EKITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi has nominated the current chair of the Universal Basic Education Board in Ekiti State, Professor Modupe Adelabu, for consideration by the State House of Assembly as his new Deputy Governor.
The appointment follows the recent demise of late Mrs. Funmi Olayinka, who died on April 6 of complications from cancer after serving alongside Fayemi since October 16, 2010. Olayinka, aged 52, was buried in Ado-Ekiti last Friday in an elaborate funeral ceremony organized by the state government.
Governor Fayemi made his nomination known in a letter sent to Speaker Adewale Ominrin of the House of Assembly, requesting the body to consider Mrs. Adelabu for the position of the state’s deputy-governor.
Adelabu is a professor of Education at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and was the Head of the Department of Education Administration and Planning of the University before her appointment as the Chairperson of the Ekiti State SUBEB in July 2011.
An Ado-Ekiti Princess, Adelabu was born on May 23, 1950 in Ado Ekiti to Prince and Mrs. Samuel Adepoju Adejugbe. She attended Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti (1962-1967) and Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo (1968-1970).
She holds a B.A. (Ed) (1975); MPhil (1981); and PhD (1990), all from the Obafemi Awolowo University,OAU, Ile- Ife, Osun state.
She has served as Council Member of National Teachers’ Institute (2001 – 2003), Council Member, Christ International Divinity College (an affiliate of Acadia University Canada) Erinmo (2005 – 2010); Member Planning and Implementation Committee Joseph Ayo Babalola University (2004 – 2005); Member of Council Joseph Ayo Babalola University (2005 – 2010). She was also a foundation member of Board, Ekiti State World Bank Assisted Poverty Reduction Agency (2000 – 2003); Member of Oxford Round Table, Oxford England, among other bodies.
She has been involved in consultancy work for the World Bank, Universal Basic Education Commission in Nigeria, United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) and other international agencies.
She has also served as resource person for UNDP, UNICEF and UNESCO on various educational issues. She was also part of the 15-member Education Reform Panel that worked on Ekiti State government’s reforms in the education sector.