OGUN FUNMILAYO THERESA (OFT) served Ekiti State as Special Assistant to the Governor on Widows Matters and Women Empowerment; and as Honorable Commissioner for Works and Transportation.
She is a Geologist, a Procurement & Supply Consultant, a female empowerment advocate, lover of people, and a philanthropist who is passionate about putting smiles on peoples faces. She has an
unapologetic attachment and commitment to her roots which has consistently driven her to pursue a better life for her people.
FAMILY BACKGROUND
OFT grew up in Ado Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State. Her Parents, Late Sir/Chief Akinola Ajayi and Lady Victoria Ajayi were very active players in the Ado Ekiti medical sector. Beyond their mainstream official work, they carried out free Medical Outreaches for the benefit of their communities, helping so
many disadvantaged people in the process. Their home was widely known as a haven for the needy. OFT grew up being passionate about peoples plight, as her parents did.
OFT’s father hailed from a humble family in Orin Ekiti, Ido Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State, and was the only surviving child of his mother. By the help of God and dint of hard work and dedication, he rose to enviable heights in different spheres of society. OFT’s mother was of the Inisa stock in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State. The last child of three siblings, she was the apple of the eyes of her loving parents and siblings. Her elder sister, Late Mrs. Adetunbi encouraged her to join the nursing profession, due to her love for nurses in their attractive uniforms.
OFT’s childhood was beautiful, eventful and grounded with godly values. Starting from a tender age of 3, she would accompany her late father to Church for the 6 o’clock morning Mass. Her unwavering devotion to God and availability for Church activities was such that many were certain she would ultimately end up a Reverend Sister of the Roman Catholic Church.
Education & Leadership:
OFT attended both primary and secondary schools in Ekiti State, proceeding to the prestigious Obafemi Awololwo University, Ile Ife, Osun State for her University Education. She graduated with a Bachelor of
Science degree in Geology. OFT demonstrated remarkable leadership traits as a secondary and tertiary
student. She was sworn in as a school prefect at different times, from her senior school level, until she graduated secondary school. While in the University, she attained several leadership roles such as the Sisters Fellowship Coordinator. She also met the love of her life at the Obafemi Awolowo University.
Career Pathways & Professional Affiliations:
She performed her mandatory National Youth Service Corps Programme in Rivers State, with Crushed Rock Industries Nigeria Limited, a NigerianGerman Company that made a significant impact on her life. She was retained after the service programme, and served the company in various capacities for over 16 years. Whilst in full employment, she obtained her Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA), became a member of the Chartered Institute of Stock Brokers, and thereafter bagged her Affiliate
membership of Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply. She later resigned her job, to engage in active politics. Typical for OFT to always engage in one endeavor/project or the other, she
established, and still runs a professional consultancy firm that offers services covering geological investigations, project monitoring, due process evaluation, procurement and supplies, documentation of government projects, in line with the Nigerian Due Process and Procurement Act, etc.
OFT has, for over 2 decades, garnered practical private and public sector work experiences in coaching, process analysis, technology implementation, strategy development and operational improvement
processes, toward overall business efficiency, productivity and cost reduction. She has attended various management training and seminars in Nigeria and abroad. She has an extensive working knowledge of the laws, regulations and policies, relating to the Nigerian public procurement processes. She trains select public service groups on the fundamental principles of openness, transparency and due process in the public procurement sector.
Married Life:
OFT married the love of her life, Mr Ofome Anthony Ogun at Christ the King Catholic Church, Ado Ekiti. The marriage ceremony was witnessed by family and friends on the1st September 2001. The marriage is blessed with children.
Mr Anthony Ofome Ogun who hails from Effurun, Uvwie Local Government area of Delta State is a Geophysicist who graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. He worked with several organizations for a while before establishing private businesses. He is currently a full time
entrepreneur with sundry interests in haulage, transportation, dredging, quarrying, farming, amongst others.
Politics, Service & Philanthropy:
OFT’s showed up on the political scene in 1998/99, while on a special assignment in Ondo State. She participated in various campaign programmes and activities that led to the emergence of Chief Adebayo
Adefarati as the Executive Governor of Ondo State.
In 2014, she aspired to represent her constituents in the State House of Assembly. Although that journey was subsequently aborted, OFT gained invaluable insight and better understanding of the political terrains; formed lifelong relationships; developed rapport at different levels, and bonded
with her grassroots constituents. During the sensitization activities, she had one-on-one contact with all the communities/wards in her constituency/local government. She also carried out a lot of welfare
schemes and related activities that transformed beneficiaries positively.
In 2015, as Special Assistant on Widows Matters and Women Empowerment, OFT pioneered the Registration of Widows in Ekiti State, and generated a database for widows in the State. This initiative properly structured, and enhanced the efficient payment process of widows’ allowance,s and
distribution of palliatives to widows and women in general. She further ran public campaigns through which widows were enlightened on their rights and available opportunities for betterment. Her activities as SA on Widows Matters and Women Empowerment gave her the first opportunity to tour all
the 16 local government areas in the State.
In 2016, OFT was appointed by the Ekiti State government led by His Excellency, Ayo Fayose, as Honourable Commissioner for Works and Transportation. Under her watch, various ground-breaking civil construction and renovation works, were initiated, completed and commissioned. OFT is an enthusiastic, self-motivated, reliable, responsible and hardworking person.
In July 2020, OFT was appointed a member of Constituted South West Care Taker Committee. In August 2020, she contested for the office of the State Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party at the Party’s Congress. She won and was sworn in with others, as members of the State working Committee
of Ekiti State PDP. She was the only Female State PDP Secretary in Nigeria.
Amongst other duties, she organized the first ever meeting of all Secretaries in the Party from the Ward to the State levels. A meeting which galvanised the Secretaries to better awareness and understanding of their roles as Secretaries, a highlight of which is the now popular slogan: “no secretary,
no meeting”
In 2022, OFT was actively involved in the political campaigns that led to the emergence of Otunba Bisi Kolawole as the Governorship Candidate. OFT was nominated as running mate for Otunba Bisi Kolawole, for the June 2022 Gubernatorial elections. She rejected the nomination for personal reasons,
as detailed in her letter of 24th February 2022, to the National Secretariat of the party.
Thereafter, OFT aspired to be a member of the House of Representatives and participated in the Peoples Democratic Party’s Primary election of 23rd May 2022. She lost the ticket with 30 votes, in the controversial primary election.
The Vision:
In 2023, OFT indicated her interest to contest the 2026 gubernatorial election in Ekiti State and to defeat the incumbent; a feat which, according to her, is the norm in Ekiti State. She is determined and committed towards the vision of being elected as the first Female Governor in Nigeria. A mission she believes is possible with her faith in ONLY GOD, THE FATHER.