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.
