By Olukayode Ogunleye, writing from Temidire-Ekiti
A few days ago, I took to the streets of Ado Ekiti with the mindset of an investigative journalist to ascertain the growing complaints about the state’s economy. I engaged business owners across different sectors, and a recurring concern emerged. Many lamented the sharp decline in patronage, attributing it to the increased presence and operations of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Ado Ekiti.
Hotel operators spoke of empty rooms. Owners of lounges and relaxation centres complained of fewer customers. Boutique owners, supermarket operators, fuel station attendants and other small business owners all echoed the same concerns business is no longer what it used to be.
While these complaints reflect genuine economic hardship, they also expose a deeper and more uncomfortable reality that every well-meaning Ekiti indigene must confront.
For far too long, a portion of our local economy appears to have been sustained by money generated through cybercrime. When legitimate law enforcement actions disrupt illegal activities and entire sectors of the economy immediately feel the impact, it reveals that the problem is not enforcement; it is our unhealthy dependence on an illicit source of economic activity.
No society can build lasting prosperity on criminal proceeds. Wealth created outside the law is unstable, unsustainable and incapable of delivering genuine development. An economy that flourishes only when criminal activity thrives is an economy desperately in need of structural reform.
Rather than viewing the present situation as a setback, Ekiti should see it as an opportunity for economic rebirth. This is the time to redirect the intelligence, creativity and digital talents of our young people toward productive, legitimate and globally competitive careers.
Technology itself is not the problem. Across the world, millions of young people are building successful careers through software engineering, cyber security, artificial intelligence, UI/UX design, data science, digital marketing, animation, remote work and online entrepreneurship. These industries generate legitimate income, create employment and contribute meaningfully to national development. Ekiti possesses the human capital to become a leading hub for digital innovation if the right investments are made.
This is why the next phase of governance under Governor Biodun Oyebanji should place unprecedented emphasis on entrepreneurship, vocational education, technology incubation, innovation hubs, startup financing and practical digital skills. Young people must be equipped not merely to seek jobs but to build businesses that can compete in the global economy.
The future we seek cannot be financed by illegal wealth. It must be built on knowledge, creativity, discipline and enterprise. Our objective should be clear: transform Ekiti from a state often associated with cybercrime into one celebrated for producing world-class innovators, entrepreneurs and technology professionals.
The conversations I had on the streets of Ado Ekiti should not merely provoke sympathy for struggling businesses; they should provoke serious reflection. If the fortunes of our local economy rise and fall with the proceeds of crime, then we have a responsibility to change that narrative.
History has presented Ekiti with a defining moment. We can either continue to lament the decline of an economy fuelled by illicit wealth, or we can seize this opportunity to build one powered by education, innovation, integrity and productive enterprise.
The decisions we make today will determine whether the next generation inherits a culture of quick wealth or a legacy of sustainable prosperity.
