Professor Adelabu Is New Ekiti Deputy Doverno

The speculations on who would replace the deceased Mrs Funmilayo Olayinka as the deputy governor of Ekiti State has been brought to an end with the nomination of the chairman of the state Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Professor Modupe Adelabu, for the position by Governor Kayode Fayemi.

A statement made available to newsmen on Saturday by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, said Governor Fayemi “has forwarded the name of Professor Modupe Adelabu to the state House of Assembly for consideration as the new deputy governor of the state.”

According to the statement, “Governor Fayemi, in a letter dated May 3rd, 2013, and addressed to the Speaker of the Assembly, Dr Adewale Omirin, requested the House to consider Professor Adelabu for the position of deputy governor, in the bid to fill the vacant position following the death of the former deputy governor, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, on April 6, 2013.”

The name of Mrs. Adelabu had been on the lips of many observers of events in the state after the death of Mrs. Olayinka, especially as she was said to have been among those favoured for the position when Dr. Fayemi won his party’s nominatioin for the governorship.

It was gathered that Professor Adelabu was to be Fayemi’s running mate but she reportedly declined the offer owing to her husband’s ill health.

Adelabu is a Professor of Education at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, where she served as Head of the Department of Education Administration and Planning of the institution before her appointment as chairperson of Ekiti State SUBEB in July 2011.

Professor Adelabu, an Ado Ekiti princess, was born on May 23rd, 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.

Professor Adelabu started her teaching career as a Graduate Assistant in 1976 in the Department of Educational Administration and Planning, OAU, where she rose to the post of Professor in 2008. She served as Head of the Department of Educational Administration several times and also served as External Examiner in some universities including the University of Ibadan; University of Lagos; University of Ilorin and Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti.

Nigerian Tribune