On Thursday, September 24, 2026, the Honourable Commissioner for Special Duties, Hon. Erelu Taibat Yemi Oloruntoba, formally assumed office at Owena House, Central Business District, Abuja. She addressed staff and members of the press, outlining her mandate and commitment to driving excellence under the administration of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.
In a related interview, the Commissioner was asked about alleged frustrations among Ondo State commissioners regarding underfunding and the challenges they face. She firmly dismissed the claims, stating that no such situation exists. According to her, all commissioners are intellectuals who are well-funded and adequately supported.
Addressing the issue of troubles, she referenced “Awowo,” a traditional Yoruba deity known for fighting for people who are troubled or oppressed. She emphasised that Ondo State remains a strategic investment destination under the current administration of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.
For the full interview, viewers are encouraged to watch AIT, NTA, ADBN TV, and other media platforms.
Below is the full text of her inaugural address to staff and the press.
DRIVING EXCELLENCE AND DELIVERY ON OUR MANDATE:
Inaugural Address to staff and press by the Honorable Commissioner for Special Duties – Hon Erelu Taibat Yemi Oloruntoba:
Venue: Owena House, Central Business District, Abuja, F.C.T
Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026.
Protocol: Gentlemen of the press, distinguished management and staff here present, ladies and gentlemen.
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👉 JOIN WHATSAPP CHANNELIt is with profound sense of responsibility, humility and purpose that I stand before you today at Owena House, Abuja, as I assume office as the Honourable Commissioner for Special Duties.
I am deeply aware of the weight of this office and the high expectations set before us.
Before outlining our path forward, I must express my deepest gratitude and highest compliments to our Principal, the Executive Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.
We owe a debt of appreciation to Governor Aiyedatiwa for his visionary leadership, his unwavering commitment to the progress of Ondo State, and the confidence he has reposed in me to steer and ginger the affairs of the state in this capacity. His administration’s blueprint is clear: OUR EASE agenda to foster sustainable development, ensure inclusive governance and rapid response governance. 1 took oath of office before him and 1 pledged my services, hence I will serve as a fierce loyalist to realize his vision.
The Strategic Role of the Office of Special Duties:
To our friends in the media and our dedicated staff. let us be clear about what my appointment connotes and represents.
Our office is the agile, high-impact arm of the executive branch.
The role of the office of Special Duties is uniquely defined by: Inter-Governmental Synergy: Operating directly from Owena House here in the nation’s capital
We serve as the vital bridge linking Ondo State with Federal Agencies, international development partners and diplomatic missions.
* Special Projects Implementation: We are charged with executing high- priority, time-sensitive interventions, and legacy projects directly mandated by His Excellency, the Governor.
* Crisis Management & Rapid Response: When unforeseen challenges arise requiring swift inter-agency collaboration, our office serves as the central command for intervention.
* We exist to break down institutional silos, ensuring that harmony prevails among institutions without bureaucratic bottleneck.
The mandate of His Excellency is a sacrosanct, The Governor is running a high-velocity administration and that tempo must be matched.
The mandate is clear, The leadership is solid, The sunshine state is investing in it’s people. Let us roll up our sleeves and set to work.
I pledge to be a listening leader, to prioritize staff welfare. In return, I demand dedication, punctuality, and a solutions oriented mindset.
If Governor Aiyedatiwa conceives an extraordinary initiative, it is our job to ensure that red tape does not choke it, and bureaucratic delay does not delay it’s delivery. We don’t just clear the path, my job is to accelerate the pace.
Look no futher for proof of the Governor’s extraordinary vision than the landmark milestone achieved just days ago by the Ondo state Entrepreneurship Agency (ONDEA). On Saturday September 19, 2026, the grand dome of the international culture and events centre (The Dome) in Akure was filled to capacity with over 8,000 passionate, energetic entrepreneurs. It was the ONDEA entrepreneurs summit 2026, themed; “The new Ondo: Positioning entrepreneurs for emerging opportunity”.
At that event, Governor Aiyedatiwa did not just give a speech full of standard political grammar, he dropped concrete economic interventions.
He launched the Lucky Light Initiative to phase in reliable, clean solar power for 1,000 small businesses across all 18 local government areas.
He unveiled 80,000,000.00 (Eighty Million Naira) in direct grants under ONDEA My IDEA programme, handing N4,000,000.00 (Four Million Naira ) each to 20 exceptional young innovators alongside international exposure.
But the real showstopper- the announcement that sent shockwaves of excitement across the country was His Excellency’s bold move to directly purchase shares in the Dangote Petroleum Refinery for 500 Young Ondo Entrepreneurs.
Think about that for a moment, while others are teaching youths how to merely consume, Governor Aiyedatiwa is making 500 young men and women part owners of the largest single-train refinery in the world. He is turning job-seekers into major capital market investors.
1 guess you could say our youths are moving from looking for fuel money to owning the fuel factory ! , if that is not a “Lucky Break, I don’t know what is. One day, One wonder
A message to the press and the public
To our partners in the media, we view you as crucial stakeholders, in this journey. Transparency will be our watchword. Our doors at Owena House will remain open, and we will consistently communicate our milestones, challenges, and successes as we work to bring the dividends of democracy home to the people of Ondo State.
CONCLUSION
The work begins immediately with the support of His Excellency Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, and with your collective dedication, we will transform every challenge into a landmark achievement.
Thank you, God bless Ondo State, and God bless he Federal Republic of Nigeria.
O datiwa! O d’irorun !
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