Every great state is the product of a great vision. Vision is the compass that guides a state to its desired destination. The vision encapsulates the state’s aspiration, where it wants to be, and what it wants to become. Hence, great leaders always live in the possibilities of the future, not the limitations of the moment. They do not allow the realities of the present to muzzle them; rather, they are motivated by the prospects the future offers and allow the possibilities to dictate their course of action. Without a compelling vision, a state will neither actualise its potential nor experience appreciable progress.
However, while visions create the future of a state in the imaginations of all concerned, it is a strategy that drives the state to the envisioned future. Strategy ties a state’s experiences and its present and future expectations. Strategy is the wing on which vision flies. Without an appropriate strategy, a society’s envisioned future will remain merely a vision. For this reason, Gerry Johnson and Kevan Scholes, in their book Exploring Corporate Strategy, submit that strategy determines an institution’s direction and development over the long term.
Strategy is vital to actualising corporate objectives because it bridges the gap between means and end. The strategy involves the deployment of resources at the disposal of a state for the actualisation of corporate goals.
Governor Seyi Makinde has unambiguously stated his intention to transform the people of Oyo State from poverty to prosperity since his assumption of office. To achieve his vision of spreading prosperity throughout the state, the Governor has adopted a two-pronged strategy: creating an enabling environment, offering the necessary support for private businesses to thrive, and strengthening the civil service through strategic recruitment to increase productivity.
By improving the state’s road infrastructure, rolling out the Light-Up Oyo project, which covers well over 250 kilometres across the state, tweaking the security architecture to ensure round-the-clock safety of the people and their property and emplacing a protocol that facilitates ease of doing business, Oyo State, under Governor Makinde, has become a haven for local and international businesses looking for investment opportunities. As Makinde opens up new areas with world-class road facilities, so do new businesses spring up in these areas. Consequently, over the past sixty-seven months, the number of enterprises within the state has grown to over two million, with many people gaining employment. So, effectively, the unemployment rate in the state has gone downhill, and so has the poverty rate.
But beyond the job opportunities created by the Organised Private Sector (OPS) and the informal sector, the state government has also been emphatic in its strive to create employment opportunities for the citizenry. During Governor Makinde’s first term, he quickly hired 5,000 secondary school teachers. Apart from the unprecedented number of teachers employed at once, the recruitment exercise was also unique because it was the first time the state would deploy a Computer-Based Test (CBT) in assessing applicants for civil or public service positions. That made the process credible and ensured that only the most suitable were recruited to teach secondary school students.
However, if Governor Makinde had been enthusiastic about job creation during his first term, he would have been even more enthusiastic during his second term. In 180 days, Makinde approved recruiting over 21,000 personnel to various Oyo State Government ministries, agencies and departments.
It started in July 2024 by recruiting 500 officers and men for the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA).
At the passing out parade for the newly recruited officers, Governor Makinde said, “When I was going around for re-election, I promised that if given another mandate to serve, I would ensure that the rule of law is upheld in our dear state. So, this recruitment is to strengthen the capacity of OYRTMA because when the agency is strengthened, the rule of law in the state is strengthened.
“We want an Oyo State where all laws will be obeyed, especially traffic laws. And to achieve this, we need to sensitize our people and enforce the laws.”
The recruitment of 561 Amotekun operatives followed this.
In his address at the passing out parade of the new operatives in Iseyin, Governor Makinde said, “Even though Oyo Amotekun only commenced operation in November 2020, we cannot imagine the state without them. This is how important they have become to our security architecture over the years. We recognised that there was more to be done to address kidnapping, banditry and other illegal activities in our forests, and this is what led to the initiative to establish Forest Rangers as a sub-unit of Amotekun in 25 local government areas, with about 480 recruits out of the 561 passing out today.
“These rangers are to work within the forests in their local government areas alongside other stakeholders and community groups. They aim to secure our farmers and other people engaged in commercial activities. They are also to preserve our natural resources in our forests to prevent illegal activities. These additional Oyo Amotekun recruits passing out today will increase the number of Amotekun to 2,500 corps members.
“Let me restate again our commitment to providing all required to ensure that Oyo Amotekun can deliver on their mandate. We will continue providing equipment and monthly grants to ensure smooth operations.”
