Photo File: Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji with members of the EKSU Alumni on Thursday. Credit: Abiodun Nejo 

Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has pledged to continue supporting Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado Ekiti, with a view to transforming it into a world-class institution before the end of his tenure.

Oyebanji, an alumnus and former lecturer at the university, made the promise on Thursday in Ado Ekiti when the EKSU Alumni Association formally presented him with the All Progressives Congress (APC) Expression of Interest and Nomination forms ahead of the June 2026 governorship election.

Expressing delight at the gesture, the governor described the move as an uncommon show of love and confidence from his colleagues in the alumni body.

“Our university is out of intensive care unit now; what we need to do is to stabilise it,” he said.
“By the time we leave office, we will have been able to have a university that is world-class. The process has started. I am extremely grateful to the alumni association, the EKSU Alumni Solidarity Group for BAO, and to those who contributed and are still contributing. Let me assure you, I will continue to make you proud, and the government will continue to provide an enabling environment for the university to do better.”

The governor also noted that his administration had repositioned EKSU through the strategic constitution of the governing council and management team, alongside an increase in the subvention to the institution.

He described the alumni’s action as a call to accountability: “This is a wake-up call for me and other politicians that people are watching us. They are watching our conduct, and it is a wake-up call to APC members that there are other alternative platforms of support. Even when the people decide to act otherwise, God will raise his own army.”

Speaking at the event, EKSU Alumni Global President, Mr. Seyi Idowu, unveiled the EKSU Alumni Solidarity Group for BAO, stating that the group would embark on a house-to-house and social media campaign in support of Oyebanji’s re-election bid.

“The decision to buy the nomination forms for Governor Oyebanji was a show of confidence in his leadership,” Idowu said.
“The governor’s impressive track record in governance and his commitment to the people’s welfare have made him the right choice to continue to steer the affairs of the state.”

The Director General of the Solidarity Group, Mr. Dipo Bamisaye, who is also the immediate past global president of the alumni association, said the governor was deemed worthy of a second term based on “his exceptional performance, strength of character, vision and impeccable leadership.”

Bamisaye highlighted some of Oyebanji’s achievements in less than three years in office, including the creation of a peaceful political and business climate, infrastructural development across the state, increased subventions to all tertiary institutions, and the defrayment of gratuities.