Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has sworn in 19 commissioners and 14 special advisers to complete the formation of his state executive council.
The inauguration ceremony took place on Tuesday at the Osuntokun Pavilion inside the Government House, Ado Ekiti, where a large crowd of dignitaries, traditional rulers, community leaders and the public gathered to witness the event.
The governor used the occasion to dispel rumours that he had been running the government without a cabinet since he assumed office on October 16 last year.
He explained that he had appointed and inaugurated the first set of commissioners and special advisers in November 2022, who had been holding executive council meetings regularly and had approved the 2023 budget and supplementary budget.
He said the delay in appointing more cabinet members was due to his commitment to involve the grassroots in the selection process, as well as to wait for the end of the general elections in March 2023. He added that the screening of the nominees was one of the first tasks of the new state assembly that began on June 6.
Oyebanji urged the new appointees to be connected to their constituencies, pay attention to their political environments and not be absent from their home base. He also advised them to develop the right socio-political skills and emotional intelligence to manage expectations with tact and empathy.
He announced that the entire cabinet would attend a retreat from Thursday, August 10 to Saturday, August 12, to enable them to share ideas and get educated about public administration procedures and understand the six pillars of his administration.
The new commissioners and their portfolios are:
- Ebenezer Boluwade (Agriculture and Food Security),
- Oyeniyi Adebayo (Budget, Economic Planning and Performance Management),
- Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun (Information),
- Adesola Adebayo (Works),
- Kehinde Ajobiewe (Transportation),
- Kofoworola Aderiye (Education),
- Chief Folorunso Olabode (Local Government Affairs),
- Gold Adesola (Youth Development),
- Tosin Aluko (Environment and Natural Resources)
- Peju Babafemi (Women Affairs and Social Development)
- Tayo Adeola (Industry, Trade and Investment),
- Patrick Tedela (Capacity Development and Training),
- Seun Fakuade (Innovation, Science and Digital Economy),
- Kayode Fasae Omotayo (Wealth Creation and Empowerment),
- Femi Awe (Rural and Community Development),
- Otunba Dolamu Adeniyi (Special Duties)
- Ojo Bakare (Arts, Culture and Creative Economy)
- Dr Kareem Makanjuola Akande (Regional Development and Inter-Governmental Affairs),
- Mr Atibioke Ojo Olaiya (Chieftaincy and Home Affairs)
The new special advisers and their portfolios are:
- Tade Aluko (State Capital Development Authority)
- Gbenga Oloniyo (Housing and Mortgage Development)
- Gbenga Agbeyo (Human Capital Development and Allied Matters)
- Kemisola Olaleye (Gender Empowerment and Mobilisation)
- Abiola Olowookere (Legislative Affairs)
- Femi Ajayi (Independent Project Monitoring)
- Yemisi Ayokunle (Social Investment Programmes)
- Remi Ajayi-Babington (Rural Mobilisation)
- Adetoun Agboola (Special Education and Social Inclusion)
- Ekundayo Moyo (Transformation and Delivery)
- Odunayo Ayeni (Governance)
- Niyi Idowu (Legal Matters)
- Olatunji Akinyele (Business Development)
- Akeem Azeez (Tertiary Education)
