Ajani, a trained engineer and lawyer, says he would not have accepted an appointment into an administration he did not believe was performing, adding that Makinde’s record encouraged him and others to work with the government.
He speaks during an interactive session with members of the South West Guild of Online Publishers (SWEGOP) in Ibadan, where he also discusses his political journey, youth development, job creation and his experience representing Oyo State in Abuja.
‘I Came With A Clear Vision’
Reflecting on his time as Director-General of the liaison office, Ajani says his appointment came in June of the previous year and gave him an opportunity to serve Oyo State from a strategic position.
“For me, exactly June last year, I was appointed by His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, to serve under his administration and, by extension, work for Oyo State Government.
“Let me say this unequivocally: I wouldn’t have joined any government if it was not performing. Governor Makinde was and is still doing very well, and some of us were encouraged to work with him.
“It is the basis for me to join and contribute my own little quota because, if you look at my antecedent, I contested in 2019 as a candidate under the ADC.”
Ajani says that after losing the election, he returned to his professional career rather than seeking political appointments.
According to him, his decision to later accept the liaison office appointment was therefore driven by a desire to contribute rather than a search for political patronage.
‘I Changed The Image Of Oyo House’
Ajani says one of his immediate priorities upon assuming office was to improve the appearance and public perception of Oyo House in Abuja.
He describes the liaison office as the state’s representative presence in the Federal Capital Territory and says its image should reflect the status and interests of Oyo State.
“The first thing I did after resumption was to change the image of Oyo House, which is the embassy of Oyo State in Abuja,” he says.
“I discovered that a lot of things were not on the right track. You have to put everything in order because image is everything; perception is key.
“How do you have Oyo House where, when you look at the street, you would see Katsina House, Rivers, Ogun, Ekiti, Lagos and others, but it is only Oyo House that urgently needed a facelift internally and externally?”
Beyond the physical environment, Ajani says he also reorganised the administration of the office and assigned clear responsibilities to staff members.
He explains that he reviewed the files and discovered what he considered inadequate engagement with federal ministries, departments and agencies on behalf of Oyo State.
With the approval of Governor Makinde, he says, he led the Oyo State team to engage more than 40 federal MDAs.
According to him, the engagements focused on the interests of Oyo State and the achievements and development agenda of the Makinde administration.
“We also tried to make sure that we opened conversations around the short- and long-term interests of the Seyi Makinde administration,” he adds.
Plans For Digital Indigene Certificate
Ajani also identifies the issuance of Certificates of Indigene to Oyo indigenes living outside the state as another area where he says the liaison office was working towards improvement.
He explains that one of the responsibilities of the Abuja and Lagos liaison offices is to facilitate the issuance of the certificate to Oyo indigenes in the diaspora.
According to him, plans had commenced before the dissolution of the government structure to make the process more convenient through technology, reducing the need for applicants to travel long distances.
Ajani says the broader responsibility of a liaison office is to identify opportunities within federal institutions that can benefit the state.
“There are over 300 federal agencies in Abuja. Every one of these agencies has one thing or the other that they are doing, and we have 36 states in Nigeria.
“So, the liaison officer’s responsibility is to make sure that you go and ask, ‘How does my state benefit?’ They won’t come and tell you. Nobody will come to you and say because you are liaison officer or DG. You are just DG in your pocket.
“So you have to go and look for opportunities for your people and engage them.”
He says effective engagement with federal agencies requires research and an understanding of what each institution does.
‘I Was Able To Facilitate Federal-Level Opportunities’
Ajani also speaks about his efforts to create opportunities for Oyo youths and residents through federal institutions.
He says the state must continue engaging bodies such as the Federal Character Commission to pursue opportunities allocated to Oyo State.
“At our level in Abuja, we deal with the Federal Character Commission. They base things on quota.
Oyo State has representatives, including a Federal Commissioner. We need to keep pushing for more slots that are due for Oyo State,” he says.
According to Ajani, his period in office enabled him to facilitate the employment of some Oyo indigenes at the federal level.
He, however, says the state’s employment challenge cannot be addressed solely through conventional white-collar jobs.
‘Oyo Must Invest More In Skills’
Ajani advocates greater attention to technical and vocational education, particularly because of the large number of artisans and skilled workers in the state.
He argues that artisans must continuously upgrade their skills and equipment to remain competitive in a changing economy.
“There are lots of graduates in Oyo State, but from statistics, I want to say there are more artisans in Oyo State. As a state, what are we doing about this cluster?” he asks.
