…Model Schools and Asphalt Plant too; commends ex-governor Fayose for starting project
As part of activities marking the second anniversary of his administration, Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has commissioned the State capital’s Ultramodern Central market on Thursday for public use, and to the delight of the people of the state.
The Governor said the imposing market complex which boasts of modern facilities would boost commerce and other economic activities in the state capital.
Dr. Fayemi whose first administration conceptualized the market in 2012, however, commended his immediate predecessor, Mr Ayo Fayose for starting the project which was at 55 percent completion level at the time the last administration left office, two years ago.
The Governor disclosed that he was determined to complete the project inherited from the immediate past administration because of his resolve to give priority attention to abandoned projects, adding that his administration still retained the same contractor engaged by his predecessor.
Dr. Fayemi explained that the new market was purposely built to benefit the state describing it as “another eloquent testimony of impacting lives and building legacies for the benefit of the people.”
Some of the facilities in the market, according to the Governor, are 234 open shops, 738 lock-up shops, two restaurants, two banking halls, two warehouses, a police post, a clinic, and an expansive parking lot.
Describing the market as “befitting the state capital”, the Governor said it would add to the aesthetics of the city and was part of the fulfilment of his administration’s Urban Renewal policy started during his first term in office.
He added that his administration has replicated similar market projects in every local government headquarter in the state to make commerce conducive for buyers and sellers and boost Internally Generated Revenue.
He however appealed to traders who still display their wares on the roadside to move into the new market to allow for a free flow of traffic and for their personal safety.
He said further: “This project was conceived to make trading conducive, I expect our traders who display their wares on the road to move in to decongest our road. I enjoin market women to make use of this market and plans are afoot to engage professional facility managers to maintain this market.”
Speaking earlier, Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Aladesanmi Adejugbe III, said the people of his kingdom would be grateful to Governor Fayemi for keeping his promise to complete the market given the inability of the last administration to complete it.
Oba Adejugbe said: “I want to thank you (Governor Fayemi) especially for the pronouncement that there will be no abandoned project in Ekiti State again. This is wonderful, no government can complete all projects whatever party that is in power because when projects are completed, Ekiti people will benefit from them so I want to appeal to our people to make good use of this market.”
The governor, who also inaugurated two of the newly built Model colleges, said the schools were put in place to decongest public schools in the State capital and to open up new settlements in Ado to economic and Infrastructural development.
Dr. Fayemi explained that the model schools which were named after the illustrious sons of the State, Ayo Fasanmi, Prof ‘Banji Akintoye, Prof David Oke, and Chief Deji Fasuan was part of the multifaceted efforts put in place to achieve a pupil friendly environment that would encourage enrolment of school-age children in the State.
He mentioned that payment of all outstanding counterpart funds running into seven billion naira to Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) from 2015 to 2019, provision of instructional materials to schools, payment of regular running grants to all public Primary and Secondary Schools in the State, massive reconstruction and rehabilitation of school infrastructure and construction of additional school buildings as well as the provision of conducive teaching and learning environment in schools were part of the steps taking to tackle challenges mitigating against child enrolment in the state.
Other efforts put in place according to him included; introduction of the School Feeding Programme in primary schools, regular capacity building programmes for teachers, payment of teachers’ salaries as and when due and fostering greater synergy with development partners, UBEC, and the Federal Ministry of Education amongst others.
He said; “It gladdens my heart and I am fulfilled that in Ekiti State, our administration has never hidden its plans to make public Schools attractive. With this, we now have public schools that can compete favourably with the best in the country, and indeed, our new Model Colleges are the ones to beat around here. All these are in fulfilment of our promise to provide functional and qualitative education in Ekiti State.”
The eldest son of the late Ayo Fasnami, Justice Obafemi Fasanmi, in an emotion-laden speech, thanked the Governor for naming the school after his late dad, saying that it was a great honour to the memory of his dad who died about four months ago.
On hand to witness the inauguration of the project are the Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi; First Lady, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, Aladesanmi III; Chairman, Ado Ekiti Local Government, Mrs Omotunde Fajuyi; members of the State Executive Council, political office holders, market men, and women.
Last modified: October 16, 2020
