Governor Aiyedatiwa Launches Steering Committee for e-HEART Initiative to Drive Rural Development
By Exponent News Akure,15, March, 2025
In a move to boost governance and policy implementation across key sectors, Ondo State Governor, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, on Friday inaugurated a Steering Committee for the groundbreaking e-HEART initiative. This initiative, a partnership between the state government, the Federal Government, and the private sector, is designed to enhance the use of electricity in sectors like health, education, agriculture, and transportation, to propel sustainable development.
The e-HEART acronym stands for Electricity for Health, Education, Agriculture, Rural Development, and Transportation, and aims to address critical infrastructural gaps, especially in rural areas. Speaking at the event, Governor Aiyedatiwa emphasized that Ondo State is among the first in Nigeria to implement this transformative program, which seeks to improve power supply and welfare for rural communities
According to him, with States now empowered to generate and regulate electricity in their domain, Ondo is already taking steps towards improving power supply to its people.
While urging the committee to come up with a good template that will drive the implementation of the initiative, the Governor pledged his commitment to the adequate funding of the program.
Speaking earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Power, Engr. Johnson Alabi, who doubles as the Chairman of the committee, noted that the e-HEART program is an initiative promoted by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to enhance sustainable electricity in rural areas.
Engr. Alabi, who said the initiative will be funded at the ratio of 60:30:10 by the partners, described it as a high impact program that will enhance the social economic development of the state.
He commended the Governor for his swift support for the initiative which demonstrates his administration’s commitment towards the welfare and wellbeing of the people of the State.
Speaking on behalf of other members of the committee, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Alhaji Ibrahim Olabode Yusuf, appreciated the Governor for his efforts in driving the State forward, pledging that the committee would work hard to ensure that the project becomes a success.
The committee has as members Permanent Secretaries of the participating MDAs.
Those in attendance at the event included the Deputy Governor, Dr Olayide Adelami, Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Prince Segun Omojuwa.
