KANSAS CITY, KANSAS – Sharpedgenews.com has just learned of the death of the incumbent deputy governor of Ekiti State, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka, after reportedly battling a case of cancer for months.
The late deputy-governor was aged 52.
Mrs. Olayinka, a professional in the banking and finance sector prior to her emergence as deputy-governor, rose to the Number Two position in Ekiti State, alongside incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi on October 15, 2010.
The late Olayinka had taken leave from work since March 18, according to the governor’s office in Ado-Ekiti, to attend to growing health challenges.
Sharpedgenews.com had quoted the government in Ekiti back then as saying that Mrs. Olayinka’s role as deputy governor will be overseen by a special adviser in the deputy governor’s office, Mr. Bamitale Oguntoyinbo. Oguntoyinbo was a former chairman of Oye Local Government, who was appointed as adviser in February this year.
The initial disclosure in March about Mrs. Olayinka’s leave of absence was made by Governor Fayemi’s Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Mr Olayinka Oyebode, in apparent confirmation of long-running rumors of the flamboyant deputy governor health issues.
The rumors went around last year after Mrs. Olayinka stayed out of public eye for several weeks. She eventually surfaced to dispel rumors of her health situation.
A similar event played out early this year as the deputy-governor arrived work on the first-working day of the year to sing and dance in a praise and worship session that she is alive and well.
Although the state government was silent on the nature of her illness, it asked the people of Ekiti State to pray for Mrs. Olayinka’s speedy recuperation.
Born on June 20, 1960, the late Olayinka attended Holy Trinity Grammar School Ibadan where she obtained her first school leaving certificate. She later attended Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo State, where she obtained her Higher School Certificate (HSC).
Olayinka holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Business Administration [Marketing] from Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma, United States in 1981 and 1983 respectively.
A Marketing Analyst & Strategist who started her career in Banking with First Bank of Nigeria Plc in 1986, she later worked as Relationship Manager for Corporate Accounts in Access Bank, the now defunct Merchant Banking Corporation [MBC] and United Bank for Africa Plc.
In August 2002, she took up a new challenge in Corporate Communications and promptly proceeded to Head the Corporate Affairs Division, United Bank for Africa.
She later became Head, Brand Management & Corporate Affairs, thereby leading the Team responsible for delivering a compelling Brand proposition and re-branding of the United Bank for Africa which helped to drive the bank’s business strategy & added value to the total image of the Brand.
She was also the 2nd Vice President of the Association of Corporate Managers of Banks between 2002 and 2004.
Efforts to reach Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, Governor Fayemi’s press secretary, has so far been unsuccessful since initial attempts were made on Friday.