By Lekan Adejuwon
Residents of Ekiti State have been charged to make themselves available for the enumeration exercise coming up nationwide next week in order to benefit more from the government of the day
The appeal was made by the leadership of the state Steering and
Advocacy Committee on 2023 Census in charge of enlightenment tour of Ekiti North Senatorial District led by the Commissioner for Health
and Human Services, Dr Oyebanji Filani on the second day of the 3 days visits to the local government areas.
Filani, while addressing representatives from all the communities in Moba Local Government area, said that knowing the accurate sectoral population figure of the state would help the governor in proper distribution of infrastructural facilities to the people.
The Commissioner emphasized that population figures also
determine how national assets are shared among the federating units,
therefore the need for Ekiti residents to ensure they are counted.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Sola Adeluyi charged residents to answer all questions directed to them by enumerators correctly in order not to
jeopardize the state’s chances of greater population.
Also contributing, the Ekiti State Statistician General, Mr Omoniyi
Kolawole said that the 5-day house and head count would not be
extended adding that there is the likelihood of restriction of
vehicular movement during the period.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of Ero Local Council Development
Area LCDA, Hon Akin Alebiosu assured that the people of Moba Local Government and Ero LCDA were fully prepared for the exercise.
He thanked the state Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji for taking the bull
by the horn and living no stone unturned at ensuring the success of
the exercise in the state.
Corroborating his position, Moba Local Government area Chairman, Hon Adeoye Oriyomi said that various communities in the area have put arrangements in place to motivate and mobilize residents for the exercise, while officials of the population agency would be given
adequate support for a successful enumeration.
Some of the participants at the forum pledged their readiness to make the exercise a huge success in their areas.
At Ilejemeje Local Government area, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry
of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Sola Adeluyi called on the people to spread the message to all the nooks and crannies of the council area.
She explained that there was no reason why non-indigenes should leave their residential areas to their home towns, saying that they should
be counted where they sojourn.
Welcoming the team to the area, the Local Government Chairman, Hon.
Oloruntoba Alufa, who was represented by the Director of Budget, Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr Matthew Adebayo disclosed that census Committee at the local level has mobilized and prepared the ground for a hitch free exercise.
The advocacy team had earlier paid a courtesy visit to the traditional
ruler of Eda-Oniyo Ekiti, the headquarters of the local government,
Oba Oladipo Awolola in his palace, where the leader of the team, Dr
Oyebanji intimated the monarch on the purpose of the visit.
He said as custodian of culture and tradition, as well as being close
to the people through the quarter chiefs, the traditional ruler should
support the efforts of the state in the sensitization of the people of
the area.
Responding, the Eleda of Eda-Oniyo Ekiti, Oba Oladipo Awolola promised
to intensify efforts, in collaboration with the chiefs to make the
exercise a successful one.
The tour of the local government areas would be rounded up on Friday.
