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Tag: Olayinka

  • Sen. Tinubu hails Olayinka’s works

    Sen. Tinubu hails Olayinka’s works

    •Akinjide, lawyer mourn Ekiti Deputy Governor

    Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central District) yesterday visited Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi to condole with him on the death of his deputy, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka.

    The senator described Mrs. Olayinka’s death as “a deeply felt loss”, adding that the deceased would be remembered for her contributions to the state.

    She said: “I express my heartfelt condolences to the government and people of the state. No doubt, Mrs. Olayinka’s death is a deep loss to the state. What can anyone say but to thank the Almighty God for a life well lived by a beautiful and alluring woman. Can anyone argue with death?

    “We take solace in the fact that she lived well in her short life. Her achievements are immeasurable. We should always make use of the best opportunity God grants us.

    “I urge her family, supporters and admirers to take heart and rejoice in the fact that she died an accomplished woman. What I consider most important now is to care for and support the family she left behind and ensure that her legacies do not go to waste.”

    The Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ms. Olajumoke Akinjide, also condoled with Fayemi and Ekiti people.

    In a statement, she described the late Mrs. Olayinka as “an accomplished banker and a quintessential politician, who demonstrated a perfect blend of grace, dignity and intelligence”.

    Praying for the repose of Mrs. Olayinka’s soul, she said: “My heart goes out to the family of the late deputy governor, who was an accomplished banker and quintessential politician.

    “I pray God grants her eternal rest and give her family the fortitude to bear this great and irreparable loss.”

    Rights activist Morakinyo Ogele urged political office holders to emulate the late Mrs. Olayinka.

    He said she left the political circle “with clean hands.”

    Ogele said her death was a huge loss to Ekiti, as it is rare to find politicians who honestly dedicate their lives to the service of the people.

    He said: “She was an excellent politician and a paragon of efficiency. She did not allow her position to change her. She was honest and humble.”

  • Ekiti urged to set up Olayinka cancer-screening centre

    The Ekiti State Government has been urged to set up a cancer-screening centre in honour of the late Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka.

    The Alliance of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) on Environment and Public Health (ANEPH) made the call yesterday in a statement signed by its officers, Mrs. Feyisike Adeoye and Mr. Kehinde Adegbuyi.

    It said setting up the centre in Mrs. Olayinka’s memory is a practical way of honouring a woman, who gave her life to the service of humanity.

    The group said: “Cancer is ravaging Nigeria. People are dying. The death of Mrs. Olayinka has further confirmed that death through cancer has no respect for age or status, making every one a potential victim.

    “We can make a lot of difference through the timely screening of people, so that the challenge can be tackled at the budding stage.”

    ANEPH is a coalition of NGOs in Nigeria working on public health safety.

    The group praised the Ekiti State government for revealing the cause of Mrs. Olayinka’s death to the public, instead of shrouding it in secrecy as is the case with many government officials.

    It said: “By making the cause of her death a subject of public knowledge, the Ekiti State government has demonstrated a higher ethical ground as against the awful tradition of secrecy, which does not promote public consciousness in public health safety.

    “Knowing the credentials of the leadership in Ekiti, we might be pre-empting the state government. We are sure Governor Kayode Fayemi realises the importance of honouring his deputy in ways consistent with her humanitarian services throughout her life time.

    “She was a selfless advocate of public health safety, who became a victim. She fought gallantly to defeat cancer, but it was too late. The Funmi Olayinka Cancer-Screening Centre will serve as a life-saver for millions of Nigerians, who stand at risk but have no opportunity to detect it early.

    “Statistics show that cancer killed 7.6 million people in 2008 worldwide and there is indication that the figure could double to 14 million in 2030.

    “According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cancer accounts for 13 per cent of deaths registered globally. In Nigeria, about 11,000 cancer deaths are recorded annually and 250,000 new cases recorded.

    “It is worrisome that only 17 per cent of African countries are said to have sufficiently funded cancer-control programmes, while a small percentage of countries in the world have functional plans to prevent the disease and provide treatment and care to patients.

    “However, if detected early, many types of cancer can be cured. WHO indicates that the shortage of a functional cancer-control plan is alarming in developing countries, which account for more than two-thirds of the new cancer cases and deaths yearly.

    “We urge the nation’s health authorities to step up cancer awareness, prevention and treatment. Most cancer treatment centres in Nigeria today lack modern diagnostic equipment. Generally, there is a lack of awareness on the disease, especially the causative factors, preventive measures, likely treatment options and facilities where such treatments are available.”

  • Ekiti deputy governor, Olayinka, dies at 52

    Ekiti deputy governor, Olayinka, dies at 52

    The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Olayinka, 52, is dead. She died yesterday of cancer at the St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos.

    Apparently after the news was broken to Governor Kayode Fayemi last night at a public function in Lagos, he hurriedly left the event. Before her death yesterday there had been rumours of her death since she took ill in the last few weeks.

    A statement by the state government yesterday night confirmed the demise of the Deputy Governor. A terse statement by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Tayo Ekundayo, reads: “The Government of Ekiti State announces with sadness but with gratitude to God, the passing of the State Deputy Governor, H.E. Mrs Olufunmilayo Adunni Olayinka, aged 52, after a tough but courageous battle with cancer.

    “She died on Saturday (yesterday) evening.”

    “Mrs Olayinka, an accomplished banker and corporate sector player, worked in the financial industry for 21 years before heeding the call of service in her home state of Ekiti when she was selected to serve on the ACN Governorship ticket in 2007. She demonstrated exemplary courage and dedicated service to Ekiti people both during the struggle to retrieve the stolen mandate and in her position as Deputy Governor.

    “She is survived by her husband and children as well as aged parents and siblings.

    “Further details shall be provided later.”

    A tested technocrat and seasoned banker, the late Mrs Olayinka (nee Famuagun) was born in Ado-Ekiti on June 20, 1960. She attended Holy Trinity Grammar School Ibadan, where she obtained her first school leaving certificate with distinction. She from there proceeded to Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo State, where she obtained her Higher School Certificate (HSC).

    The late Deputy Governor holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Business Administration [Marketing] from Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma, United States in 1981 and 1983. She was three times winner of the Dean’s Honour roll.

    She began her banking career at First Bank of Nigeria Plc in 1986, and later worked as Relationship Manager for Corporate Accounts in Access Bank, and the now defunct Merchant Banking Corporation [MBC] and United Bank for Africa Plc.

    In August 2002, she veered into Corporate Communications and headed the Corporate Affairs Division of the United Bank for Africa. She later became Head, Brand Management and Corporate Affairs, thus leading the team responsible for delivering a compelling brand proposition and re-branding of the United Bank for Africa.

    She was also the 2nd Vice President of the Association of Corporate Managers of Banks between 2002 and 2004.

    Until her recent election as the Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, she was Head of Corporate Services, Ecobank Transatlantic Inc where she was responsible for communicating the bank’s activities to the public, among other tasks.

    She became Deputy Governor after the Elections Appeal Tribunal sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, sacked former Governor Segun Oni of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and declared Dr Kayode Fayemi of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) as the new Governor of Ekiti State.

    This followed a flawed elections process during the 2007 gubernatorial elections, in which Oni was declared as the winner of that election. The fight to reclaim their mandate took three and a half solid years when on October 14, 2010, the ACN candidate was declared as the winner.

    Mrs Olayinka was sworn in as the substantive Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, thus becoming the second woman in history to occupy the position of Deputy Governor in the state.