It was an immense honour to stand before the respected and dearing assembly of the Ibadan Progressive Association Australia (IPAA) during the 10th Anniversary celebration.
Engaging with our brothers and sisters in the diaspora is always a profound reminder that the spirit of the Pacesetter State knows no geographical boundaries.
My address to the association was centered on a singular, unwavering theme: the urgent need to bridge the gap between our current realities in Oyo State and the sophisticated, functional society we all envision.
I shared my deep-seated commitment to serve our people with a passion that is backed by lofty, progressive ideas; reforms that are not designed for the aesthetics of a campaign but for the real and systemic transformation of our beloved state.
During our deliberations, I took the opportunity to distill the core pillars of my vision, specifically as they relate to the vital sectors of Education, Healthcare, and the Economy.
I emphasised that our educational system must move beyond mere enrollment to “functional literacy” that prepares our youth for a globalised market.
We can achieve full-funded elementary education that also takes care and motivates the parents for enrolling their wards to school. In healthcare, my focus remains on a decentralised, technologically-driven primary health structure that ensures no citizen, regardless of their location, is more than thirty minutes away from quality care.
Furthermore, I articulated an economic roadmap that prioritises Credit Systems for our market women and artisans. We must move from “occasional empowerment” to institutionalised credit access, and see to it that those who drive our informal economy have the capital necessary to sustain the Cycle of Prosperity I have long advocated for.
I made it clear to the IPAA that my intention to contest the 2027 gubernatorial election is premised strictly on the quality of these plans and not on the typical political gimmicks that often characterise our electoral seasons.
I am not running for the “fun of it” or to simply add a title to my name; I am running because I have a meticulously researched blueprint for Oyo State.
It is a point of pride and serious responsibility that I remain, arguably, the only aspirant currently conveying detailed, periodic talking points and policy papers to the public.
My campaign is an intellectual and practical exercise in statecraft that is intended to show that leadership must be a product of preparation, not just a product of ambition.
A significant portion of my engagement was a clarion call to my fellow Nigerians in Australia: Do not forget home.
While the comfort of the diaspora offers stability, our ancestral home requires our intellect, our investment, and our active participation.
I urged the members of the IPAA to find innovative ways to be impactful, whether through professional knowledge exchange or direct political participation.
My own candidacy is rooted in this very philosophy—that those of us who have seen the world work efficiently have a moral obligation to return and fix the broken rungs of our own developmental ladder. We cannot afford to be passive observers while the future of our state is being decided.
We must be honest enough to admit that Nigeria faces a systemic leadership problem, a reality that is evident in our struggling institutions.
However, I noted that the narrative is changing as more “returnees” and globally-exposed technocrats step into the arena to offer a different kind of service.
Imagine the exponential impact we could have if we joined this effort in larger numbers. If and when bring home the discipline, the technological savvy, and the meritocratic values we have imbibed abroad, we definitely can finally solve the leadership puzzle.
My run for the Governorship of Oyo State is a revelation to the belief that with the right captain at the helm, our Pacesetter State can become a global model for sub-national governance.
I must express my deepest gratitude and applause to Dr. Akinsola Akinbiyi, the Chairman of the IPAA, for his exceptional leadership and the tireless hard work he has invested in keeping our community united and focused.
My thanks also go to every member of the association for the warmth, the rigorous questioning, and the eventual endorsement of my vision.
The insights gained from our interaction in Australia have further fortified my resolve. Everywhere I am, I will always carry with me the hopes of our people abroad, and I am more determined than ever to ensure that by 2027, we begin the work of building an Oyo State that every Ibadan indigene, and indeed every Oyo state citizen, can be proud of—anywhere in the world.
~ Dr. Adewale Kolapo Kareem (AKK)
Oyo State APC Gubernatorial Aspirant
APC… PROGRESS!
Oyo 2027
AKK 2027
Governor 2027
AKK! Aseyori ni tiwa
AKK!! Ajọṣe, Ajoje
AKK!!! A Task That Must Be Done.
Monday, April 13 2026.
