The Ekiti State Government has promised to continue to embrace the power of knowledge and innovation with a view to navigate the complexities of the 21st century tech-driven future.
The State Governor Mr Biodun Oyebanji who made the promise while declaring open an Ekiti Innovation summit in Ado-Ekiti said that steering the course of economic development and public sector governance depends on power of knowledge and innovation.
The Governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government Dr Habibat Adubiaro said that the present administration recognizes the pivotal role of innovation, science and the digital economy in charting the course for our State’s development.
“Our journey towards a tech-driven future has been marked by remarkable beginning, by the creation of the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Digital Economy MISDE, as we
stand at a crucial juncture, poised to usher in an era of unparalleled growth and prosperity”.
According to Governor Oyebanji, his administration in the past three months have deliberated on the strategic approach to take towards unlocking shared prosperity through innovation.
“I am therefore glad to note
the unveiling of the Ekiti State Innovation Strategic Blueprint, which will help guide our innovation strategy towards becoming a secondary innovation society. The blueprint contain sufficient guide towards catalyzing public sector digital transformation and private sector innovation”.
“Ekiti State has a rich history and a vibrant culture, but to secure a prosperous future, we must evolve. Our traditional strength in Agriculture and culture should be complemented by a robust knowledge -based economy”.
“This means embracing
technological advancements, fostering creativity, and ensuring that the skills of our workforce align with the demands of the contemporary global marketplace”.
Governor Oyebanji while speaking on Public Sector Governance said that his administration would embark on a digital transformation journey to streamline processes, reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks and enhance service delivery.
The Governor explained that E- governance initiatives will make interactions with the government seamless, ensuring efficiency, accountability and citizen satisfaction.
“Our public sector is already undergoing significant assessment towards its impending digital transformation. We aim to enable a smart and paperless government to enable government meet its citizens needs effectively and efficiently”.
He however said that the journey towards leveraging knowledge innovation should be a collective
one and it required the commitment of every citizen, the resilience of our businesses and the vision of our policymakers.
“Together, let us embark on this transformative path by doing so, we secure a brighter, more prosperous future for Ekiti State. It is my desire to see Ekiti Youth amass 21st Century skills, that can enable engage
in remote work, create economic opportunities and build our knowledge economy: work here, build the economy and stay in Ekiti”.