Mayowa Akinfolarin: Sets To Birth Greater Ondo State
By: Femi Salako
As the stage is fast getting set for the 2024 governorship election in Ondo State, political landscape of the state is equally making an anticipatory yield to the longing of the people for a better governance.
It is quite evident that the Sunshine State is truly yearning for a competent, capable and trusted leader that will take over the reign of governance from Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, come February 2025. Although deserved credit must be given to the incumbent governor, who has apparently given his all to deliver good governance in Ondo State.
Expectedly, a number of aspirants have already shown interests to contest the 2024 governorship election in Ondo State. However, one particular aspirant, who has the prerequisite qualifications, experience, competence and grassroots support to win gubernatorial election is none other than Hon. Mayowa Akinfolarin.
Akinfolarin is a two term House of Assembly and House of Representatives member. He is undoubtedly a grassroots politician who literarily has the political map of Ondo State on his palm. He is one of the very few politicians in Ondo State that can visit any political ward across the state and mention not less than 10 names of recognized politicians in each of the wards.
The Odigbo born politician also boast of a very impressive track record that has spanned well over three decades in both private and public sectors. This is addition to his robust educational attainment, which have combined to give Akinfolarin the required wider worldview, international exposure, experience, vision and commitment to take Ondo State to a greater height. It is also on record that Akinfolarin possesses a record of enviable accomplishments in private, public and political offices he had so far held.
It is worthy of note that the influence of Akinfolarin in the All Progressives Congress (APC) has known no bound from the 9th Assembly to the 10th Assemblies. He had worked so hard to make APC very popular in Odigbo Local Government Area and this had in turn, made the party won more seats in the past state and national assembly elections. More so, the APC has also become the dominant political party in Ondo State due to the extremely hard work of people like Mayowa Akinfolarin.
The Sociology graduate of Ahmed Bello University, Zaria, remarkably served as the House Committee Chairman on Federal Road Safety Commission during his term as a member of the Federal House of Representatives. It is on record that Akinfolarin came up with lots of novel initiatives that eventually saw to the transformation and elevation of road administration and safety management in Nigeria to a level of international standards. This achievement also deservedly earned FRSC recognition as the very best in Africa at the time.
As a reflection of Akinfolarin’s passion for the development of Nigerian youths and women, the forward-thinking politician sponsored the National Youth Service Corps Trust Fund Bill. The very Bill was legislatively purposed to provide regular start-off funds for Nigerian graduates that have undertaken the mandatory one year NYSC program and equally have flare for entrepreneurial ventures.
Akinfolarin also made his mark when he served as a two-term Deputy Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly. While serving in this position, he chaired the Cash Allocation Committee and this provided him the opportunity to prove his financial acumen as well as his utter commitment to prudence in financial management.
During his time at the Ondo State Assembly, Mayowa also shouldered the responsibilities of Needs Assessment of the House, Budgetary Policy Formulation and overseeing the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) activities, which were aimed at improving the welfare of children and women.
Also worth stating is the achievements of Akinfolarin during his tenure as a board member of Nigerian National Library. These accomplishments helped in no mean measure to revive the dying reading culture in Nigeria at the time. Above all, efforts of Akinfolarin in this position also culminated in the construction of a modern National Library headquarters in Abuja.
He equally served as a member of the Upper Niger River Basin Authority. As expected, Mayowa Akinfolarin also
succeeded in ensuring that the people of mandate areas had greater access to the needed quantity and quality of water.
Undoubtedly, the impeccable leadership qualities of Akinfolarin have been clearly underscored by his strong communication skills, time management, and social perceptiveness. The alumnus of the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria also possesses a deep understanding of parliamentary procedures, committee management, and legislative review.
More importantly, the versatility of
Hon. Akinfolarin also stands him out amongst his contemporaries. He evidently possesses the ability to engage in political negotiations, mediation and to also make critical analysis of issues. He always manifests his readiness to tackle challenges in whatever position; this much is clearly manifested in his commitment to teamwork and dedication to solving problems.
The 61-yearl-old politician has thus far made his mark in legislative contributions towards the development of Nigeria. He has done extremely well as a member of the Federal House of Representatives by sponsoring bills and motions that have satisfactorily addressed critical national issues. Some of the legislative intervention of Akinfolarin had focused on the areas of education, road safety, and economic diversification.
The academically insatiable Akinfolarin is consistently committed to acquiring newer and broader knowledge. This has therefore manifested is his regular participation in numerous local and international seminars and conferences. The consistent and
deliberate self-exposure to enriching intellectual engagements and leadership skills, have over the years made Akinfolarin a formidably prepared and equipped aspirant; who is now poised to contest and govern the Sunshine State.
It is undisputable that Hon. Mayowa Akinfolarin has a very clear vision to make Ondo State become economically prosperous. This same vision also with his broader goal of building a better Nigeria. More so, his track record and impressive accomplishments in all positions so far held bear testimonies to the ability of Akinfolarin to steer the leadership ship of Ondo State to a prosperous haven.
Now that the big stage is fast getting set for Ondo State governorship contest in 2024, one transformative option that is available to the good people of the Sunshine State is Hon. Akinfolarin.
He is evidently loaded with innovative and transformative ideas of jet-age governance. He also clearly represents a radical departure from the old order. Before the good people of Ondo State is the very good choice of Mayowa Akinfolarin, which must not be allowed to slip off.
