The wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji has been described as a leader of many parts and humility personified. The first lady’s virtue as an intellectual in a government house with integrity has also been celebrated.
These were part of the submissions of Professor Joel Babalola of the Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan while showering encomium on the Ekiti First Lady at the 2024 edition of the Conference of Nigeria Association for Educational Administration and Planning (NAEAP), held at the University of Ibadan. Dr. Oyebanji was decorated with the fellowship of NAEAP at the conference. NAEAP is an affiliate of the Commonwealth Council for Educational Administration and Management (CCEAM).
The conference with the theme; “Navigating Challenges in Educational Innovations and Leadership in Nigeria” was used to address contemporary issues and challenges in the education sector and the concept of leadership in the society.
Prof. Babalola spoke glowingly on the leadership attributes of Dr. Oyebanji, and commended the first lady for the leadership she has been providing in her capacity as the Wife of Ekiti State Governor, especially in the area of volunteer teaching engagement in various universities in the state.
To proffer solutions to some challenges in educational leadership in Nigeria, the conference identified that Nigeria education would only compete favorably with its counterparts across the world by integrating technology to enhance learning, teaching and administrative processes. The conference also recommended the building of robust systems to support students facing economy and safety challenges and implementing transparent and efficient management practices in Nigeria education.
Speaking with journalists after the event, Dr. Oyebanji said it was a great honor for her to stand tall in the presence of academic giants in the field of Educational Management to receive the prestigious fellowship award of NAEAP.
“I feel so humbled to be one of the recipients of this highest professional academic award in my field and area of specialization. That’s why I keep telling those who are close to me that it’s difficult to let go of the academic environment where I have worked to assume the position of an Associate Professor, with more than 90 publications to my credit in both local and international journals and has successfully supervised more than 10 PhD students”. All these are alluring factors for me to always look back and see UI as part of me,” she said.
Dr. Olayemi however admonished teachers at all levels to give in their best in raising students under their watch.
The First Lady described the commendation and encomium by the University community as a morale booster for her to do more in her community services at the Ekiti State University, Afe Babalola University and other Universities in Ekiti State.
“As I become a fellow of this great academic body, I hope to do more in contributing to the development of educational management in Nigeria”.
In their separate interviews, the Deputy Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly Rt Hon Bolaji Olagbaju and Ekiti State Head of Service Dr Folakemi Olomojobi described Ekiti State First Lady as a great ambassador of the state and a beacon of hope for the academia and the state.
The duo said she has been able to use what she’s learnt from the citadel of knowledge, University of Ibadan to better many communities, describing her as a first lady worthy of emulation.
“To be honest, I am completely enthusiastic at the capacity of the first lady to reconcile her position as the wife of the Governor with her academic environment and become a celebrated scholar. I’m really proud of her and always happy to associate with her” the HoS, Olomojobi stated.
