Being honoured by one’s community is one of the greatest privileges life can offer as a testament to a life of impact, integrity, exemplary and meaningful service.
Recently, nine prominent sons and daughters of Osi-Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State were deservedly celebrated by their people in a colourful and well-attended reception held at the Palace of the Olosi of Osi-Ekiti, Oba Stephen Adegboyega Alabi, Arubiojo II.
The gathering was in a remarkable departure from the past as the entire Osi-Ekiti community celebrated three of their brightest youngsters that graduated with First Class Honours from their respective higher institutions.
The recognition underscores a renewed commitment to youth development and academic excellence in a society where such honours have often been reserved for the elderly and the affluent.
Six other indigenes of the town that have excelled in their different professional callings were also honoured by the royal father. One of those honoured is the General Secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, Comrade Gbenga Olowoyo, who is also the National Secretary of the joint National Public Service Negotiating Council and a member of the Central Working Committee of the Nigerian Labour Congress.
Others are Pharmacist Peter Bunmi Ejimokun and Mr. Olufemi Babasehinde Adediran, who are both Permanent Secretaries in the Ekiti State Public Service, Mrs. Henrietta Bola Badejo, the Registrar, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos State, Professor Ayodele Oluwaseun Ajayi, newly promoted as Professor in the Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE) and Professor Iyabo Simon-Oke, newly promoted as Professor in the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA).
The youngsters honoured are Barrister Oluwaferanmi Ekundayo, First Class Graduate, Nigerian Law School, Miss Morenikeji Hephzibah Alowooye, First Class Graduate in History and International Studies, Adeleke University, Ede and Mr. Emmanuel Olalekan Fakuade, First Class Graduate in Human Anatomy, FUTA.c
The Olosi of Osi-Ekiti, Oba Stephen Adegboyega Alabi, described youths as the bastion and future of their community, noting that the First Class graduates were recognised to inspire the younger generation to aspire unto higher heights.
“Let me challenge the youths to emulate their counterparts being honoured today. You too can be here tomorrow, if you face your studies. I am looking forward to a time when our youths will be at the commanding heights in several sectors in the nation and beyond,” the royal father said.
Oba Alabi charged the sons and daughters of the community to contribute to the development of Osi-Ekiti land, while he reminded the gathering that development is everybody’s business as government alone cannot do everything.
The traditional ruler stressed the need for all hands to be on deck, saying that is the only way to sustain the development of the town.
“Osi-Ekiti Kingdom is a town with a proud and resilient history and has contributed to our State’s development, especially in areas of administration and education as we can see in our honourees of today.
“This is the first time such is happening in the town, we are therefore not celebrating the individuals alone, but also the town for producing this number of distinguished sons and daughters.
“It is on record that Osi-Ekiti has legacies that are yet to be surpassed by many communities in its environment.
“We are known to be pacesetters in achievements for others to follow. We have also been the hub of civilisation, trade, industry, commerce, education and other social changes,” he said.
The royal father enjoined those being honoured not to rest on their oars, but keep up doing those things that brought them to the top.
Oba Alabi berated the level of truancy and absenteeism among secondary school students in the community, observing that since huge investments have been made by government and well-meaning individuals to upgrade standard of education across the country, it will be a disservice for the students and pupils concerned to stay away from school.
The first-class Oba in Ekiti State appealed to parents to take personal interest in the education of their wards by ensuring regular school attendance.
In his welcome address, the Global President, Osi Progressive Union (OPU), ACM Oludare Fadogba commended the exalted Chiefs male and female for their unalloyed contributions to make Osi-Ekiti peaceful. He acknowledged their invaluable support for His Royal Majesty and the community which is a great historical kingdom, blessed in both natural and human resources, primely located as a salt to the world.
In his words, “Let us continue to embrace selfless love, tolerance, perseverance, personal sacrifices and resilience that would assist us all to contribute immensely to the growth and development of our community’s quest for greatness.”
ACM Fadogba urged every son and daughter to see the town as one yearning for accelerated growth and development and congratulated the honourees on their respective feat, urging that the awards should further spur them to achieve more.
He said that, “Since the enthronement of the Olosi of Osi-Ekiti, the Community has witnessed and taken cognizance of various strategic moves, interventions and initiatives that His Royal Majesty has put in place for peaceful coexistence in Osi, various encouragements, youth empowerments and innovations to better the lot of the citizenry.