Then, through the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, the state government employed 5,600 primary school teachers and 80 carers to strengthen the personnel requirements of primary schools. The governor also approved the recruitment of 7,500 teachers and 3,000 non-teaching staff for secondary schools in the state.
Commenting on the development, the Oyo State Wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Oladimeji Raji, and Secretary, Salami Olukayode, said Governor Makinde’s appointment of 5,000 teachers to the state primary and secondary schools in his first term and 14,500 since the inception of his second term was commendable.
The statement read, “Your disposition towards turning the tide of the education system of Oyo State remains unprecedented and unmatched not only in the annals of recruitment history of our dear state in recent times but also across the entire 36 states of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory.
“Your Excellency Sir, your achievements in the education sector since your assumption of office, particularly the successful recruitment of over 14,000 qualified teaching professionals and about 3,500 non-teaching personnel, aside from an appreciable number of caregivers, are a clear cut and perfect reflection of your results-oriented style of leadership aimed at providing free, qualitative, and quantitative education to the amiable citizens of Oyo State. This gesture shall, without doubt, significantly impact our classroom and enhance educational service delivery to our school children.”
The statement added, “It is no doubt that this noble achievement of yours, despite the prevailing global challenges of economic meltdown, will forever remain a veritable tool and special reference point that successive administrations may not easily match.”
The state government later set in motion the process of employing about 3,000 workers for the state’s Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs).
The Executive Secretary of the Oyo State Primary Healthcare Board, Muideen Olatunji, explained the rationale behind employing that many workers: “There has been no meaningful recruitment into the primary healthcare sector in over twenty years. This is the first time in two decades that the state government is recruiting into the primary healthcare system to fill the workforce gap.
In addition to the PHC workers, the state government has employed 12 consultants, 28 doctors, eight pharmacists, six physiotherapists, 170 nurses, three pharmacist technicians, eight medical laboratory scientists and 80 other health workers.
The state is also recruiting 791 people to fill vacant positions in the mainstream civil service. According to Alhaji Kamoru Aderibigbe, chairman of the Civil Service Commission, the recruitment exercise will employ 230 education officers and 561 others.
So, in the course of six months, the Oyo State Government has employed over 21,000 people.
Many wonder why Governor Makinde embarked on this massive recruitment exercise, especially when the minimum wage increased from N30,000 to N80,000.
The reason is not shrouded in any mystery; it is the power of vision. Vision demolishes obstacles and simplifies challenges. Vision looks beyond adversities to focus on possibilities. Vision penetrates through challenges to see positive changes. So, for Governor Seyi Makinde when it comes to empowering the people of Oyo State and putting them on the path of progress and prosperity, cost is secondary.
The massive recruitment exercise, apart from being a move to fill existing vacancies, is part of the strategy deployed by Governor Makinde to put the state on an irreversible development trajectory as encapsulated in the Roadmap to Sustainable Development 2023-2027.
Recruitment is centred on four major sectors: the civil service, the security sector, health services, and the education sector. Each plays a critical role in the state’s overall development.
The employment of 516 additional Amotekun corps is meant to strengthen the security base further so that farmers, traders, artisans, Small and Medium-sized Entrepreneurs (SMEs), and big business operators can engage in lawful business without fear. Having most people engage in their businesses without any hindrance will increase productivity, economic activities, and, ultimately, wealth creation.
Employing 500 new OYRTMA personnel is meant to restore order to the traffic management system and improve road safety. This aligns with the vision of positioning Oyo as a state where investors and tourists will be happy to come and live because they know they can feel safe and secure. Having more visitors and tourists in the state will boost revenue generation.
Recruiting more teachers will improve the quality of school delivery and strengthen the state’s human capital development efforts. Thus, the state and its people will be prepared for opportunities beyond the country’s shores.
Employing different categories of health workers aims to improve the well-being of everyone in the state by ensuring access to the healthcare system. This will allow everyone to contribute to building a better Oyo State.
Employing more civil servants is a move to strengthen policy implementation for the overall good of the state.
The rationale for the recruitment drive is to build a wholesome state that promotes the prosperity and well-being of the people.
Governor Seyi Makinde always thinks outside the box when taking Oyo State out of the woods.
*Dr Olanrewaju is the Chief Press Secretary to Oyo State Governor.
