The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, has unveiled his nine-point development agenda tagged ITESIWAJU, promising to give priority to transformation of the state's economy through infrastructural development, education, security, agriculture and industrialization, if elected as the next governor in the 2027 general election.
Adeola, who represents Ogun West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, disclosed the agenda during a familiarisation visit to the Ogun State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) at the Iwe Iroyin Press Centre, Oke-Ilewo in Abeokuta, the State capital
The senator accompanied by his deputy, Alhaja Kudirat Abiodun Adegunwa- Balogun, Director-General of Ogun APC Campaign Council, Sen. Lekan Mustapha and other Chieftains of the party, said the blueprint was designed to address the state's developmental challenges, expand economic opportunities and promote inclusive governance if elected governor on May 29, 2027.
He described the proposed programme as a covenant with the people of Ogun State, insisting that his administration, if elected, would be held accountable for its implementation.
According to him, the ITESIWAJU agenda is the product of two years of planning and consultations aimed at identifying the challenges confronting the state and developing practical solutions.
“I stand before you not as a politician reciting promises, but as a son of Ogun State bringing you a covenant—a plan I intend to be held accountable to, page by page, project by project.”
Adeola explained that the ITESIWAJU agenda comprises nine cardinal pillars, covering infrastructure; tourism and culture; education and human capital development; security and law enforcement; inclusive health and well-being; women affairs, poverty alleviation and youth development; agricultural transformation and food security; job creation and industrialisation; and urban environment and physical development.
He said the programme would be supported by six institutional reform catalysts to strengthen governance and ensure effective delivery of public services.
Promises transport, rail infrastructure
On infrastructure, the APC candidate promised to introduce a mass transit programme connecting major towns and commercial centres across the state, alongside efforts to improve road connectivity, housing, power supply and digital infrastructure.
He said the proposed Ogun State Bus Mass Transit Programme would operate along major corridors, including Abeokuta, Sango-Ota and Sagamu, with organised terminals to facilitate movement within the state.
Adeola explained that the plan would enable commuters to travel conveniently between different parts of Ogun State through a coordinated transport network.
He said the programme would be complemented by efforts to work with the Nigerian Railway Corporation to extend commuter rail services into the state, linking Abeokuta and the state's industrial corridor to the Lagos rail network.
The senator also announced plans to introduce OgunRide, a state-backed mobility platform for commercial drivers, tricycle operators and motorcycle riders.
Under the initiative, he said, operators would have access to health insurance, vehicle financing and cooperative support, with the aim of formalising and improving the welfare of thousands of people working in the transport sector.
We are not just leaving infrastructure open and only emphasising roads. We bring all other projects that are linked to infrastructure together, like housing, rail projects, water transportation and all other infrastructural activities,” he said.
Adeola, however, acknowledged the infrastructural efforts of the current administration, led by Governor Dapo Abiodun, saying no government could complete all infrastructure projects within a single term or two terms, particularly after years of inadequate planning and abandoned projects.
He pledged to build on the achievements of the present administration while addressing outstanding infrastructure needs across the state.
On tourism and culture, the APC candidate said his administration would promote Ogun State's cultural heritage and creative industries to generate employment, attract investment and increase internally generated revenue.
He identified Olumo Rock in Abeokuta, the Ojude Oba Festival in Ijebu-Ode, the Egungun Festival and the coastal heritage of Ogun Waterside as tourism assets that could attract visitors from within and outside Nigeria.
He commended Governor Abiodun for the renovation of Olumo Rock, describing the project as a significant improvement in the state's tourism profile and revenue generation.
Adeola said a future administration under his leadership would consolidate the gains by investing in fashion, adire production, filmmaking, music and sports tourism.
He also proposed a digital tourism portal to promote the state's attractions and make information accessible to prospective visitors.
According to him, cultural festivals and creative activities that have lost momentum should be revived and developed into sustainable tourism events.
He cited the annual Drum Festival, introduced by a previous administration, as an example of a cultural initiative that could be revitalised.
In education, Adeola promised to improve teaching quality, expand technical and vocational education, rehabilitate classrooms and provide students with skills required in the modern economy.
He said his administration would prioritise both basic and tertiary education, noting that Ogun State's concentration of universities and other higher institutions required deliberate investment and improved oversight.
The senator said he had already facilitated the construction of 12 blocks of classrooms, with staff rooms, libraries and toilet facilities, in schools across Ogun West and other areas.
He pledged to expand such interventions if elected governor in 2027
Adeola also proposed incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into the curriculum of primary and secondary schools, while supporting the development of technology hubs to encourage innovation, entrepreneurship and digital businesses.
He said the state's tertiary institutions must produce graduates whose skills and qualifications could compete internationally.
“No state rises above the quality of its human capital,” he said, adding that technical and vocational training would be strengthened to ensure that young people graduate with practical, employment-ready skills.
On security, the APC candidate promised to strengthen the Ogun State Security Trust Fund, establish a Cyber Security and Security Operations Centre, and create a Resident Identity Management Agency.
He said the proposals were intended to improve intelligence gathering, security coordination and the technological capacity of law enforcement agencies.
Adeola commended the Abiodun administration for its efforts in addressing insecurity but maintained that additional measures were necessary to strengthen the state's security architecture.
He explained that his experience in the establishment of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund had exposed him to the importance of involving industries and other stakeholders in funding security operations.
According to him, the proposed funding structure would encourage wider participation in security management, particularly from businesses and industries operating within Ogun State.
He said a secure environment was essential for attracting investment, supporting businesses and creating jobs.
Adeola described Ogun State's geographical location, bordering Lagos, the Republic of Benin and other southwestern states, as a major economic advantage that had yet to be fully harnessed.
He said the state should position itself as a gateway for exports into the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) market and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The senator identified agriculture, agro-industrial development, manufacturing and logistics as sectors capable of expanding economic opportunities and improving residents' livelihoods.
He said his vision was to harness the state's natural and human resources to unlock its economic potential while ensuring inclusive governance and shared prosperity.
He also pledged to pursue agricultural diversification, food security, industrialisation, poverty alleviation, youth development, inclusive healthcare and improved urban planning as part of the ITESIWAJU programme.
The APC candidate expressed appreciation to journalists in Ogun State for their coverage of his political career, saying the media played a role in his emergence as senator representing Ogun West in 2023 and his subsequent emergence as the APC governorship candidate.
He said his decision to visit the NUJ after securing the party's ticket was to engage the media ahead of the statewide campaign and present his plans for the state.
Adeola pledged to maintain a working relationship with journalists, describing them as custodians of public memory who would be expected to monitor his performance and hold him accountable for his promises.
He also dismissed suggestions that he intended to take over the leadership of the NUJ, describing such claims as false and insisting that he would remain a partner of the union.
He assured the journalists of his readiness to support the NUJ and its programmes, promising a new level of cooperation if elected governor.
The senator said the proposed agenda was intended to build on existing development efforts and create a state where economic opportunities and public services would be accessible to residents across all three senatorial districts.
He urged journalists to scrutinise the blueprint and hold him accountable for its implementation, saying his ambition was to move Ogun State forward through transparent governance, strategic investment and sustainable development.
The 2027 governorship election is expected to feature campaigns by political parties seeking to present their development plans and programmes to voters across the state.
Earlier, Chairman of the Ogun State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Wale Olanrewaju had acknowledged the various contributions of the APC governorship candidate, noting various intervention projects in the education, health and roads infrastructure spread across the state
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