“One of these strategic moves is what we gather here to witness today. The importance of today’s epoch-making event is to celebrate and honour Osi-Ekiti citizens who have made significant and tremendous impact locally, nationally and globally in their fields of endeavors, professional callings, and academic laurels respectively.
“We are indeed very grateful to our Royal Majesty for the very essence of this programme and therefore wish to place on records, the invaluable contributions of our exalted Chiefs for their unalloyed contributions to make Osi-Ekiti governable through their contributions to support His Royal Majesty. Osi Ekiti is a great historical Kingdom, blessed in both natural and human resources, primely located as a salt to the world.
“Let’s continue to embrace selfless love, tolerance, perseverance, sacrifices, resilience that would assist us all to contribute immensely to the growth and development of our community’s quest for greatness and forward ever to expand the frontier of opportunities on its apogee to the glory of God and humanity.”
He encouraged the honourees to see Osi-Ekiti as their root yearning for accelerated growth and development of which their contributions are being expected and acknowledge their outstanding efforts and the impact they have made in their respective fields.
The three first class graduates are: Feranmi Ekundayo, Nigerian Law School, Morenikeji Alowooye, Adeleke University, Ede and Emmanuel Fakuade, Federal University of Technology, Akure.
The other honourees are: Mr. Gbenga Olowoyo, the General Secretary, Nigerian Civil Service Union (NCSU), Peter Ejimokun, a pharmacist and Olufemi Adediran, a fellow of the Charter Institute of Administration.
Both were newly appointed Permanent Secretaries in the Public Service of Ekiti state.
Others are Ayodele Ajayi and Iyabo Simon-Oke, both newly appointed Professor at the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) and Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) respectively and Mrs. Adebola Badejo, Registrar, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos.
Comrade Gbenga Olowoyo attended Ondo State University, Ado Ekiti (now EKSU) and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in English Art (Education) and obtained his Master’s Degree in Labour and industrial Relations in the same university. He attended the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ), Abuja, where he bagged the Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism.
He started working in the defunct Sketch Newspapers, Ibadan in 1989 through the assistance of Late Mr. Peter Ajayi as an Office Assistant attached to the newsroom where he developed interest in news writing. After his one year compulsory Youth Service (NYSC) he was employed into the services of the Ekiti State Local Government Service Commission and deployed to the Palace of the Elekole of Ikole-Ekiti, Late Oba Adetunla Adeleye CON, JP as his Personal Assistant and Press Secretary.
Thereafter, he worked in SUBEB Headquarters as Education Officer before he ventured into Trade Union service as the Ondo State Secretary of the Nigerian Civil Service Union in 2003.
Comrade Olowoyo has traversed major states in Nigeria such as Ondo, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos and Ekiti as a Trade Unionist where he served as resident State Secretary before he was posted to National Headquarters, Abuja as the pioneer Head of Department of Women, Gender and Youth.
Comrade Olowoyo was appointed the Acting General Secretary of the Nigerian Civil Service Union in 2023 and was confirmed in July 2025. Comrade Olowoyo Gbenga has travelled widely and attended both local and international workshops.
He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Administration (FCIA) and the Institute of Management and Professional Administration (FIMPA)
Mr. Peter Bunmi Ejimokun is a pharmacist who studied at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife after obtaining a Degree in Zoology from the prestigious University of Ibadan.
He also obtained a Diploma at the Computer Institute of the University of Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State from May to December 1999 and in 2011, he obtained a Master’s degree in Public Health (MPH) from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Right after that, he went further to obtain a Master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA) in the same university in 2013 and he is currently pursuing his Doctoral degree in Pharmacy in the De Montfort University, Leicester, United Kingdom.
Given his strong academic background and strong passion for his profession, he gained vast experience in different organisations while religiously working in his professional capacity as a pharmacist.
Pharm. Ejimokun has worked in various organisations and is a member of many professional bodies.
Mr. Olufemi Babaseinde Adediran earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language from Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti, a Postgraduate Diploma from Akungba-Akoko and became a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Financial Management.
