February 24, (THEWILL) – The stage is now set for the swearing-in ceremony of Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, and his deputy, Olayide Adelami, as they prepare to officially assume their roles in office.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on November 17, 2024, declared the incumbent governor, Aiyedatiwa, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State after he polled 366,781 votes to beat his closest rival, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Agboola Ajayi, who scored 117, 845 votes.
A member of the inauguration committee and former Commissioner for Information, Wale Akinlosotu, confirmed that the swearing-in ceremony, scheduled for Monday, February 24, at the Akure township stadium, in the state capital, will be attended by dignitaries from across Nigeria.
He said expected guests include President Bola Tinubu or his representative, South-West state governors, former governors of Ondo State, members of the National and State Assemblies, traditional rulers, top government officials, and prominent figures from various sectors.
According to Akinlosotu, the inauguration will blend tradition, governance, and celebration.
Born on the 12th of January, 1965, to the family of Mr Titus Akande and Mrs Rosanah Moyebi Aiyedatiwa (of blessed memory), Lucky Aiyedatiwa is a native of Obe-Nla, an oil-bearing community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Aiyedatiwa had his elementary education at Saint Peter’s UNA (now FAC) Primary School, Obe-Nla/Obe Adun, between 1970 and 1976, and his secondary education at Ikosi High School, Ketu, Lagos, in 1982.
In 1986, Aiyedatiwa graduated from the Lagos State College of Education (now Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education), Ijanikin, Lagos, where he obtained Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE), Economics and Government.
After a period as a classroom teacher and subsequent move into business, Aiyedatiwa later attended University of Ibadan for Advanced Diploma in Business Administration with distinction in 2001.
He is an alumnus of Lagos Business School – Pan Atlantic University, Lekki, Lagos, with Post Graduate Certification in Chief Executive Education (CEP) in Business Management in 2009. He is also an Alumnus of University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, where he obtained a Master Degree of Business Administration (MBA) in 2013.
Prior to the establishment of his own business in 1996, Aiyedatiwa worked in other organisations and institutions including Scoa Assembly Plant Plc. Apapa, Lagos, as Inventory/Store Officer, 1982-1983; Reliance International Schools, Ijokodo, Ibadan, Assistant Head Teacher, 1987-1990; Universal Pharmaceutical Supply Co. Ltd., Ikeja, Lagos as Marketing Officer, 1990-1993; Global Trust Limited, Gbagada Lagos as Assistant Investment Analyst, 1992-1993; Biz Mart Nigeria Limited, Lagos Island, Lagos as General Merchandise Manager, 1994-1996.
Aiyedatiwa is a business development professional and a successful businessman with interest and substantial experience in Marketing, Financial and Human resources management, New Product Development, Forex Trading and Management, Construction, Real Estate, Hospitality, Public Relations, Travels and Tours. He was the MD/CEO of Blue Wall Group of Companies established in 1996 which includes; Blue Wall Nigeria Ltd, a Trading Company, Blue Wall BDC Nigeria Ltd., a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) licensed foreign exchange trading company and Blue Wall Safety Travels and Tours, an IATA licenced Travel Agency and Logistic Company.
The Governor joined active politics in 2011 as a card-carrying member of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2014. He was one of the National Delegates from Ondo State at the All-Progressives Congress (APC) National Convention in Abuja in 2014 and later became the House of Representative Candidate of the Party for Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency in the 2015 Presidential and National Assembly General Election.
He was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as Federal Commissioner, who represented Ondo State on the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), 2018-2019.
Prior to his appointment by the President, he has also held other positions in other social and professional bodies. He was the National Public Relations Officer (PRO) for Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) 2004-2010. Chairman of South West Zone of ABCON 2010-2011. Trustee/Treasurer, Ilaje League of Professional, President of Chief Executive Class ’18 (CEP18) of Lagos Business School, Alumni Association. Executive Member of Lagos/South West Network of University of Liverpool Global Alumni. He was also conferred a platinum award by the Chartered Institute of Local Government and Public Administration of Nigeria (CILGPAN) on 16th September, 2021.
On Sunday, October 11, 2020, Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa were re-elected Governor and Deputy Governor of Ondo State. On February 24, 2021, Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa were sworn into office as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ondo State respectively.
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