Board of Trustees (BoT)

Alhaja L. M. Okunnu

Alhaja L. M. Okunnu served the government at both state and federal level. She was Assistant Lecturer, Federal Advanced Teacher College, University of Lagos from 1964 – 1970. Between 1970 and 1977, she served as the Education Officer (Chief Inspector of Education in charge of Teacher Training) Lagos State Ministry of Education.
She became an Administrative Officer Grade 1 in the Lagos State Civil Service in 1977. In 1980, she was transferred to the Federal Civil Service as Administrative Officer Grade II and Principal Secretary in charge of commodity boards in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.
Alhajah Okunnu rose to the of Administrative Officer grade 1 and Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the Budget Affairs and later Ministry of Finance. In 1986, she was appointed Permanent Secretary and later Director General in Political Affairs Office of the Cabinet Office.
She became the Deputy Governor of Lagos State 1990 and in 1992 she was appointed Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the National Republican Convention.
The position she occupied till April 1993 when the party’s Executive Council took over.
She retired from the Federal Civil Service, 1994.
Alhajah Okunnu has had various ad-hoc appointments.

Below is the highlight of the various ad-hoc appointment she had:

• She was member of the National Committee of the Better Life Programme and Supervised Kaduna and Kebbi State.
• She also served as member of the Planning Committee of the Family Support Programme.
• She served on the National Committee and prepared the country report for Nigeria for the Fourth World Conference on Women at Beijing in 1994.
• She was a member of the Government delegation to the fourth World Conference on Women at Beijing in 1995.
• Alhajah Okunnu was a member of the Ministerial delegation to the African Regional Preparatory Conference for the World Conference on Women in Dakar, Senegal, 1994, Between 1977 and 1980, she was the Secretary of the Women Advisory Council of Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria.
• She was also the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Family Support Trust Fund of Lagos State.
• Alhajah Okunnu had served and is still serving as member of the Governing Council of some Educational Institutions.
• She was a member of the Governing Council, University of Abuja between 1997-1998, a member of the Governing Council, University of Port-Harcourt between 2000 – 2004, member of the Governing Council, Zhuliat Abiola College of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Abeokuta.
• Alhajah Okunnu is also member of the Board of Governors, Crescent Nursery, Primary and Secondary School, Victoria Island, Lagos and also member of Board of Trustees of Fountain University, Osogbo.
• She is also the National Adviser to the Coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations on Education (NOGALS).
• Alhajah Okunnu is also known to have either founded or contributed to the formation of religious and non-religious associations. She is a founding member and one-time President of Muslim Ladies Circle, Lagos and Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria(FOMWAN).
• She is the National Co-ordinator of Muslim League for Accountability (MULAC), a National Network of Islamic Da’awah Organisations with the objective of Championing the enthronement of transparency and accountability in the private and public lives of Muslims in particular, and in the Nigeria Society at large.
• She is the Director of Finance of the Eye Foundation, Aid and Research Clinic for The Prevention of blindness, a Non-Governmental/Non- Profit establishment dedicated to the prevention of blindness in Nigeria and Africa.
• Between 1997 and 2000, she was the President Nigeria Bureau of the West African Women’s Association(WAWA) and also the Vice President of the Regional Bureau of WAWA in 1998.
• In 1986, she was appointed as the Secretary to the White Paper Drafting Committee on the report of the Political Debate.
• She served as the Secretary of the Special Task Force on Equatorial Guinea between 1986 and 1990. She was also member of National Committee on Hajj between 2000 and 2003.
• Alhajah Okunnu is a patron of many Islamic Youth Organisations.
• She has given several talks and written several papers on Islam and Women Empowerment.
• Alhajah Okunnu is married to Alhaji Femi Okunnu, SAN (former federal commissioner of works) and blessed with one daughter.

Alhajah Sekinat Olapeju Adekola

Alhajah Sekinat Olapeju Adekola (Nee Animasaun) was born on 25th April, 1935.She attended Ansar-ud-Deen School, Okepopo, Lagos for her Primary School Education between 1945 – 1950. Following her primary school Education at Okepopo, she proceeded for her Secondary School Education at Saka Tinubu Memorial High School, Lagos. (now Ahmadiyya Grammar School, Olushi, Lagos) between 1951 – 1955.

She was trained as professional nurse with S.R.N., S.C.M and had Operating Theatre Diploma Certificate between 1956 – 1967. With this, she became the first Trained Operating Theatre Nursing Sister in the Old Western Region, the position she occupied until her resignation in 1973. Alhajah Adekola’s interest and love for education resulted in establishment of the Ad-din International Nursery and Primary School in 1984. 

She has also identified herself with the physically challenged and as a result, established the Sekinat Olapeju Adekola Centre for the Disabled (SOACED) in 2009. 

Alhajah Sekinat Adekola has also provided good leadership for the Muslim Community in Ibadanland and beyond. She was the president of Women Muslim Association of Nigeria, Ibadan between 1970 – 1976, Grand matron of Muslim Students Society, Oyo Area Unit “A”, Life Matron, Muslim Students Society, Oyo Area Unit “B”. 

