Oyo State Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr. Olukemi Afolayan, ordinarily would have settled for a quiet celebration devoid of usual wine- bibbing and razzmatazz as she celebrates another year today, conversely, a secretly plan is afoot to catch her unawares, as loads of birthday wishes, gifts and greeting cards of various shapes and sizes and other keepsakes have kept pouring to her office like rain by her staffers, NGOs practitioners, members of professional bodies and other Stakeholders who have insisted to celebrate her virtues.
This was divulged in a message made available to the media yesterday in Ibadan, after the close of work by the Head of media and publicity of Oyo state National Orientation Agency, Isiaka- Adeniyi who clarified that “The state Director will be pleasantly surprised on her birthday, Thursday, 23rd of November, as many well wishers and admirers have been bombarding her office with various gifts items since yesterday, preparatory to her birthday.
Adeniyi added that “being an unassuming person who is sparing a deep thought for the needies in the Society, Afolayan as a norm, doesn’t celebrate her birthdays with much fanfares.
“She will even mark it in absentia today as she is already in an AUPCTRE assignment scheduled to take place in Ekiti State Directorate of NOA”.
According to Adeniyi, one of the lovely messages etched on a custom – made cards specifically designed for the day on behalf of the field officers of the local governments, signed by Alhaji Ibrahim Okunlola, a deputy director and COMO from Ibarapa East, reads “Ma, you are a moon with silver colour whose passion for the job, openness,human and material resources management, leadership instincts and other virtues, can’t be quantified, We are always delighted to work with You in fulfillment of your mission to drive Oyo state NOA to an enviable height, we felicitate you today and pray for a, Happy birthday to you and many Happy returns”.
It will be recalled that “Dr. Afolayan assumed the role of the acting State Director of NOA in a handing over ceremony by the immediate past Director of the agency, Mr. Kayode Odedokun on 21st September, this year.
Born in Ibadan over 50 years ago to the family of Akogun Leye Afolayan and Erelu Mary Afolayan both of IPAO Ekiti, Dr. Olukemi Afolayan, studied History at the University of Jos as She Obtained her masters in history and peace and conflict studies both from the prestigious University of Ibadan and bagged her PhD in African history at the institute of African Studies ,University of Ibadan . She joined the National Orientation Agency as a Program Officer 11 in 1997 at the Ekiti State Directorate of the Agency.
She has meritably served the Agency in different capacities before she ultimately rises like a full moon to the position of the State Director.
Afolayan is an activist, feminist scholar with Ethics of care, an African Culture enthusiast and a champion for a united and prosperous Nigeria. She is married to Alhaji Moruff Owolabi from Ibadan North local government, She is the mother of Engineer Adebola Oke and his nephews Chelumi and Ojorunmi Odiaka. She’s a member of different professional bodies among which is the Society for peace studies, institute of African studies association etc.
“In conclusion, the Management and all members of staff of the Agency, are hereby Wishing the State Director, Dr Olukemi Afolayan “a fantastic birthday celebrations and many happy returns of the day”.
