As Ekiti State marks 30 years of its creation, Dr. Tunji Olowolafe has called for a stronger connection between education, practical skills and economic opportunities, arguing that the state must prepare its young people for the demands of a rapidly changing world.
Olowolafe, Chancellor of Ekiti State University (EKSU), made the call while delivering the lead paper at the Ekiti at 30 Future Summit in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
His presentation, titled “The Path to Ekiti’s Greatness: Opportunities, Choices, and Imperatives for the Next 30 Years,” focused on how the state can build on its longstanding educational reputation to promote innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable development.
He maintained that the next phase of Ekiti’s growth should place greater emphasis on practical competence, digital literacy and the ability of educational institutions to prepare students for employment and emerging industries.
Modernising technical education
A key element of Olowolafe’s proposals is strengthening the state’s six government technical colleges.
Through the Tunji Olowolafe Foundation, he outlined plans to support the establishment or upgrading of information and communications technology centres in the colleges. He also proposed engaging international vocational training experts to improve teaching standards, practical instruction and curriculum development.
The proposals reflect the importance of providing students with more than classroom knowledge. Modern workshops, appropriate equipment and industry-relevant instruction can help young people acquire skills that support employment, self-employment and local enterprise.
Olowolafe also emphasised the need to expand technical education to meet demand across the state’s 16 local government areas.
Building a stronger digital ecosystem
Digital technology was another major theme of his address. He highlighted opportunities to connect education, research and enterprise through initiatives such as the Ekiti Knowledge Zone and digital learning programmes.
He also identified the development of EKSU’s Department of Geology into one of Africa’s leading departments within five years as a foundation commitment. The proposed transformation would strengthen the relationship between higher education, specialised expertise and opportunities in sectors such as mineral development.
These proposals point to a wider vision in which universities and technical institutions contribute directly to solving economic and social challenges.
For Ekiti, a stronger digital ecosystem could help young people access new skills, develop technology-based businesses and participate in a global economy that increasingly depends on innovation.
Connecting education to jobs
Olowolafe argued that the state must also address the infrastructure barriers that limit productivity. Reliable electricity, he said, is essential for educational facilities, digital centres, workshops and businesses.
His proposals included exploring renewable-energy microgrids across the state’s 177 political wards to improve power access for community facilities and productive activities.
He further highlighted agriculture and mineral resources as sectors where better technology, processing capacity and technical knowledge could create additional economic value.
Cocoa processing and solar-powered drying, for example, could support agricultural value chains, while stronger geological expertise could help Ekiti better understand and develop its mineral resources.
A long-term vision with measurable progress
Olowolafe urged stakeholders to pursue the state’s development ambitions with greater urgency. Rather than treating the next 30 years as an extended waiting period, he challenged the state to make substantial progress within a decade.
He also called for periodic reviews of development commitments, proposing that stakeholders meet every two years to assess results and determine what needs to change.
The approach places emphasis on implementation and accountability, ensuring that long-term aspirations are matched with measurable progress.
As the state enters its next phase, Olowolafe’s central message is that education must become a stronger driver of economic opportunity. By combining practical skills, digital innovation, reliable infrastructure and stronger links to industry, Ekiti can work towards a future in which its intellectual capital translates into jobs, enterprise and improved livelihoods.
Olowolafe is the Chancellor of Ekiti State University and founder of the Tunji Olowolafe Foundation.
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