By Roundoffnews
Mr. ‘Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji was born on December 21, 1967, in Ikogosi-Ekiti to the family of Mr. Ezekiel Kunle and Late Mrs. Esther Oyebanji. He is a former academician, farmer, and public servant, who was until recently the Secretary to the Government of Ekiti State.
As a homegrown Ekiti man, his entire early education was in his home state, in institutions such as Baptist Primary School, Ikogosi- Ekiti, Awo Community High School; C.A.C. Grammar School, Efon-Alaaye; and District Commercial Secondary School, Aramoko-Ekiti.
He proceeded to attend the Federal School of Arts and Science, Ondo State, before he earned a Bachelor of Science (BSc.) degree in Political Science from the Ondo State University (now Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti) in 1989. He subsequently attended the University of Ibadan, where he bagged a Masters’ Degree (M.Sc) in Political Science (International Relations & Strategic Studies) in 1992.
He started his career in the academia as a lecturer in the Department of Political Science, University of Ado Ekiti, where he worked for four years (1993 – 1997), before moving on to the financial services industry, serving as Manager, Treasury, and Financial Services at the defunct Omega Bank Plc (now Heritage Bank) till May 1999, when he commenced an illustrious career in politics and governance.
He is one of the longest serving political office holders in the Government of Ekiti state, haven served for over 11 years in various capacities including:
• Special Assistant (Parliamentary Affairs) to the Governor of Ekiti State (June 1999 – July 2001);
• Special Adviser (Parliamentary Affairs) to the Governor of Ekiti State (Aug. 2001– Sept. 2002);
• Chief of Staff to the Governor of Ekiti State (Sept. 2002 – May 29, 2003);
• Chairman, Governing Board, Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development (June 2009 – Dec. 2010);
• Commissioner, Ministry of Integration and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Ekiti State (December 2010 – December 2011);
• Head, Office of Transformation Strategy and Delivery (OTSD), Ekiti State (December 2011 –January 2013);
• Commissioner, Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Service Delivery, Ekiti State (January 2013 – October 2014);
• Secretary to the Government of Ekiti State (October 2018 – December 2021).
Oyebanji is a devout Christian who sees his career in politics and governance as a divine calling, and he has served God and country diligently as a loyal party man and conscientious public servant in different capacities right from the inception of the fourth republic through several dispensations and administrations. He has held sensitive positions requiring high levels of discretion and trust and is a pillar in the progressive movement in the state who is seen as a bridge between the older and younger generation on account of his track record, reputation, and accessibility.
He has been engaged in Agribusiness for over two decades and is the chairman of Con Dois Farms Limited.
In recognition of his inspirational life journey as a successful businessman and a devoted public servant, Oyebanji has earned many awards including the Distinguished Alumnus Award by the Alumni Association of the Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti (now Ekiti State University), and the Certificate of Excellence awarded by the National Association of Political Science Students (NAPSS), Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti (now Ekiti State University).
His most notable award is the Member, Ekiti Exceptional Achievers (MEEA) award in the order of the Ekiti State Honours Roll Law, 2020, granted in recognition of his critical contributions to the creation of Ekiti State in 1996. By providence and by a remarkable show of patriotism and sacrifice at such a young age at the time, he notably served as Secretary, Committee for the Creation of Ekiti State (1996), and Secretary, Ekiti State Development Fund.
Writing the history of politics and governance in Ekiti State would be incomplete without mentioning the contributions of ‘Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji. He is as much a part of our history as a State, as he is an embodiment of the model Ekiti man in character, intellect, experience, and goodwill across board, who should play a central role in shaping the future of our state.
He is married to Dr. (Mrs.) Olayemi Oyebanji, a senior Lecturer in the Department of Educational Management, Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, who is a seasoned scholar with over 80 publications in the field of Institutional Administration, Higher Education, Quality Assurance in Education, Human Resource Development and Leadership in Education. They are blessed with children.