Hon. Yemisi Ayokunle – (BOT Member)

Christened as Oluwayemisi Margaret Olagunju and born in the early hours of 30th January, 1964 into the family of Late Pa Patrick and Deaconess Sola Olagunju of Inisapetu Street, Aaye Quarters of Ilawe Ekiti, Ekiti South West Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

The young Yemisi started her elementary education at the Community Primary School, Emure Ekiti and proceeded to St. Louis Grammar School, Ikere Ekiti for her Secondary School. Haven passed out of St. Louis (an exclusive female school) with good grades, she proceeded to the Ekiti State College of Education, Ikere Ekiti where she studied French Language and Religious Studies

In Yemisi’s quest for more knowledge and certificates, she sought and gained admission to the prestigious University of Ado Ekiti where she eventually bagged Bachelor of Education (Hons) in Guidance & Counselling.

To achieve her childhood ambition of becoming a (trained) Journalist, she went for her Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism at the International Institute of Journalism, Abuja.

Hon. Ayokunle did her mandatory Youth Service at Ayepe in Ijebu, precisely in1985 and she taught in various Schools between 1985 and 1997. She later joined the services of the Broadcating Service of Ekiti State (BSES) where she served as a Producer, Director and Presenter of various programmes and news both on Radio and Television between 1997 and 2010. As a civil servant in BSES, she was an active labour leader and at a point elected as the Chairman of the Workers Union, Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU)

Her first nag in politics was between 2003 and 2006 when she was appointed as the Director of Communications to the then First Lady, Her Excellency, Feyisetan Fayose

Yemisi later joined active politics in 2010 and she served in the following political appointments between 2010 and 2014:

👉 Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor (Media)
👉 Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor (Public Affairs)
👉 Special Assistant to the Wife of the Governor (Advocacy and Mobilization)

For her invaluable contributions to mankind and generous selfless service to humanity, she was on the 9th of December 2017 honored with Yeyeoge Chieftaincy Title by Oba Ezekiel Babatola Oladele, Olupole of Ipole Iloro Ekiti in Ekiti West Local Government of Nigeria

In 2019, she contested to represent the good people of Ekiti South West, Constituency 1 at the Ekiti State House of Assembly and won with a landslide margin. Hon. Yemisi Ayokunle was the spokesperson of the 6th Assembly and she rose to become the Majority Leader of the House before the expiration of her tenure in 2023

As member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly and the representative of Ilawe on the floor of the 6th Assembly, Hon. Yemisi Ayokunle contributed immensely towards the progress of Ilawe and its advancement.

On the 31st of July 2023, She was appointed by the Executive Governor of Ekiti State as the Special Adviser (Cabinet Rank) on Social Investment Programs, the position she’s still holding.

As Special Adviser on Social Investment Programs, Hon. Yemisi Ayokunle has been playing crucial role in implementing policies and initiatives aimed at improving the lives of Ekiti State residents, particularly in areas such as poverty reduction, education, healthcare, and economic empowerment. Over One Thousands (5000) Ilaweans has benefited several grants through her office in the last two years

Hon. Yemisi Ayokunle is the author of a book titled: “My Experience; Life Goes On” and the Anchor of a weekly motivational program titled “Life Goes On” on Ekiti Radio.