Participants in the essay competition for a 30-year economic plan for Ondo State have received their awards. Presenting cash awards to the writers of the best three mission statements, the State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Pastor Emmanuel Igbasan explained that the state government provided the opportunity for the people of the state to make their input in the designing of the 30-year long term economic plan for the state.
He explained that the long term economic plan is backed by legal instrument for the development of the state beyond the present administration.
Igbasan said: “The crafting of the project (the Ondo 2055 Economic Plan) is a product of Fiscal Responsibility Law 2017 of Ondo State. “It’s a long term development plan of the state government. We have started the administrative plan long ago. “We put into consideration the human capital present in our state and decided to craft a great future we all desire. “This plan would be subject to reviewing to see where we are every 5 years.
“We look at the schools, infrastructure facilities, health facilities and the population growth and economic growth for further improvement. “A lot of money is committed and in a couple of weeks, the project would be completed and forwarded to the governor for onward presentation to the people of Ondo State.”
Speaking on the entries from the people of the state, the Commissioner disclosed that as at the time of closing the portal, no fewer than 93 essays were received. He explained that consultants were engaged to go through the proposals to see how to extract whatever could be added to the materials that is being prepared by the state.
Having read through the materials, the consultants pruned the proposals to 22 out of which they submitted the best three to the commissioner.
Igbasan, therefore, announced 28-year-old Adeoti Kolapo John, a graduate of English from Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo State, as the best writer. Dr. Omosehin Michael’s proposal was rated second, while Oladapo Segun Samuel’s proposal was rated third best. They were presented the dummy cheques of N500,000, N300,000 and N200,000 of their prizes for framing vision statements for the state Development Plan tagged: ‘Ondo 2055.’
Earlier, one of the consultants, Prof T.M Obamuyi, said: “The competition is asking the stakeholders what they expect the state to be in the next 30 years. “We are happy about the submission and will form part of the submission. “I congratulate the participants for being part of the development of the state. The response was impressive, 93 submitted as at the time of closing the portal.”
The best participant, Adeoti Kolapo John, expressed shock at his emergence as the best writer. He added that he used Lagos State as the benchmark in preparing his proposal for Ondo State in 30 years’ time. Adeoti, therefore, implored people at the helm of affairs of the state, particularly politicians, not to allow the long tern proposal be another document that would end up in trash can.
The commissioner, therefore, promised that the proposals submitted by the participants would be pasted on the state website for people to read. Participants who travelled from outside the state to the prize-giving ceremony were compensated by the organizers. The programme was handled by Economic Planning and Coordinating Office of the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget led by the Administrative Secretary, Mr. Bamidele John Daisi.
Sunday Ajibola,
Head Media, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget