Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, a former senator and daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has declared that Ogun State is poised to elect its first female governor as she formally unveiled her governorship ambition.
Prof. Obasanjo made the declaration during a media parley held in Abeokuta at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), where she presented a development-focused blueprint centred on industrial expansion, agricultural value addition, education reform, technology innovation, tourism growth, transportation upgrades, and large-scale job creation.
According to her, Ogun State’s historical exposure to education and development makes it ready to produce a female governor.
She argued that female leadership is deeply rooted in the state’s history, noting that women have long played influential roles in governance and community leadership.
Outlining her economic vision, Obasanjo emphasised industrialisation as a key growth driver. She praised the current administration’s push to attract factories, saying the industrial influx has increased employment opportunities and boosted internally generated revenue. However, she stressed the need to deepen industrial capacity to ensure broader wealth creation.
On agriculture, she called for a shift from primary production to value addition. Given Ogun’s proximity to Lagos, a major consumer market, she said the state must prioritise processing, packaging, and export-oriented production to maximise earnings and create more jobs.
Describing education as the foundation of sustainable development, Obasanjo said Ogun must reclaim its reputation as the cradle of education in Nigeria.
She revealed plans to establish a specialised secondary school focused on science and technology to nurture top-performing students for careers in research and innovation. She also advocated the creation of technology hubs and digital innovation centres to position the state as a leader in ICT-driven employment.
She maintained that her entire policy framework is anchored on improving disposable income among residents, arguing that economic hardship often reflects insufficient earnings rather than a lack of economic activity.
In the tourism sector, she identified untapped potential, pointing out that visitors frequently travel from Lagos to Abeokuta by rail for leisure. She proposed the full development of major attractions, including Olumo Rock and the OOPL Museum, alongside improvements in hospitality infrastructure.
On transportation, she called for enhanced connectivity across the state and improved road safety measures, particularly in response to increased truck movement driven by industrial expansion.
Addressing concerns about her years away from frontline politics, Obasanjo described her international experience as an advantage. She said governance should be viewed as public service rather than a lifelong career.
Citing Bola Tinubu as an example of a leader who returned to elective office after time outside government, she described such transitions as healthy for democracy.
She also rejected claims of being disconnected from grassroots communities, recalling her previous campaign visits to remote areas across the state and reaffirming her commitment to inclusive leadership.
