Chancellor of Ekiti State University Dr Tunji Olowolafe has challenged the Ekiti State government to transform its celebrated intellectual capital into accelerated industrial growth, employment, sustainable wealth creation in order to position the state as one of the leading states in the country in terms of economic growth in the next ten years.

The founder of the Tunji Olowolafe Foundation stated this while delivering the lead paper, “The Path to Ekiti’s Greatness: Opportunities, Choices, and Imperatives for the Next 30 Years,” at the Ekiti at 30 Future Summit in Ado-Ekiti at the weekend.

He identified reliable power, practical vocational skills and direct connections to industrial supply chains and global markets as critical to Ekiti State next phase of development.

He proposed a ward-by-ward technical audit of the state’s 177 wards to establish renewable energy microgrids capable of powering schools, health centres, workshops and small businesses.

He also advocated expanding the six technical colleges, modernising their curricula and recruiting international vocational experts from countries including Switzerland, Germany, Canada and South Africa.

Olowolafe commended successive administrations for projects such as the Ekiti Knowledge Zone and the Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport, while appreciating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, and Senate Majority Leader Opeyemi Bamidele for the Ado-Ijan-Ilumoba-Ikole federal road.

He disclosed that his foundation’s interventions include the Gbemisola Olowolafe Memorial Community Secondary School in Are-Ekiti, which opened with 100 students in 2025 and now has over 170, as well as GOMTECH ICT Centre.

At EKSU, he cited Project Digi-Teach, digital infrastructure and the Trading Room diploma programme as efforts to make graduates industry-ready.

Using cocoa production as an example, Olowolafe challenged Ekiti to develop solar-powered dryers and process cocoa into chocolate locally. He also announced support for EKSU’s Geology Department with equipment, connectivity and international partnerships.

He pledged three major Foundation commitments: upgrading ICT centres in the six technical colleges, recruiting international vocational experts, and helping transform EKSU’s Geology Department into Africa’s best within five years.