On the 6th of March 1982, she became the National President of Alasatu Ibadu Rahman Society, Oyo State, President of Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria, (FOMWAN), Oyo State Chapter between April 1986 and May 1991. In 1987, Alhajah Adekola was appointed as the Matron of the National Council of Muslim Youth Organisation (NACOMYO), Oyo State Chapter, former member of the Red Cross Society, Ibadan Chapter; A Trustee of the Girl Guides Society of Nigeria member of the Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board from 1974 to 1980, member of the Board of Industrial Investment and Credit Corporation, Oyo State from 1976 to 1977. 

She became Justice of the Peace of Oyo State in July 1981, Iya Adinni Alasalatu Ibadu Rahman, Oyo State on 29th May, 1983. On the 10th of November, 1989 she received Recognition Award from Zonta International. She served as the National Chairperson of FOMWAN Humanitarian Services and Welfare Development between 2000 and 2009.

She had also served in many capacities under four different military administrations. 

She was appointed Director of World Religion and Peace 1981, Iya Adinni of Yorubaland 30th June, 1991. She was a member of the Federal Government Delegation to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for Sheikh Abubakre Gumi Conferment of King Faisal Award for 1987. This was between March 9th – 14th 1987.

Alhajah Adekola is presently the Proprietress and Director General of Ad-din International College School II; Member Oyo State NIREC from 2003, a member of Scholarship Board of Oyo State from 20th May, 2008.

Alhajah Adekola’s outstanding life experience was in 1979 when she had the priviledge to visit Ex-president of America and his wife, Mr and Mrs Jimmy Carter with members of World Religion and Peace inside White House in America.

Alhajah Adekola has a flair for Gardening and Sports. She is happily married with children to former Chief Judge of Oyo State – Justice Nurudeen Olalekan Adekola (rtd).

His Royal Majesty Alhaji Abdul Azeez Olu Adeyemi

His Royal Majesty Alhaji Abdul Azeez Olu Adeyemi, the Alara of Aramoko Ekiti Alhaji Abdul Azeez Olu Adegoke Adeyemi was born on 4th December, 1942 at Aramoko Ekiti in the present Ekiti West Local Government of Ekiti State.

Education Background:
He attended St. Annes Catholic Primary School, Aramoko Ekiti between January 1949 and December 1956,he proceeded to St. Finbarrs Secondary Modern School, Efon Alaye for his Secondary School education in January 1957 and between January 1961 and December 1962, he was at St. John Teachers Training College, Ibadan where he obtained his Teacher’s Certificate Grade III. In 1965, he enrolled at Ondo/Oyo Joint Provincial College, Ile – Ife where he obtained his Teachers’ Certificate Grade II in 1966. 
After obtaining the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinarily Level in 1967 and General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced level in 1968, he proceeded to University of Lagos where he obtained the Bachelor of Science degree in 1971.
Alhaji Abdul Azeez Olu Adeyemi also proceeded to University of Ife where he obtained postgraduate diploma in Public Administration in 1978. 
He attended Advanced Management Technical Course at the University of Manchester, Manchester, England in 1981. 
Alhaji Olu Adeyemi’s long quest for knowledge took him to the highest Institution of learning in Nigeria, the prestigious National Institute for policy and strategic studies, (NIPSS), Kuru – Jos in 1988.

Working Experience:
Oba Abdul Azeez’s woking experience began as a teacher at St. Annes Catholic Primary School Aramoko Ekiti where he taught between January and December, 1960. 

Between January 1963 and December 1964 he was a teacher at St. Peters Catholic Primary School Igbara – Odo. He also taught at St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary school Ikere Ekiti between 1967 and 1968.

The students of United Christian Secondary School, Apapa, Lagos also had the opportunity of being taught by Alhaji Abdul Azeez in 1971.

Civil Service Career:
Alhaji Olu Adeyemi’s civil service career began in November 1971 when he was appointed Administrative Officer II, Assistant Divisional Officer (ADO) Akure. 

He became Administrative Officer 1 (political) in 1973 and in 1974 a Senior Assistant Secretary, Establishment and Training, Ibadan. 

He was appointed in 1976 as a Principal Private Secretary to the Military Governor of Ondo State, Governor’s office Akure.

He rose to the position of Secretary for Finance and Administration (SFA), Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in 1979 and in 1980 he became Director of Finance and Administration, Ministry of Health. 

In 1981, he was elevated to the position of Director of Finance and Administration (DFA) Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

He became the Sole Administrator, Ifesowapo Local Government, Ondo state in 1985 and Permanent Secretary/Liaison Officer, Ondo State Liaison Office, Lagos in 1986.

He served as the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Extension Services, Akure between November 1988 and February 1989.

He also served as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives Ondo State between 1989 and 1990 and also as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Social Welfare, Ondo State between 1990 and 1991.

Alhaji Abdul Azeez Adeyemi voluntarily retired from the Civil Service on the 31st of December 1991.

Current Preoccupation
Alhaji Adeyemi is into General Business and Consultancy Services – Business Planning and Strategic Development. 

He is currently the Alara of Aramoko, Ekiti (The King of Aramoko Ekiti), the President, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) Ekiti State Chapter, Co-Chairman, Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) Ekiti State and the Alara of Aramoko – Ekiti. His hobbies include Music, Table Tennis, Reading, Writing and Travelling.

He is married to Mrs Adenike Adeyemi and blessed with four children.