Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun (MFR, CON), celebrates his 65th birthday today, May 29, 2025, coinciding with his sixth year in office as the fifth democratically elected governor of the state.
Born in 1960, the year Nigeria gained independence, and specifically on May 29, a date now commemorated as Democracy Day in Nigeria, Abiodun's political journey reflects perseverance and determination. After an unsuccessful bid for the governorship ticket in 2002, where he came second to Chief Gbenga Daniel, he eventually secured victory 17 years later in 2019.
Infrastructure Development
Under Abiodun's leadership, Ogun State has witnessed extensive infrastructure development with over 1,200 kilometers of roads constructed across the state. Notable projects include the Abeokuta-Sagamu Expressway, Idi-Aba-Elite-Oke Lantoro road, City Gate Monument Development Flyover Bridge in Kuto, and the Sagamu Junction-Iperu Roundabout, among numerous others spanning all zones of the state.
A significant milestone in his administration is the establishment of the Gateway International Airport, revitalizing the previously dormant Olokola Free Trade Zone, and implementing a multimodal transport system incorporating air, road, sea, and rail lines.
Investment Attraction
The governor has positioned Ogun as Nigeria's investment destination of choice, attracting substantial foreign direct investments. These include a $400 million investment by Arise Integrated Industrial Platform for the development of Olokola Free Trade Zone and Remo Agro Processing Zone, over $500 million from African Industries Group, and $500 million from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for power infrastructure enhancement.
Other significant investments include $300 million from Inner Galaxy Steel Company Ltd for a specialized steel production plant, a $5 million battery recycling plant by a British company, and a $400 million hot rolled coiled steel factory in Ewekoro.
Agricultural and Educational Initiatives
In agriculture, Abiodun's administration introduced the N50 million Ijebu Development Initiative for Poverty Reduction to develop the fish subsector and empowered over 40,000 agripreneurs in cassava cultivation. The state also developed a 20,000-hectare rice farmland in Yewa.
Educational reforms include the Ogun State Teaching Experience Acquisition Channel (Ogun TREACH) that brought on board 5,000 interns with 1,000 transitioning to permanent teachers. The administration has disbursed over N3.5 billion through EDUCASH to assist students and parents, benefiting approximately 150,000 students.
Additionally, the Ogun State Schools of Nursing and Midwifery received full accreditation for the first time in 45 years and were upgraded to collegiate status.
Healthcare Improvements
The governor's achievements in healthcare include the inauguration of a Sexual Therapy and Assaults Referral Centre at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, a Family Planning Centre at the State Hospital in Ijebu-Ode, and the Ogun Free Surgical Intervention Programme that has benefited more than 2,000 people since its launch.
Beyond his state duties, Abiodun serves as the leader of the Southern Governors Forum and is recognized as a staunch supporter of President Bola Tinubu's policies.
His administration has received multiple recognitions, including the 2021 Best State Governor with the Most Improved State in Security Infrastructure (Business Day Newspaper), 2020 Best Governor in Agriculture (Nigerian Agriculture Awards), 2022 Best Governor in Infrastructure in the South-West (Nigeria Union of Journalists), the 2022 Forbes Award as the Best of Africa Governor in Industrial Revolution, and the 2023 Best Governor in Housing Delivery (Nigerian Housing Award).