He began his civil service career in 2003 as an Administrative Officer at the Office of Establishment and Service Matters, Ekiti State and has rendered distinguished service across several key Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Lands and Housing, Civil Service Commission, Government House and Protocol, Cabinet and Special Services Department, and the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.
He has attended notable in-service trainings, including Speech Making and Report Writing, University of Ibadan, in 2004, 360-Degree Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness at the Odu’a Learning Centre, in 2019, and Professional Administration Techniques from the Chartered Institute of Administration, in 2019. In 2016, he received a Commendation Letter from the State Executive Council for exemplary service.
He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Administration.
Professor Ayodele Oluwaseun Ajayi holds degrees in Microbiology from the University of Ado-Ekiti and completed a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship at the Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Brazil.
He attained the rank of Professor of Microbiology, following years of meritorious service at Ekiti State University, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Landmark University (adjunct), and Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology (sabbatical). His academic trajectory and university experience followed a brief stay in the banking sector.
He is an internationally respected researcher with over fifty peer-reviewed publications in reputable journals, contributing significantly to the fields of antimicrobial resistance, molecular epidemiology, public health microbiology, and One Health research.
His work has advanced knowledge on multidrug-resistant pathogens and informed evidence-based approaches to infection control and public health policy. As an educator and mentor, Professor Ajayi has taught extensively at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and supervised numerous MSc and PhD candidates, many of whom are now making meaningful contributions in academia, healthcare, and research.
His commitment to student development and academic excellence remains exemplary. Professor Ajayi has also served his institutions with distinction, holding key leadership and administrative positions, including Head of Department (Ag.), Deputy Dean, SIWES Coordinator, and member of Senate and several university committees.
His leadership has strengthened academic standards, research governance, and institutional growth.
A Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and recipient of the Vice Chancellor’s Award of Excellence (2024), Professor Ajayi stands as a model of scholarly integrity, service, and impact.
He has won research grants as evidence of his contribution to scientific and scholarly excellence.
He has presented his scholarly works in Nigeria, United Kingdom, Brazil and South Africa. Professor Ayodele Oluwaseun Ajayi is strongly committed to educational administration, tertiary education, public health and community development. He is also an emerging techpreneur with interest in cloud technologies to improve development and drive digital inclusiveness.
Prof. (Mrs.) Iyabo Simon-Oke graduated from the Ondo State University, Ado Ekiti with B.Sc (Hons) in Zoology in 1997, while she obtained her Master of Science in Parasitology from the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria and bagged her PhD from the University of Ado-Ekiti.
Prof. (Mrs.) Simon-Oke was employed as a Lecturer II in the Department of Biology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria in 2011 and rose through the ranks to the become a Professor of Parasitology and Public Health on the 1st of October, 2023. She has attracted research and conference grants from Tertiary Education Fund (TETFUND).
She has successfully supervised many undergraduate projects, 20 Masters and 5 PhD Students and still counting. Her area of special interest is Malaria. Prof. Simon-Oke has published over 75 scientific papers in reputable journals across the globe. She is a reviewer for academic and professional journals.
Prof. Simon-Oke is a member of several professional organisations including Parasitology and Public Health Society of Nigeria (PPSN) and Organization of Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD). She is a member of the Ondo State Research Team on the Effect of Insecurity on the Epidemiology of Diseases. Prof. (Mrs.) Simon-Oke likes reading, travelling and helping Humanity.
Mrs. Henrietta Adebola Gbemisola Badejo is a seasoned administrator with over twenty-two (22) years of distinguished service in higher education administration, particularly at the -prestigious Yaba College of Technology, Lagos.
Her professional journey has been defined by diligence, innovation, and a strong commitment to excellence in records management, policy implementation, and institutional growth.
She has held the prestigious position of Deputy Registrar in the Office of the Rector and currently serves as the Registrar of Yaba College of Technology and remains a role model for young administrators.
Her career is aptly captured in her guiding philosophy: “To fulfil, safeguard and ensure the accuracy and integrity of records, assure compliance with academic policies, maintain effective and efficient systems, and provide excellent administrative service to students, staff, and the wider community.”
The community was proud to celebrate Barrister Oluwaferanmi Stephen Ekundayo ESQ, a distinguished son of Osi-Ekiti, whose academic excellence, professional achievements, and service to society embody the values of diligence, integrity, and excellence.
