Fayemi names Prof Adelabu new deputy gov

Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has sent the name of the Chairman of the State’s Universal Basic Education Board, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, to the House of Assembly for approval as the new deputy governor of the state.

The office of the deputy governor became vacant following the death of Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, who died of breast cancer on April 6 at age 52.

The governor, in a letter dated May 3, 2013 and addressed to the Speaker of the Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin, requested the lawmakers to consider Adelabu for the position of deputy governor.

It was learnt Adelabu, who will be 63 later in the month, was asked to be Fayemi’s running mate for the 2007 election but declined the offer because of her husband who was sick at the time.

After her husband died, she was appointed as SUBEB chairman in 2011.

Adelabu, a Professor of Education at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile –Ife, was Head of the Department of Education Administration and Planning of the institution before her appointment as the chairman of Ekiti State SUBEB in July 2011.

Adelabu, an Ado Ekiti princess was born on May 23, 1950 in Ado Ekiti to Mr. 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, Ile- Ife.

Adelabu started her teaching career as a graduate assistant in 1976 in the Department of Educational Administration and Planning, OAU, where she rose to become a 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.

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); and member of Council, Joseph Ayo Babalola University (2005 – 2010). She was also a foundation member of Ekiti State World Bank Assisted Poverty Reduction Agency (2000 – 2003) and 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 and other international agencies.