{
  "id": 14350915,
  "title": "The Challenge Before Ekiti State, My Snake Bite Story",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/the-challenge-before-ekiti-state-my-snake-bite-story",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-14T02:25:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/10/14/the-challenge-before-ekiti-state-my-snake-bite-story/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the wake of the Kiriji War, held between 1877 and 1886, the forebears of Ekiti State selected these hills for their remarkable beauty, strategic security, and mild climate. The people of Ekiti take immense pride in these ancestral grounds, their inherent values, and physical attractiveness; some even boldly proclaim that they are among the most aesthetically pleasing individuals on the African continent.\n\nAs a son of the soil, born to parents from Are-Ekiti, my primary qualification stems from this rich heritage. My father, orphaned at six, learned the art of survival through herbal remedy trading, eventually finding his way into a prestigious university and attaining a high-ranking position in the corporate world at Total Nigeria Limited.\n\nReflecting on the leadership of Ekiti State, we celebrate the visionary endeavors of our predecessors. The state's democratic governance has been bolstered by a series of esteemed governors, including Otunba Niyi Adebayo, who laid the foundation of democracy, and his wife, Erelu Angela Adebayo, who now serves as Nigeria's Ambassador to Portugal. Additionally, the state is home to a plethora of educational institutions, including Ekiti State University and Afe Babalola University, which have become renowned for their academic excellence.\n\nOur intellectual prowess is evident in the high proportion of university graduates per capita. Our residents are known to set high academic standards, with the highest-scoring candidate in the national JAMB examination originating from our state. Even as a child, I was inclined to forego specialized clinical training post-graduation, a decision that provoked emotion from my family.\n\nLooking to the future, Ekiti State faces the inevitable challenges posed by technological advancements such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and biotechnology. To remain at the forefront of this transformation, our state must prioritize three key fundamentals: reliable power, practical vocational skills, and connections to industrial supply chains and global markets.\n\nA proposed solution involves conducting a comprehensive technical audit on a ward-by-ward basis, aiming to establish renewable energy-powered microgrids in each ward. By investing in solar microgrids ranging from 300 to 500 kilowatts, communities can simultaneously cater to schools, health centers, and small businesses. With support from the Rural Electrification Agency, this initiative will be executable within the state's capabilities.\n\nMoreover, the state must emphasize vocational education, focusing on practical skills such as solar installation, welding, fabrication, machinery repair, food processing, and high-value technical trades. Six government technical colleges already exist, but their capacity must be expanded to accommodate the needs of the hundreds of thousands of youths across the state's sixteen local governments. This can be achieved by modernizing curricula, hiring master vocational instructors from globally recognized technical education systems, and fostering industry partnerships for direct employment opportunities.",
  "summary": "TUNJI OLOWOLAFE After the Kiriji War of 1877 to 1886, our forefathers chose these iconic hills, for their majestic beauty, strategic security and temperate climate. Perhaps that is why Ekiti",
  "key_points": [
    "Ekiti State's ancestors chose hills for beauty, security, climate",
    "Father learned survival through herbal remedy trading",
    "State faces challenges of AI, robotics, biotechnology"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Prioritizing renewable energy microgrids and modernized vocational training allows Ekiti State to bridge the gap between its high academic standards and the practical demands of a rapidly advancing technological landscape.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}