Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has declared Tuesday, February 3, 2026, a public holiday across the state in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the creation of Ogun State.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, who said the holiday would enable residents to actively participate in activities lined up for the Golden Jubilee celebration.
Talabi described the anniversary as a landmark moment marking five decades of Ogun State’s political existence, steady growth, and notable contributions to Nigeria’s national development. He added that Governor Abiodun urged residents to celebrate the historic milestone in an atmosphere of peace and unity, while reaffirming the administration’s commitment to building on past achievements and accelerating development across the state.
Residents were also encouraged to take full advantage of the public holiday to participate in the series of commemorative events marking the Golden Jubilee of the Gateway State, which was created on February 3, 1976.
Activities marking the 50th anniversary continued on Monday with an interfaith thanksgiving and prayer session held at the Arcade Ground, Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. The event drew prominent personalities, including former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former Governor Chief Olusegun Osoba, former military administrators, traditional rulers, and other eminent sons and daughters of the state.
Addressing the gathering, Governor Abiodun said Ogun State had recorded remarkable progress over the past five decades, particularly in education, housing, healthcare, agriculture, and other key sectors of the economy. According to him, the state is now one of the fastest-growing economies in the country, with an estimated value of ₦17 trillion.
“Recent reports rank Ogun as the second-largest economy in Nigeria after Lagos. Our state has attained an unprecedented level of prominence and excellence,” Abiodun said.
He described Ogun as the gateway to Nigeria’s prosperity, citing its multimodal transportation system, world-class airport, and expansive road network. The governor also noted the state’s leadership in education at all levels, delivery of affordable housing, strengthened healthcare services, and sustained support for farmers, reinforcing its status as Nigeria’s industrial capital.
Abiodun paid tribute to notable sons and daughters of the state, including Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and Chief MKO Abiola, whose legacies, he said, laid the foundation for Ogun’s enduring development.
In his remarks, former President Obasanjo commended past and present leaders of the state for their vision and dedication, noting that Ogun had made significant contributions to national development through its people. He urged the current administration to further leverage the state’s proximity to Lagos by strengthening infrastructure and attracting more investments.
Former Governor Osoba highlighted Ogun’s historic achievements and contributions to the nation, noting that the present administration was effectively building on the foundations laid by previous governments.
Speaking on behalf of former military administrators, Commodore Kayode Olofinmoyin (rtd.) described Ogun as fortunate to have an educated and enlightened populace, as well as leaders committed to the welfare of the people, while commending Governor Abiodun’s inclusive approach to governance.
The Chairman of the Ogun State Council of Obas and Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, urged the governor to remain focused on delivering dividends of democracy, noting that various parts of the state, including Yewaland, had benefited from ongoing development projects.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Council and a pioneer civil servant in the state, Pa Olu Okuboyejo, reflected on the challenges surrounding Ogun’s creation in 1976 and expressed gratitude to God for the progress recorded over the past five decades.
Delivering a sermon titled “Ogun State, Be Grateful to God for Your Inheritance,” Bishop Michael Fape said the state had been blessed with visionary leadership from its inception, which enabled it to emerge as one of the foremost states in the country. He also commended the Abiodun administration’s ISEYA development agenda for expanding the state’s economic base and called for constructive engagement in public discourse.