“It is not the same equipment they used to sew dresses 10 years ago that they still use now. Whoever fails to upgrade would join the unemployment class.”
He calls for stronger investment in technical and vocational centres equipped with modern tools that artisans can access while building their businesses.
For Ajani, developing a knowledge-driven economy should be central to Oyo State’s long-term development.
He uses the technology industry as an example, arguing that businesses do not necessarily need massive physical infrastructure before creating significant economic value.
“I look forward to an Oyo State that would be built and developed on knowledge economy,” he says.
Why He Is Not Worried About Missing Senatorial Ticket
Ajani also addresses his experience in partisan politics and whether he regrets missing a senatorial ticket.
He admits that he felt disappointed at the time but says he does not regret the experience.
“Of course, I felt bad as a human being, but no single regret because it is not over until it is over. For me, God rules in the affairs of men,” he says.
He recalls that Governor Makinde also experienced a setback in his political journey before eventually becoming governor of Oyo State.
Ajani says he remains patient about his own political future.
“I am not afraid and I am not in a rush,” he says.
He describes himself as “a professional in politics” rather than a full-time politician, explaining that he considers negotiation, engagement and the management of interests essential elements of political activity.
How Volunteerism Took Him Into Politics
Ajani traces his interest in public affairs to his days as a secondary school student.
He recalls an encounter with a visually impaired student who used Braille, saying the experience opened his eyes to the possibilities of disability advocacy and volunteerism.
As president of his school’s JETS Club, he says he initially found it difficult to understand how the student could read using Braille.
After reading from one of his textbooks to the student and watching him reproduce the material using Braille, Ajani says he became interested in supporting persons living with disabilities.
He subsequently became involved with the Sir David Osunde Foundation for the Handicapped.
According to him, his involvement in volunteer activities eventually created a pathway into politics.
He also became involved with the University of Lagos Engineering Society before his eventual entry into Oyo State politics.
How Rashidi Ladoja Drew Him Into Oyo Politics
Ajani says his deeper involvement in Oyo politics came after he served as a delegate at the 2014 National Conference.
It was during the conference that he met former Oyo State Governor, Senator Rashidi Ladoja.
According to Ajani, his participation and activities among the Oyo delegates impressed Ladoja, who encouraged him to become more involved in politics at home. “That was how I joined politics,” he says.
‘We Are Losing Values At Home’
Ajani also expresses concern about what he describes as declining values among some young Nigerians.
Ajani also expresses concern about what he describes as declining values among some young Nigerians.
He argues that the responsibility for character development begins primarily within the family and should not be left entirely to religious institutions or schools.
According to him, parents need to devote more time to their children and discuss difficult subjects openly rather than leaving young people to obtain information from peers.
“The value is missing at home. It is the responsibility of parents. You should not wait for teachers to help you train your children,” he says.
Ajani says parents should be willing to discuss issues such as substance abuse, cultism, sexuality and peer pressure with their children in age-appropriate ways.
He argues that what children see and hear at home can influence their understanding of responsibility and personal values.
‘Apprenticeship Needs Modern Equipment’
Speaking about apprenticeship and the growing number of young people taking up informal jobs such as motorcycle riding, Ajani proposes a more structured approach to vocational training.
He recalls developing a platform known as “Anywork 24/7”, which he says was conceived to connect customers with accredited and verifiable artisans.
Ajani, however, expresses concern that some artisans do not have access to modern training, equipment and techniques.
He proposes government-supported vocational centres where artisans can access modern equipment and improve their skills without necessarily having to purchase expensive machinery immediately.
According to him, such centres could provide artisans with access to equipment on a scheduled basis, enabling them to improve their productivity while saving towards acquiring their own tools.
He also advocates practical training for artisans such as tilers, tailors and other skilled workers.
“If we can send our tilers in Oyo State on skill training, nobody would go to Benin Republic and all roads will lead to Oyo State,” he says.
Ajani believes Oyo State can use its large pool of artisans and young people to develop a stronger skills-based economy.
His Defining Moments In Public Service
Reflecting on his career, Ajani identifies his interactions with national and international leaders as some of his most significant experiences.
As a former President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, he says he had opportunities to represent young people before senior government officials and at international platforms.
“If not for politics, I won’t sit down with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he says.
Ajani says his experience speaking on behalf of young people at local, regional and international forums helped him develop confidence in engaging people in positions of authority.
He recalls having opportunities to meet presidents and other global leaders while representing Nigerian youths.
“I have several defining moments, but my most defining moments are when I talk to the President of Nigeria and presidents from other countries on behalf of young people,” he says.
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