Ondo South is one of the senatorial districts of Ondo state that has suffered years of neglect by successive government in the state.
Major towns in the area include Irele, Odigbo, Okitipupa, Eseodo and Ilaje among others.
It is interesting to note that the only state-owned higher institution in Ondo South was established about 12 years ago. The largest Bitumen deposit in the whole of Africa is also located in one of the towns in the South.
Some of the challenges that have led to the backwardness of the senatorial district are highlighted below:
* Neglect of basic infrastructure
* Collapse of vocational and technical sch
* Youth restiveness
* Years of total black out
* Untapped Agricultural produce.
* Collapse of Oluwa glass factory
* Collapse of Okitipupa Oil mill
* Collapse of Igbokoda fishery terminal
* Untapped Largest deposit of Bitumen at Agbabu
* Untapped Rubber plantation at Araromi
* Neglect of communities affected by Oil exploration
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However, in order to change the narrative and call the attention of stakeholders to their plight, the Ondo South Development Forum (OSDF) was founded three years ago by young and dynamic professionals from Irele, Odigbo, Okitipupa, Eseodo and Ilaje who have their elementary school in the then Okitipupa division.
The formation of OSDF was premised on Advocacy, Intervention and Development.
The OSDF in its little effort at empowering the people of the area recently embarked on a Talk Show programme on how to make technical and vocational education attractive again by organising seminar and lectures for students, artisans and traders in Okitipupa Technical college, Idepe.
It also organised an economic summit titled, “Unveiling a Sustainable Economic Agenda for a prosperous Ondo south.”
The programme featured socio-industrialist, captain of industry, economy experts who converged to discuss how Ondo south potential can be harnessed for infrastructural development and economic growth.
The communique at the end of the summit was submitted to the government through Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
The OSDF thus called on Government and sons and daughters of the area to rise up and make things work for the people. It particularly raised concerns on the lack of electricity for years which has hampered production and industries folding up.
The body was full of appreciation to every stakeholder who has risen to fight for the restoration of electricity to the area though still been awaited.
The OSDF believed that if the aforementioned challenges that have spell doom for the area could be addressed, the economic potential of the people would be enhanced.
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