The Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has disclosed that his administration is intensifying efforts to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the curriculum of primary and secondary schools across the state. He said the move is aimed at propelling the next generation of Ekiti children towards technological leadership and positioning the state as a front-runner in innovation-driven development.
Governor Oyebanji made this known while speaking at the fifth edition of the Southwest Secretaries to the State Governments Forum held in Ado Ekiti, the state capital. The forum was convened by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission and brought together key administrative officers from the six states in the South West region.
Addressing participants at the forum, the Governor said that his government was ready to partner with relevant stakeholders to actualize its vision of making Ekiti a hub of technology and innovation in Nigeria. He emphasized the need for the region to jointly pursue technological advancement as a critical pathway to development.
According to Oyebanji, “We are deliberately laying the groundwork for a knowledge-driven future by embedding artificial intelligence in our educational framework from the foundational level. This is not just a policy move but a strategic action towards sustainable economic transformation.” He added that it was time for the Southwest states to turn the blueprint of the DAWN Commission into reality.
The Governor further described the forum of Secretaries to the State Governments as the administrative engine room of every government and urged its members to strengthen inter-state cooperation. He said the region must tackle challenges such as insecurity, transportation bottlenecks, and economic underdevelopment through concerted regional action.
Oyebanji reiterated that technological innovation remains a key driver of prosperity and called for enhanced collaboration among South West states to implement policies that align with global development trends. He said regional unity is essential to reposition the region as a leader in digital economy and smart governance.
Speaking at the event, the Director General of the DAWN Commission, Dr. Seye Oyeleye, lauded the Ekiti State Government for its bold vision on artificial intelligence and innovation. He said the region’s strategic development plans are anchored on key sectors such as rail transportation, agriculture, and digital technology, including AI.
Dr. Oyeleye called on the states in the region to take the commission’s agenda more seriously by turning plans into action. He stressed that the time had come for the South West to take full advantage of its intellectual and economic resources to develop a sustainable future.
The forum also had in attendance the Secretary to the Ekiti State Government, Prof. Habibat Adubiaro, as well as her counterparts from Lagos and other states in the South West. Top government functionaries, technocrats and development experts also participated in the high-level engagement.
The Southwest SSGs Forum, an initiative of the DAWN Commission, serves as a platform for synergy, knowledge exchange and policy alignment among the states in the region, with the goal of fostering integrated development and regional competitiveness.