…RMAFC team in state for feasibility assessment
The Ekiti State Government has initiated plans to access a N175.75 billion grant from the Natural Resources Development Fund (NRDF) to drive economic diversification through agriculture, solid minerals, and tourism.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji made this known during a meeting with a delegation from the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), led by Ambassador Desmond Akawor, in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday. The RMAFC team was in the state to conduct a feasibility study for the proposed grant.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Niyi Adebayo, Governor Oyebanji said the grant would accelerate the state’s vision of becoming a hub of prosperity, industrial growth, and sustainable development. He emphasized that the fund would support key policy priorities aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Ekiti’s shared prosperity blueprint.
According to the Governor, the intervention would help Ekiti diversify its economy, expand its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), attract foreign direct investment, boost private sector growth, and enhance food security through commercial agriculture.
“Beyond our reputation for education and integrity, agriculture remains a pillar of our economy, employing a majority of our people and contributing significantly to our GDP,” he said. “We are also blessed with a unique tourism landscape — hills, caves, and cultural heritage sites — which we intend to develop into a world-class tourism corridor.”
Governor Oyebanji added that the state’s rich natural endowments and transparent governance make it a viable destination for investment and development funding.
In his remarks, Ambassador Akawor confirmed that the commission received Ekiti’s request for N175.75 billion for developmental projects. He described tourism as a potential goldmine and urged the state to invest more in unlocking its full economic value.
Akawor, who chairs the RMAFC Committee on Fiscal Efficiency and Budget, noted that the federal government’s economic diversification drive provides an opportunity for states like Ekiti to reposition their economies beyond oil dependency.
