Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has declared Monday and Tuesday as public holidays across the 18 local government areas of the state as part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the state’s creation.

The governor made the declaration in a statement issued at the weekend by his spokesman, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, saying the holidays would enable residents to participate fully in the lined-up anniversary programmes.

According to the statement, the milestone marks five decades of growth, resilience, and collective progress for the state.

“The declaration is to enable residents of Ondo State to fully participate in activities lined up to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the creation of Ondo State, a historic milestone that marks five decades of growth, resilience, and collective progress.

“The governor urges citizens to use the opportunity of the holidays to join in the celebrations, reflect on the state’s journey so far, and recommit themselves to the shared vision of building a more prosperous and united Ondo State.

“Essential service providers are, however, advised to make adequate arrangements to ensure uninterrupted services during the period,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Prof. Taiwo Oyedele, will deliver the anniversary public lecture.

The lecture, titled “Ondo State: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,” is scheduled to hold this Monday, February 2, 2026, at 10 a.m. at the International Culture and Event Centre (The Dome), Akure.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Taiwo Fasoranti, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku.

Fasoranti, who also chairs the Ondo @50 Anniversary Planning Committee, said the lecture would be chaired by legal luminary, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), and is expected to attract dignitaries from within and outside the state.

He described the event as an intellectual engagement aimed at examining the historical foundations of the state, assessing its current socio-economic trajectory, and charting strategic directions for sustainable development.

According to him, participants will include policymakers, academics, professionals, traditional rulers, socio-political groups, and other stakeholders.

Fasoranti said Oyedele, a native of Ikaramu-Akoko, is a renowned economist, tax expert, and public policy authority whose leadership of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee places him at the forefront of Nigeria’s fiscal and economic reforms.

He added that the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Energy, Mrs Olu Verheijen, is also expected to speak at the lecture.

Verheijen, he noted, has nearly two decades of experience in the gas and renewable energy sectors across Sub-Saharan Africa and is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the BFA Foundation, which provides scholarships for women and disadvantaged groups.

Fasoranti explained that the golden jubilee celebration was designed to combine reflection, thanksgiving, intellectual engagement, and cultural expression, in line with the administration’s vision to honour the past while positioning the state for sustainable growth.

Ondo State was created from the defunct Western Region on February 3, 1976, during the administration of the late Gen. Murtala Mohammed. (The Nation)

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