Activities marking the 50th anniversary of the creation of Ogun State continued on Monday with an interfaith thanksgiving and prayer session held at the Arcade Ground, Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, bringing together past and present leaders as well as eminent sons and daughters of the state.
The event attracted a distinguished audience, including former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former Governor Chief Olusegun Osoba, past military administrators, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and other notable indigenes.
Addressing the gathering, Governor Dapo Abiodun said Ogun State has recorded significant progress over the past five decades, emerging as one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing economies with an estimated value of ₦17 trillion.
“Recent reports rank Ogun as the second-largest economy in Nigeria, after Lagos. Our state has attained an unprecedented level of prominence and excellence,” the governor said.
Abiodun described Ogun as the gateway to Nigeria’s prosperity, attributing its growth to sustained investments in multimodal transportation infrastructure, a world-class airport, and an extensive road network. He added that the state now leads in education across all levels, has delivered an unprecedented number of affordable housing units, strengthened healthcare delivery, and provided robust support for farmers, reinforcing its position as Nigeria’s industrial capital.
The governor also paid tribute to distinguished sons and daughters of the state, including Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and Chief MKO Abiola, noting that their legacies laid a solid foundation for Ogun’s socio-economic development.
In his remarks, former President Obasanjo commended successive administrations for their roles in shaping the state, saying Ogun has continued to make outstanding contributions to national development through the quality of its people. He urged the current administration to further maximise the state’s strategic proximity to Lagos by deepening infrastructure development and attracting increased investments.
Former Governor Osoba recalled Ogun’s historic milestones, including producing the first Chief Judge of the Federation, and highlighted the efforts of key figures involved in the state’s creation. He said the Abiodun administration was consolidating on the achievements of previous governments.
Speaking on behalf of former military administrators, Commodore Kayode Olofinmoyin (rtd.) described Ogun as fortunate to have an enlightened population and leaders committed to public welfare. He praised Governor Abiodun for giving balanced attention to all sectors of the economy.
Chairman of the Ogun State Council of Obas and the Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, urged the governor to remain focused on delivering dividends of democracy, noting that communities across the state, including Yewaland, had benefited from ongoing development projects.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Council and pioneer civil servant, Pa Olu Okuboyejo, reflected on the challenges faced at the creation of the state in 1976 and expressed gratitude for the progress achieved over the last 50 years.
Delivering a sermon titled “Ogun State, Be Grateful to God for Your Inheritance,” Bishop Michael Fape said the state had enjoyed visionary leadership from inception, enabling it to rank among Nigeria’s foremost states. He commended the Abiodun administration’s ISEYA development agenda for expanding the state’s economic base and called for responsible and constructive public engagement.
The interfaith service formed part of week-long activities to commemorate Ogun State’s golden jubilee, celebrating its history, achievements, and aspirations for the future.