investment in citizens.

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Iyabo Obasanjo people-centred development formed the core of the message delivered during an interaction with journalists after meeting women’s groups at her father’s residence in Osoba Hilltop Government Reserved Area, Abeokuta.

The women’s groups had visited to express solidarity with the former senator and pledged support for her ambition to become the first female governor of Ogun State.

Obasanjo said the feedback from consultations across the state had been overwhelming and encouraging, noting that many residents still recall her previous public service roles.

“The feedback and support arising from our various consultations across the state have been very encouraging and overwhelming,” Obasanjo said.

“People often refer to our modest achievements and determination to impact lives when I served as Commissioner for Health in Ogun State between 2003 and 2007, as well as during my time in the Senate representing Ogun Central from 2007 to 2011.

“We have been surrounded by love, appreciation and goodwill, which we believe will eventually translate into being chosen as the first female governor of the state. We are truly ready to serve the good people of Ogun State.”

The epidemiologist emphasised that while roads, bridges and other physical infrastructure remain important, sustainable development must also focus on strengthening human capacity through education, healthcare and economic opportunities.

According to Obasanjo, a healthy and educated population forms the foundation of a thriving society, warning that citizens who are ill or poorly educated cannot meaningfully contribute to economic growth.

“We will build roads and provide infrastructure, but we will also develop our people through education, healthcare and opportunities that help them sustain themselves,” Obasanjo said.

“If you are sick, you cannot be productive or contribute to the progress of society. That is why healthcare and education must be at the centre of governance.”

The former lawmaker also highlighted the need to expand opportunities for young people beyond traditional employment, pointing to innovation, technology and the creative industry as powerful sectors capable of generating sustainable livelihoods.

Obasanjo explained that skills such as coding and digital innovation are increasingly shaping the global economy, stressing that Ogun State must position its youths to take advantage of emerging opportunities.

The governorship hopeful also cited the rapid growth of Nigeria’s film and entertainment sector over the past three decades as evidence that the creative industry can generate employment and economic value if properly supported.

“We can make Ogun State the next big destination for the entertainment industry in Nigeria and even globally,” Obasanjo said.

The APC aspirant noted that her focus on human development is shaped by her experiences in public service, where she prioritised programmes designed to improve the lives of ordinary citizens.

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Obasanjo added that combining infrastructure expansion with deliberate policies that empower people would place the state on a path of sustainable prosperity.