Ekiti airport development advances as Governor Biodun Oyebanji launches commercial flights and pays N1bn profits to youth farmers across the state

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, has inaugurated commercial flight operations at the Ekiti Agro Allied International Cargo Airport in Ado Ekiti, marking a decisive milestone in the Ekiti airport development drive and signalling a new phase of economic growth for the state.

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The commencement of flights on December 10 brought together all four former governors of Ekiti State, three of whom arrived on the inaugural flight, in a rare public show of political unity.

Each former governor was formally acknowledged for contributions made to the airport project and to the state’s development over the years, underscoring an atmosphere of cohesion widely praised by residents and observers.

The airport, described by state officials as a strategic gateway for trade, investment and agro exports, is expected to connect Ekiti more directly to national and international markets, while strengthening the state’s logistics and agribusiness potential.

Barely a week later, on December 18, Governor Oyebanji extended the momentum by approving the payment of N1 billion to 4,567 young farmers under the state’s Bring Back the Youth in Agriculture initiative.

The funds represented profits from the 2025 farming season and were disbursed in partnership with agribusiness firm YSJ Limited.

The programme, which began a year earlier with 911 participants receiving N145 million, has expanded rapidly to nearly 5,000 young farmers across Ekiti’s 16 local government areas.

Government support includes free land clearing, improved seedlings, mechanised farming services, extension support and market linkages, measures credited with making agriculture commercially viable for young people.

State officials said the initiative reflects a broader policy thrust that places citizens at the centre of governance, aligning with Governor Oyebanji’s six pillar development agenda focused on shared prosperity.

Beyond agriculture, the administration has recorded visible gains in education, healthcare and infrastructure.

More than 200 secondary schools and over 900 primary schools have undergone renovation, while thousands of youths have received training in advanced digital skills, including software development and data analytics, in preparation for the planned Ekiti Knowledge Zone.

In the health sector, nine general hospitals and more than 100 primary healthcare centres have been renovated and equipped, with the Ulerawa health initiative guaranteeing essential services free at the point of care for residents.

Infrastructure delivery has also accelerated, with over 35 major road projects completed or commissioned, alongside renewed investment in power infrastructure, including transmission substations and an independent power project serving public institutions and private businesses.

Governor Oyebanji, who assumed office on October 16, 2022, has built a reputation for inclusive and calm leadership, maintaining close ties with grassroots communities while engaging widely with stakeholders across political divides.

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As Ekiti residents mark what many describe as an early Christmas, the combination of airport operations, youth empowerment and cross generational political unity has reinforced the narrative of steady progress under the current administration, with the Ekiti airport development standing as a powerful symbol of that trajectory.