Born in Akure, Ondo State, Barr. Ekundayo began his educational journey with distinction. He attended Greater Tomorrow Primary School, Ondo State, where he served as a prefect and graduated with multiple academic awards. He proceeded to Federal Government College, Ikole-Ekiti, where he again distinguished himself as a prefect, serving as the Punctuality Prefect, and graduating among the top three students in his class, also with several awards for excellence.
Professionally, Barr. Ekundayo is a Business Advisory Associate at Tech Hive Advisory, where he has multiple legal, regulatory, and commercial Transactions; supported startups and multinational clients on compliance and corporate governance; advised on private capital raise transactions valued at over #5 billion; and facilitated licensing and regulatory approvals from agencies including CAC, CBN, SEC, FIRS, NDPC, FCCPC, NOTAP and others. His advisory work spans SMEs, cross-border startups, and large multinational corporations, including Meta.
He also gained valuable litigation and corporate practice experience at Olujinmi & Akeredolu Chambers in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Beyond the courtroom and boardroom, he is a committed volunteer and leader. He served as Head of the Organising Committee for the Olumide Babalola Data Protection Essay Competition, coordinated major student initiatives at OAU, and has consistently used his voice and skills to promote innovation, ethics, and good governance.
Barr. Oluwaferanmi Stephen Ekundayo stands today as a worthy ambassador of Osi-Ekiti, a shining example of what dedication, faith, and excellence can achieve.
His story is an inspiration to the youths of our community and a testament to the greatness that comes from humble beginnings.
Twenty-one year-old Miss Morenikeji Hephzibah Alowooye attended Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State where she studied History and International Studies. Her final year long essay was on the History of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Osi-Ekiti and she was able to dig deep into Osi’s history in the essay. She graduated from the university with a First Class Bachelor of Arts degree.
She served as a Graduate Intern for Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment immediately after graduation for a few months before she was called for national service. She is currently serving the country in Abuja at the Institute for Governance and Leadership Studies in Africa. She is active in the church and volunteers whenever she has the opportunity.
Morenikeji is very interested in politics and history. As an indigene of Osi, she has definitely made the community proud at a very young age.
Emmanuel Olalekan Fakuade began his formal education at Excel Kiddies Nursery and Primary School, Akure, where he graduated in 2008. He proceeded to St. Thomas Aquinas College, Akure, and completed his secondary education in 2014, laying a solid foundation for academic excellence and discipline.
Emmanuel later gained admission into the Federal University of Technology, Akure, where he studied Human Anatomy and graduated in 2023 with First Class Honours.
Currently, he is pursuing a Master of Science degree in Human Anatomy at the same institution, driven by a passion for research, teaching, and service. His academic interests include neuroanatomy, disease mechanisms, and public health-oriented biomedical research.
Beyond academics, Emmanuel has demonstrated notable leadership and commitment to service.
He served as Departmental President of the Anatomical Society of Students of Nigeria (ASSON), FUTA Chapter, and as Deputy Director of the Pioneer Medical Initiative (PMI), FUTA Chapter, where he contributed to humanitarian medical outreach and community health initiatives.
The Osi-Ekiti celebrated academic excellence, discipline, leadership, and integrity, to honour Emmanuel Olalekan Fakuade, a worthy son of Osi-Ekiti, a pride to his family, and a shining example to the younger generation.
The Awardees appreciated the community for counting them worthy of recognition and promised to be patriotic and think of the community in their daily engagement. The congratulated His Royal Majesty on his ascension to the stool of his forefathers and his progressive mindedness.
Mrs. Henrietta Adebola Gbemisola Badejo, who spoke on behalf of the awardees, assured that they would not let the community down in whatever areas and aspect they may find themselves.
Dignitaries across the country who witnessed the ceremony included the Odofin of Osi Ekiti, other High Chiefs from the community, high profile sons and daughters from the community, the Chairman, NLC Osun State Council, Comrade (Chief) Dr. Christopher Arapasopo, NCSU State Chairmen from Ekiti and Osun State Councils, Comrade Ayodeji Aribisala and Oluwaseyi Oyinlola, State Secretaries, Ekiti and Osun State Councils as well as the State Auditor, Osun State Council, Comrade Agboola.
The reception was organised by the Olosi-in-Council and Osi-Ekiti Progressive Union.
