Rejuvenation Of Oyo Education Ministry: An X-ray Of Prof. Olowofela's Administrative's Magic

Any keen observer of the activities of the recently constituted commissioners in Oyo state would have noticed a buzz in the education ministry since Professor Adeniyi Olowofela, was sworn in as the commissioner for Education, Science and Technology. The reason that makes the ministry to become a beehive of activities under Professor Olowofela compared to the lullness in other ministries is not far-fetched; education ministry is the natural habitat of the former Ido council boss.

Thus, wondering why the Ido-born professor has been up and doing since he assumed office is tantamount to wondering why a fish wriggles its body as soon as it is dropped inside water.

Being an academician and an education administrator in a private capacity has equipped, the man everyone in Ido local government refer to as 'Mr Solution' to set the ball rolling with little or no time wasted.

Like a researcher that he truly is, having identified all the stakeholders under his ministry, he thereafter held meetings with them with a view to equipping himself about the challenges currently faced in their respective parastatal. This he did when his contemporaries are still at a loss as to how to proceed in their respective ministry due to the economic crunch that has taken a toll in all governmental affairs not only in the state but also in the country.

It was, thus, due to one of his 'field assignments' that unearthed the progress being made at the site of the state's Technical University, a project that has opened the eyes of the state's citizenry to the determination of Sen. Abiola Ajimobi to add another 'first' to the existing ones; the feat which has overtime earned Oyo state its sobriquet- the pace setter state. Prof. Olowofela's constant meetings and dialogue with the various directors and stakeholders under him have brought normalcy to the education sector which was hitherto in a tensed situation when he was being sworn in.

It is in view of this that I (being someone who has taken time to study him from afar) have attempted to bring into fore the political sojourns of the man popularly called 'Prof' by his contemporaries.

Prior to the inauguration of the executive cabinet in 2011 with the coming to power of a progressive party in Oyo state, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela was a consensus nominee in Ido local government; his roles as a party chairman during the court battle to reclaim the councillorship mandate of Mr. Safiu Olalere now a state house of assembly member which was on the verge of being snatched away by the PDP in his local government was heroic not to say the least and are still fresh on the people of Ido LG's memories, against this background, the general views held by political followers in the state was that he would perfectly fit into any position of the then governor-elect, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi state's executive council not because he is an academic gargantuan but because of his track records of being a selfless party man and an unrepentant 'student' in the heritage school- a political group that comprised of the die hard Ajimobi followers before his electoral victory in 2011.

When eventually the cabinet was formed and Prof. Olowofela was not included, the body language of an average political elites in his senatorial constituency was that Ido local government had been shortchanged but the governor being a visionary man knew that the council would benefit immensely from the rich knowledge of Prof. Olowofela, hence, he was appointed the caretaker chairman of Ido local government. It was a decision that turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the council as he quickly settled into office. He knew that for him to take the council to the next level, he needed to ensure that administrative caricature of the past must give way to the pristine administrative culture being embedded in the civil service's psychic by the Gov. Ajimobi's newly sworn in government.

Thus, he embarked on a verification exercise in the council with a view to moulding the council's workforce into the vision and mission of Sen. Abiola Ajimobi's administrative policy. It was an exercise that instantaneously paid off as administrative inefficiency was replaced by administrative expediency.

During the three years he spent at the council's helms of affairs, he left a footprint of sound administrative success and infrastructural facilities.

And when it was time for the change of administrative baton to be passed unto someone else, he did so as a fulfilled man. His post council chairmanship witnessed series of political intrigues and he eventually settled for the state's house of assembly in order to bring quality representation at the legislative level to his people but due to the rifts among the council's stakeholders then which ensued as a result of the embers of discords fanned by some political serpents, a political chameleon got the state House of Assembly's ticket at the expense of the erudite Professor.

It was a decision all the stake holders and the party members alike in the council is now regretting as the chameleon is now showing his true colors.

"If we had know it would out to be like this, we would have closed our ranks and allowed Olowofela to emerge" are the songs on the lips of virtually all the progressive minded party members in Ido local government.

But being a liberal minded person, the professor of Geophysics took it in good faith, went back to the University to impart knowledge on the leaders of tomorrow- youths- and when the time for serious campaign drew nearer he did not allow the momentary setback to get the better of him, he joined the campaign train along with the other leaders in the council, apart from expending his energy, he also spent his financial resources just to ensure that his party, APC, came out victorious in the general elections.

While some were in the comfort of their rooms after casting their votes on the April 11 governorship poll, Professor Olowofela kept vigil along with another Ajimobi's patriot, Hon Wahab Oladejo, right in front of the council's secretariat.

As the results was trickling in, he was recording them telling everyone who cared to listen at that wee hours that Sen. Abiola Ajimobi had coasted home to victory and when it was evident that the election has been won and lost based on the calculations he did in his laptop, he quickly transformed himself into the 'kegite member' obviously reminiscing his university days, singing and dancing to the delights of all the youths present.

It was a night which showed the social side of the academician. At the end of the singing escapade, he delivered a powerful speech stressing the unity of the party members as a panacea to continuous success of the party at the future polls. At the end of his speech, it was the chanting of 'Mr. Solution' by the youths cum party members that engulfed the entire Ido town.

So prior to the public announcement by the executive about the appointment of the commissioners, rumours had already rife in the state that his name had been penciled down by the governor.

It wasn't a surprise to most of us who witnessed firsthand his immense contributions towards the run in to the April 11 guber election in his council. Our only prayer was that he should be assigned to his natural habitat- education ministry- The governor once again proved that he has a crystal ball with which the party member's pulse are scanned and their pulses gauged, as his name was announced as the state's Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology.

Upon hearing the news that his name was mentioned as one of the commissioners, his house turned out to be a Mecca of sorts as party members and well-wishers came to congratulate the man who, unlike his compatriot in the academic circles, has made community service and humility his guiding principles.

Though he could afford to reside in the eye-popping areas of the city like his educated elites, he chose to mingle with his people right there at Omi-Adio, a suburb in Ibadan, the state capital obviously to strengthen the ties he has with his people. And this family-like ties ware evident judging from the manners his people entwined him on the night of the day he was named the honourable commissioner.

With the appointment of Prof. Olowofela as the education, science and technology commissioner, there have been optimism that the flame of education which appears to be dimming prior to his appointment will not only be reignited but also the flames will be brighten enough to straighten the sloppiness of the past.