Barely 24 hours after he received the Leadership Newspaper’s Governor of the Year ( 2025) award, Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji will today receive the New Telegraph Newspaper’s Governor of the Year Award (Infrastructure), in recognition of his outstanding achievements in the area of infrastructure development.
The ceremony will take place at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The organisers, in a letter of nomination, said Governor Oyebanji is being recognised for his administration’s huge investment in road and power infrastructure as well as his inclusive governing style, which have impacted positively on the State and its people.
Today’s award is the second the esteemed newspaper organisation would be presenting to Governor Oyebanji, who was the Newspaper’s Governor of the Year ( 2024) in good governance and community development.
Upon assuming office in October 16, 2022, Governor Oyebanji had commenced a diligent implementation of his six- pillar development agenda, drawn from the 30 years Ekiti State Development plan (2020-2050), with a clear focus on delivering shared prosperity for Ekiti people.
This has resulted in major transformation and significant growth in key sectors including infrastructure, education, healthcare, women and youth empowerment, digital economy and tourism development among others.
The remarkable transformation in the state under Governor Oyebanji continues to attract recognition from leading organizations and development institutions.
Prior to today’s award, Governor Oyebanji had earlier received the Silverbird Man of the Year Award (2024); Vanguard Newspaper’s Good Governance Award (2024), Daily Independent Newspaper’s Governor of the Year Award (2023), The EDGE Award for Most Outstanding Leadership (2024) and Energy Governor of the Year (2024) by the Energy Times.
Under his leadership, Ekiti State has recorded notable social and economic milestones. The state ranked No 1 in the BudgIT State Fiscal Transparency League for five consecutive quarters: (Q2, Q3, Q4 2024 and Q1, Q2 2025). It also ranked second lowest among the 36 states on Out of School Children in Nigeria. Ekiti was also rated by Enough – is- Enough (EiE) as the state with the lowest Media reported killing for Q2 2025, reinforcing its status as the safest and most peaceful state in the country.
Additionally, Ekiti State has, within the period, recorded a remarkable upgrade of his road and power infrastructure. It also recorded significant reduction in neonatal mortality by 57 percent from 42 per 1000 in 2019 to 18 per 1000 in 2024; a reduction in infant mortality by 53 percent from 57 per 1000 in 2010 to 27 per 1000 in 2024; reduction in under five mortality by 54 percent from 95 per 1000 in 2019 to 44 per 1000 in 2024.
Governor Oyebanji continues to prioritise policies, programmes and projects that impact positively on the wellbeing and welfare of Ekiti people.
Signed
Olayinka Oyebode
Special Adviser (Media) to the Governor
13-02-2026
