Oyo State on Tuesday honoured 73 prominent sons and daughters of the state as activities marking its 50th anniversary reached a high point in Ibadan.
Among those recognised were the family of the late Olu Aboderin, former Minister of Industry, Chief Onikepo Akande, and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja.
The awards ceremony, held at the newly built Banquet Hall of the Government House in Ibadan, attracted top dignitaries, including no fewer than 17 former military administrators and civilian governors of the state.
The late Aboderin received the Media Icon Award, while Akande was presented with the Merit Award of Excellence.
Speaking at the event, Governor Seyi Makinde reflected on the impact of the free education policy introduced under the late Chief Bola Ige, describing it as a major part of the state’s identity and progress.
“I went to secondary school under Chief Bola Ige’s administration, from 1980 to 1985. That period laid the foundation for who I later became. I am a product of free education in this state,” Makinde said.
The governor said the state had continued to grow through different political phases, including military rule and the return to democracy in 1999, with reforms in governance, infrastructure, and security shaping its development.
He noted that Oyo would continue commissioning major projects throughout the anniversary year, including the upgraded Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, now an international facility, and key sections of the Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road.
“Within the first quarter of this year, before the end of March 2026, the first segment of the circular road will be commissioned,” he stated.
Makinde also revealed that the state had ordered surveillance aircraft to boost security and modern electric buses to improve transportation, stressing that development must be sustainable and system-driven.
“Development is not a spectacle; it is a system,” he added.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, described the anniversary as a significant milestone and commended Makinde for what he called visible progress.
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“I have seen the progress of Oyo over these 50 years, and I must say that you have a hardworking governor,” AbdulRazaq said.
He added that Ibadan was gradually regaining its historic status, noting that the celebration reflected the collective journey of the people of the state.
The event featured an aerial display as three aircraft flew over Ibadan and performed aerobatic manoeuvres for about 30 minutes.
The anniversary programme is part of a week-long line-up of cultural, religious, and development-focused events celebrating Oyo State’s creation on February 3, 1976, from the former Western Region, with Ibadan as its capital.
Several other notable personalities were honoured under different categories, including legal icons, academics, cultural leaders, and late national figures who contributed to the growth of the state.
Dignitaries present at the ceremony included former governors from different states, political leaders, traditional rulers, entertainers, and prominent Nigerians.
