Gov Biodun Oyebanji: A blend of Character, Strength and Humility
-By Segun Dipe
It is an oxymoron for stubbornness and gentility to collocate. Show me a stubborn person, and I’ll show you an ungentleman. Albeit, compatibility of tenacity and humility is a rare virtue in one man, yet a great one.
Tenacity is about persistence, determination, and refusing to give up in the pursuit of a goal. It is a driving force that helps individuals overcome obstacles and challenges.
Humility on the other hand is being aware of one’s own limitations and the value of others’ contributions. It involves a willingness to learn and accept that success often depends on external factors, such as the help of others or a bit of luck.
The antithesis between these two qualities can prove to be a perfect combo if properly managed. They appear uncomplementary, yet they are complimentary. Both support personal and professional growth.
Humility involves a modest view of one’s own importance and a willingness to learn, while tenacity is the persistent determination to overcome difficulties and achieve long-term goals, without caring about whose ox is gored.
Since taking office in October 2022, Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO) has turned Ekiti State into a showcase of steady, people‑focused governance. His leadership style blends a soft‑spoken humility with an iron‑clad resolve—qualities that have earned him national recognition and a growing reputation as one of Nigeria’s most effective governors.
Oyebanji’s quiet presence and open ears show him as a humble leader. Colleagues describe Oyebanji as “soft‑spoken” yet highly approachable. He regularly visits communities, attends market gatherings, and sits down with traditional rulers without fanfare, letting the people’s concerns shape his agenda.
People attribute Oyebanji’s success to teamwork. After receiving the Silverbird Man of the Year Award (2024) and the Vanguard Newspaper’s Best Governor Award (2025), he publicly credited them to his cabinet, the state assembly, and “the divine grace that guides us,” reinforcing a servant‑leadership mindset.
One can readily point to Oyebanji’s simple lifestyle. Despite the trappings of office, he lives modestly, often seen driving himself to events and encouraging civil servants to adopt a culture of contentment and honesty.
Yet, why is Oyebanji seen as tenacious?
His determination is evident across multiple sectors, where he has turned bold ideas into tangible outcomes.
Check his hell-bent approach to upping the adminstrstions performance in agriculture & food security.
He launched the Ekiti Youth Economic Empowerment Programme (E‑YEEP), providing grants, training, and equipment to young farmers. He cleared 5,000 hectares of land for commercial farming and offered 50 % subsidy on seedlings and tractor services. He supported 2,000 farmers with production assets and processing equipment, positioning Ekiti as a key agricultural hub.
Oyebanji is tenacious with infrastructure & industrialization. Despite lean resources, he prioritised completion of 284 km of roads, including the ongoing Ekiti Ring Road (Phase 1), which is easing traffic and opening new trade corridors.
Oyebanji refused to slow down with the completion of the Ekiti Agro‑Allied Cargo Airport, which he has now upgraded to full commercial operations, attracting investors and creating jobs.
Oyebanji tenaciously rehabilitated 108 primary healthcare centres and equipped them with ICT infrastructure, while also seeing to the expansion of the Ikogosi Warm Springs tourism site.
His approach to education & human capital is top-notch. He renovated 350 classrooms and built new science/ICT labs; recruited over 1,000 teachers, including 353 ICT specialists. He introduced performance‑based incentives for educators and secured N1 billion in car/housing loans for teachers.
Oyebanji boosted subventions to tertiary institutions by 73.5 %, helping stabilize funding for universities and polytechnics.
In the area of healthcare & social welfare, Oyebanji is not ready to tell any story. He, for instance, upgraded Ikole Specialist Hospital to a Federal Medical Centre and Federal Medical Centre, Ido to a Teaching Hospital. He rolled out the Ulerawa health insurance scheme, covering 200,000 Ekiti residents, and introduced mobile health clinics for remote areas. His disbursement of N3 billion in conditional cash transfers to 44,069 vulnerable beneficiaries is a resilient move.
Talk of security & governance, Ekiti boasts a governor that will not give excuses or reasons but result, come what may. Oyebanji recruited and equipped Amotekun Corps, adding patrol vehicles and increasing security votes to local governments. He established an Emergency Command Centre and deployed additional troops, earning Ekiti a top ranking in the Nigeria Security Tracker.
Oyebanji’s Silverbird Man of the Year Award (2024) for excellence in governance was not a palliative. Vanguard Newspaper’s Best Governor Award (2025) for policy implementation and economic development is a pointer to his temerity. Daily Independent Governor of the Year (2024) was for inclusive leadership and grassroots development. Marketing Edge Magazine also awarded him Most Outstanding Governor (2024) for visionary leadership across critical sectors.
What sets Oyebanji apart isn’t just a catchphrase. It is a blend of humility and tenacity and it is reflected in how he listens, acts, and inspires. While many leaders boast about achievements, Oyebanji lets the results—new roads, healthier citizens, thriving farms—speak. He has worked for continuity (finishing projects started by predecessors) and transparency (publishing budgets, leveraging e‑governance). He has restored public trust and positioned Ekiti as a model for other states.
Bottom Line: Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s quiet confidence and relentless drive have transformed Ekiti’s landscape, delivering tangible improvements across agriculture, infrastructure, education, healthcare, and security. His story proves that true leadership thrives on humility, fueled by unyielding tenacity. What an oxymoron!
-Segun Dipe is the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ekiti State Chapter.
