The governor was speaking at a dinner hosted by a non-partisan group of Ekiti State indigenes in Lagos.

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has reaffirmed his determination to sustain policies aimed at eliminating poverty in the state.

Mr. Fayemi spoke at a dinner hosted recently at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos, by the Igbimo Ure Ekiti, a non-partisan group of Ekiti State indigenes.

The governor maintained that despite the state’s low revenue ranking, his social security scheme would be sustained and improved upon to take care of, especially, indigent elderly citizens of the state. The scheme offers the elderly a monthly stipend of N5000 and was commenced in October 2011.

“Some ask what the N5000 we pay elderly people achieve. The scheme is part of a poverty reduction strategy which will cater for the indigent elderly and reassure them of their importance and usefulness in society,” Mr. Fayemi said.

“I once met one of these elderly persons and she said she was feeling guilty at being paid for doing nothing. And then the amazing thing is that she said she doesn’t finish the money for the month before the next payment comes.

The fact that there were people that could live on N5000 for 30 days made me realise the level of poverty we are dealing with here. And we will constantly work to eliminate that,” he added.

Mr. Fayemi also outlined the road map for the state’s development including his achievements in education, agriculture, business, health, infrastructural development and women empowerment.

“In education, we have renovated all the schools in the state; all of them,” he said.

“We used to have three of what I call glorified secondary schools as tertiary institutions but we merged all to form one university and we have increased the subvention to the university to improve standards.

“I also intend to start lecturing for free at the university later this year. And I would use this opportunity to call on all Ekiti State people to emulate the Igbimo Ure Ekiti in supporting the development of our dear state.”

President of the Igbimo Ure Ekiti, Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, said the group was impressed with the governor’s achievements and would continue to seek ways of assisting the state government improve quality of lives of residents.

“We have intellectual and influential ammunition in Ekiti State,” said Mr. Adelusi-Adeluyi.

“Although we are not interested in partisan politics, we are passionate about results and possess great intensity of integrity as we assist the government in achieving its vision for the state.”

Among those who attended the dinner were Orelope Adejoke-Adefulire and Pius Odubu, the Deputy Governors of Lagos and Edo states respectively; Mohammed Bawa, former Military Governor of Ekiti State; and Pat Utomi, renowned economist.