Ondo Targets Economic Transformation with ‘Ondo 2055’ Plan
The Ondo State Government has unveiled the state development plan tagged “Ondo 2055,” aimed at guiding sustainable economic growth, infrastructure expansion, and social development in the state over the next three decades.
Speaking at the unveiling in Akure, the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Olaolu Akindolire, described the document as a strategic roadmap designed to ensure inclusive and sustainable development for the state.
Akindolire said the plan goes beyond a policy statement, noting that it serves as a “strategic compass” carefully designed to guide successive administrations towards a shared vision of productivity, socio-economic prosperity, and human capital development.
According to him, the development plan was prepared through broad consultations with stakeholders, including market women, artisan groups, academics, faith-based organisations, technocrats, traditional institutions, and Ondo indigenes in the diaspora.
He explained that the document is devoid of political considerations and aligns with both national and global development frameworks, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The commissioner stated that the long-term vision of the plan is to transform Ondo State into a hub of excellence in a digitally driven economy, characterised by innovative entrepreneurship, robust infrastructure, inclusive growth, and environmental sustainability.
He added that the framework is also intended to strengthen institutions, coordinate public investment, encourage private sector participation, and improve the living standards of residents, particularly those at the grassroots.
Akindolire noted that the plan is built around four key pillars—governance, law and order; a prosperous economy; human capital development; and environment and infrastructure.
He explained that the projections within the document include sustained growth in the state’s Gross State Domestic Product (GDP), improved internally generated revenue, enhanced fiscal stability, and measurable reductions in poverty and unemployment over the plan period.
The commissioner also disclosed that a robust monitoring and evaluation mechanism has been integrated into the blueprint to track implementation progress.
He stressed that the success of the plan would require strong collaboration between government and non-state actors, noting that development cannot be achieved by government alone.
Akindolire commended Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for prioritising long-term planning and providing the leadership that made the development blueprint possible.
He expressed confidence that, with faithful implementation and collective commitment, the plan would position Ondo State as competitive, investment-ready, and resilient to economic shocks, while responding effectively to global trends such as technological advancement, climate change adaptation, and sustainable resource management.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Pastor Bamidele Daisi, described the unveiling of the Ondo 2055 Development Plan as the culmination of years of rigorous work and dedication by officials of the ministry and other stakeholders.
He said the journey to producing the long-term development blueprint was demanding but ultimately rewarding, noting that officials of the ministry worked tirelessly over several months and years to ensure the successful completion of the plan.
He explained that the process involved detailed data gathering, macro-fiscal modelling, and extensive consultations across the state, with inputs received from farmers, entrepreneurs, youths, women, members of the academic community, and development partners.
According to him, the plan is designed as a strategic framework that promotes deliberate, data-driven, and sustainable development while providing a stable blueprint that can guide successive administrations beyond political cycles.
Daisi also expressed appreciation to key partners, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), for their technical support. He noted that their involvement helped the state conduct a comprehensive needs assessment and apply integrated modelling to develop realistic growth projections for Ondo State.
In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the Editorial Board, Alhaji Kunle Sanni, commended the state government and the team behind the Ondo 2055 Development Plan for what he described as a historic and academically driven blueprint for the state’s long-term development.
He praised the versatility of the team and the spirit of collective cooperation that went into the preparation of the document, noting that the initiative marked a significant milestone in the state’s planning process.
According to him, the development plan represents a deliberate effort to sustain development rather than abandon long-term planning, a situation he said had occurred under some previous administrations.
The editorial board chairman also commended Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for prioritising the funding of the development plan, noting that the resources used for the exercise could have been diverted to less impactful ventures.
In her comment, the Permanent Secretary and representative of Inter-Governmental Relations, Mrs Yemi Pirisola, described the development plan as a major achievement for the state, noting that it is a milestone Ondo State would be proud of.
She commended the state governor for the landmark initiative and urged all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure effective implementation of the document.
In his paper presentation, a consultant and professor at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Prof. Kosiedatomola Obawuyi, outlined the framework and processes that guided the preparation of the long-term development plan.
Obawuyi explained that the plan covers a 30-year period from 2026 to 2055 and was developed through a structured process involving environmental scanning, goal setting, programme identification, and the design of an implementation framework.
According to him, the environmental scanning focused on four key pillars—governance, law and order; a prosperous economy; human capital development; and environment and infrastructure—around which both general and sector-specific development goals were formulated.
The professor said the consulting team mainly facilitated the process, noting that the content of the document largely reflected the contributions and inputs of officials of the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget and other stakeholders involved in the exercise.
Obawuyi commended the ministry, particularly the Permanent Secretary, Pastor Bamidele Daisi, and the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Olaolu Akindolire, for their commitment to ensuring the successful completion of the project.
He also highlighted the inclusion of “low-hanging fruits” in the plan—development actions that ministries can implement without requiring significant financial resources—adding that such practical steps could help improve areas such as environmental management and urban orderliness.
The consultant stressed that the development plan is not solely the responsibility of the Ministry of Economic Planning but a collective document for the entire state.
He urged ministries, departments, and agencies to study the blueprint and work towards its effective implementation.
He further suggested that local governments and communities could also develop their own development plans derived from the state blueprint, noting that such a cascading approach would strengthen grassroots development across Ondo State.
