Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on the people of Ogun to join hands in building the state, describing its development as a collective responsibility.

Obasanjo made the call on Monday at an interfaith thanksgiving service to mark the 50th anniversary of the creation of Ogun State, held at Oke-Mosan in Abeokuta.

He said that the actions and contributions of the people would define how the state is remembered in the years ahead.

The former president congratulated the people of the state on the golden jubilee celebration and expressed gratitude to God for being alive to witness the milestone.

He said that the progress recorded so far was worthy of appreciation.

In his remark, Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun said that the achievements recorded by his administration since inception on May 29, 2019, were built on the enduring foundations laid by past leaders and illustrious sons and daughters of the state.

Abiodun noted that the development of Ogun state was a collective effort, drawing inspiration from the legacies of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola.

According to him, this great leaders  laboured tirelessly and endured resistance to lay a solid foundation for progress.

He said that the current generation were beneficiaries of their sacrifices, describing Ogun, 50 years after its creation, as a limelight that had continued to shine brighter with time.

The governor said that Ogun, popularly known as the Gateway state, had evolved into a major gateway to Nigeria’s prosperity, recording remarkable strides in infrastructure, transportation, education, housing, healthcare, agriculture and industrialisation.

“Our state now boasts of world-class transport infrastructure, a modern airport, leadership in education from primary to tertiary levels, an unprecedented number of housing units,  positioning Ogun as Nigeria’s industrial capital.

“Ogun had emerged as one of the fastest-growing economies in the country, with an estimated N17 trillion economy, and also in a recent report ranked the state second only to Lagos among the top 10 states in Nigeria,”  he said. 

Abiodun expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his support, which he said had empowered governors to deliver impactful governance.

He reiterated that his administration was committed to building a prosperous future for the state through collective effort.

Delivering a sermon titled “Ogun State, Be Grateful to God for Your Inheritance,” Bishop Michael Fape, the Bishop of Remo Diocese, Anglican Communion, said the state had been blessed with visionary leadership from inception.

Fape explained that this had enabled Ogun to emerge as one of the foremost states in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that those who graced the occasion  included former Governor Olusegun Osoba, Sen. Solomon Adeola, past military administrators, traditional rulers, and other eminent sons and daughters of the state