Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has been described as a transformative leader because of his vision, innovation and inclusive governance style, all of which have brought about unprecedented development in the state.
Expressing this view in an interview with The People’s Verdict, Comrade Zainab Popoola, Chief Executive Officer of ZEnergy Tours, noted that “My governor is a transformative leader. You can see that Oyo State is already becoming one of the best in Nigeria, if not number one. Governor Seyi Makinde is a transformative leader and I pray the Almighty God will give him more strength.”
Popoola, who advocates inclusivity, also said: “My governor is a youth-friendly governor. He is someone who cares about the masses. Governor Seyi Makinde promotes youth-centred policies and youth empowerment. My governor is actually doing amazing work in this regard.”
She added, “My governor has been supporting the aspirations of young people through youth-centred policies and by putting young people in positions of authority. We have the first youth ever to become a commissioner in Oyo State at the Ministry of Youth and Sports. This office has created a room for young people to see themselves as close to the executive arm of government. Young people can easily walk to the commissioner and say, ‘I have this idea.’”
Talking about how the governor has supported youths in Oyo State, the ZEnergy Tour boss said, “The one that is close to me is the YEAP (Youth Empowerment in Agriculture Programme). That programme is a great opportunity for people to learn about agribusiness and to practise it. As a young person, if you are passionate about agriculture, the governor has provided training opportunities and, at the same time, an empowerment programme for youths to leverage all the skills they have acquired over the years. Through the SAfER (Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery) programme, the governor was able to set up a committee with a specific focus on food security. Through this committee, the governor was able to provide loans for youths who had been trained in agribusiness.
“We have the Oyo State Youth Agency, and at the same time, we had the Oyo State Youth Summit. These programmes are centred on bringing together different youths from different walks of life to get the necessary empowerment that is very important for their livelihood.”
Popoola, who plays in the tourism sector in Oyo State, said: “Oyo State is actually one of the best tourism states in Nigeria. You can see that there are a lot of growing opportunities and there are a lot of growing destinations, and that is all thanks to our governor, His Excellency Seyi Makinde. In his first term in office, he was able to fix a lot of infrastructure centred on promoting tourism destinations. In Ibadan, for instance, we have a newly opened Olubadan Palace. If you are visiting Ibadan and you want to get yourself immersed in the cultural heritage of the city, you go to the palace, you get to learn about the history of Ibadan, and how the city was founded during the time of Lagelu up to the 44th Olubadan that will be inaugurated very soon.
“If you want to explore places outside Ibadan, the world’s natural suspended lake is located here in Oyo State as well as other great sites. Our governor has done a lot in making sure that the ministry (Culture and Tourism) is a working ministry, the infrastructure is excellent, and the security from the Nigeria Police Force to Amotekun Corps is excellent. He has done well in making sure that tourism in Oyo State is one of the best.”
Talking about the Seyi Makinde administration, Comrade Popoola said “He is people-focused. Governor Makinde has done excellently well in security, education, technology, tourism development and so many other sectors.”
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