*Ekiti Creative Artists Forum also declares support for Oyebanji’s re- election
Rising from its 36th National Conference in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti state capital, the Nigeria Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) has endorsed Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji for re-election in 2026 based on the effectiveness of his administration’s PWD-friendly policies and huge investment in special education.
Speaking on behalf of the national body and Ekiti State chapter of the association at the closing session of the annual conference on Ado- Ekiti on Friday, the national president of NASET, Dr Catherine Atteng commended the governor for his policy of inclusion and proactiveness in lifting the status of children with special needs in the state to an enviable level worthy of emulation nationally.
Dr Atteng said she and the national executive members were excited at the state-of-the- art structures and gadgets in all the special schools in Ekiti, adding that this was made possible because of the passion the governor has for special education.
The NASET President confirmed that Governor Oyebanji is a Champion of Disability Inclusion nationally, in view of his demonstrated love and commitment to the welfare of Persons with Disabilities and was so honored as a fellow of the association, during the opening session of the week-long conference.
“We can attest that from yesterday, when we visited the facilities, there has been a remarkable improvement from what we saw the last time we came. That is why we decided to honour our retirees who studied Special Education and retired from special schools.
“And they all attested to the fact that what the governor is doing is overwhelming. We can really see for ourselves that Governor Oyebanji is a friendly governor as well as disability friendly.
”In some states where we have conferences like this, the government officials will not give us any opportunity because they will not send any representative, but here in Ekiti, because of the love the Governor has shown to children with disabilities, because of his passion for children with disabilities, he decided to include the excluded. So many people do not want to relate with children with disabilities, but the governor decided to stoop low and work with these people and so, we are overwhelmed.
“What do we have to say, you know as the national president, I am here as the mother of Special Education in Nigeria, all my Excos and the association in the 36 states, they are all here, for us, we have endorsed the Governor and that is why we decided to confer him with the Fellow of NASET because of his commitment and passion, we decided to do this for him. For me, if I have the opportunity to come during election, I will surely come and cast my vote for Governor Oyebanji and we have already supported him because he has carried my people along.” She stated.
All participants from the 36 states of the federation who were at the conference were visibly excited with the kind of development in the state and lend their voices to the various assertions of their president to commend Governor Oyebanji for the wonderful infrastructure he had put in place for the benefit of the disability family in the state.
Dr Margaret Uzor from Cross River state and Mr Akin Ogunola representing Rivers state spoke glowingly about their experience in Ekiti state and recommended that Governor Oyebanji should be allowed to continue in government to enable people living with disabilities continue to enjoy his good works.
“I was in Ido yesterday and we saw what they have over there, the therapy room and some of the equipment are just so massive and they are wonderful.
“And I think that other states should copy from what Ekiti State is actually doing in terms of special kids. I am very happy the way the state government really protect them even from entry into their compound, the security and the apparatus there, they are so wonderful.
“I know that the state government is actually doing great in terms of revenue generation, and not only getting this money, the money trickles down to the individuals that actually need this and one of those are these special needs children.
“So, if someone could come up with this and then thinking of giving their lives a new meaning, I think such a person deserves a huge recommendation.” Ogunola asserted.
Ekiti Creative Artists Forum declare support for Oyebanji’s re- election
*As Prof Adubiaro urges Voters to update their PVCs
As the race for the 2026 Gubernatorial election gathers momentum, the Secretary to Ekiti State Government, Prof. Habibat Adubiaro has called on eligible voters in the state to update their Permanent Voter Cards at the appropriate INEC designated centres.
Secretary to Ekiti State Government, Prof. Habibat Adubiaro, speing ring the visit of the Ekiti Creative Artists Forum when it declared support for Oyebanji’s re- election
Prof Adubiaro spoke in Ado- Ekiti, the state capital on Thursday, just as another prominent group- Ekiti Creative Artists Forum, visited the Governor’s Office to formally endorse Governor Biodun Oyebanji for a second term in office.
Members of the Forum, which has about 16 associations, including the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria, Movie Makers Association, Society of Nigerian Artists, traditional Musician Association of Nigeria, GOMAN, PMAN amongst others, said they were moved by the Governor’s excellent performance for their decision.
Prof Adubiaro who welcomed them on behalf of the Governor said their show of solidarity was another attestation to the multi-faceted impact of the Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji administration across various sectors which has significantly improved the socio-economic and infrastructural growth of the State.
The Secretary to the State Government urged residents whose polling units are far from where they reside to update their PVCs during the next INEC registration exercise to enable them vote and ensure the victory of Governor Oyebanji in the election scheduled for June 20, 2026.
The SSG said: “I want to use this opportunity to enjoin all of us here to collect our PVCs. There is no other way to appreciate Governor Oyebanji than to collect your PVCs, because we know some people have relocated from the areas they registered as voters, so let’s go and get our voters cards, so that we will go to the poll at once and vote for Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji to come back for another four years,”
She urged them to remain firm and continue to propagate the gospel of BAO across the nooks and crannies of the state to enjoy more deliverables as encapsulated under the Shared Prosperity mantra.
Also, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political and Inter-Party Affairs, High Chief Jide Awe said Yoruba traditional culture is well rooted in Ekiti, and commended members of various groups and associations under the umbrella of Ekiti Creative Artists Forum for the endorsement.
Chief Awe who maintained that Governor Oyebanji had fulfilled all the promises made to Ekiti people, assured that he will not disappoint them in the next dispensation.
Earlier, the representatives of the various groups under the forum, Chief Ojo Olowojolu, Associate Professor Mike Adeloye, Mr Gbenga Apadidun, Chief Ayodele Ilesanmi had commended the various achievements recorded by Governor Biodun Oyebanji in their Arts, Culture and Creative Economy sector as well as other critical sectors which they noted are evident for all to see.
They promised their total support for the Governor, adding that they will canvass more votes towards ensuring its victory in next year’s Gubernatorial election.
The Commissioner for Arts and Creative Economy, Prof. Rasak Ojo Bakare who led the team to the Governor’s office on behalf of the State Creative Artists hailed the artists for the endorsement.