SIR (DR) AKINTADE ELKANAH ADEOYE OWONIYI (KJW, JP)

He was born by High Chief Moses Akintade Orunbemekun who hailed from Memurun Ruling House of Ahaba Dynasty of Ajagba Kingdom. His mother was Mrs Sarah Apetebi Akintade, daughter of Ajirobaju Agiri of Akotogbo. He was born at Akotogbo where his father went to sojourn at the early part of his life as a farmer of food crops. He was also engaged as a petty trader in palm kernel and clothing materials.
At the age of eleven years, he started his primary school education at Methodist Primary School, Akotogbo in 1951. He completed his primary school education in December 1957. Without wasting any year, he gained admission into Methodist Secondary Modern School, Ode-Irele. He spent three years at the Modern School to secure a Modern III School Leaving Certificate in December 1960. While he was in the primary school, he was the Senior Prefect of the School. He was also voted in as Senior Prefect for the Modern School. Though he was not one of the teachers in the School, the Headmaster assigned him many responsible positions in the school. In January 1961, he was appointed as a Pupil teacher at the Methodist Primary School, Okitipupa which was one the biggest primary schools in Okitipupa Division at that time.
Ater twelve months as a Pupil teacher, he was admitted into the Wesley College, Ibadan in 1962. In 1964, during his final year at the College, he was elected the President for the Student Association from Okitipupa Division and Igbobini circuit which included students from Ondo and Idanre areas then.
On completion of the Teachers Grade II Certificate, he was appointed and posted to Methodist Central School Ikereku, Ibadan in Akinyele Local Government as Assistant Headmaster. He spent one year at Ikereku, Ibadan, before he was relocated to Methodist Primary School, Okitipupa, on regional transfer request.
He served as a teacher in many Methodist Schools in the Division before he joined the Nigeria Army Education Corps as an Education Officer. After Military Training and Orientation, he served as 4Gd Battalion Epe, Lagos State. After a period of five years, he was deployed to Obudu, Cross River State as Unit Education Officer During the brief period, he attended many courses in Education to meet Military Education requirements and needs, rising to the Grade of Unit Education Officer. He left for the University of Lagos to do an Associateship Diploma course in Education, English Language and Social Studies.
On completing the Diploma Course in 18months, he was offered Direct Entry Admission to study combined Honours Degree in Philosophy and Yoruba Language. He completed his course within three years and was awarded B.A combined Hons in Philosophy and Yoruba Language. He went for the mandatory National Youth Service Corps in Kwara State. On completing the National Service, he came back to join the Teaching Service of Ondo State under the State Teaching Service Commission.
In 1981, he was recruited into Ondo State Unified Local Government Service Commissions as Administrative Officer and was posted to the defunct Idanre/Ifedore L.G Owena as an Administrative Officer Class one to assist the Secretary to the Local Government. After a year, he was sent to the University of Ife, Ile-Ife for Advanced Post Graduate Diploma Course in Local Government Studies for eighteen months thereafter, he returned to the field to continue with his schedule as an Administrative Officer.
On 1st January 1985, he was appointed Secretary to Local Government (SLG) and was posted to the defunct Ekiti South Local Government, Ikere-Ekiti as Secretary to the Local Government with the full responsibilities. He served as Secretary to many of the Local Governments in Ondo and Ekiti State, among which are Ifesowapo Local Government, Ore; Ekiti West Local Government, Aramoko Ekiti; Ekiti North Local Government, Ikole-Ekiti; Ekiti East Local Government, Omuo Ekiti; Irele Local Government, Irele; Owo Local Government, Owo ,Akure local government , Akure etc. He was at a time the Director of Studies Local Government Staff Training School, Ita-Ogbolu. He was Director of Personnel Management (DPM) Local Government Service Commission Ondo State. He was also appointed as Secretary to the Local Government Service Pension Board. During all these times, he was an external examiner to the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) Topo, Badagry. He later went back to the University of Ife, Ile-Ife where he obtained Masters’ Degree in Local Government (M.Sc.) which he completed in 1988. In 1996, he was appointed the Sole Administrator of Ifedore Local Government, Igbara Oke in Ondo State.

CHRISTIAN LIFE
As he was born into a Methodist family, he has always tried his best to serve the only God in whom he believed. He was baptized and confirmed as a member of Methodist Church Nigeria in 1957 and 1960 respectively. As rewards for his services in Methodism:
He was installed the MAJEOBAJE IJO of Methodist Church Nigeria Ajagba, Igbobini Diocese in 1996.
He served as Secretary to the inauguration Committee when Igbobini Circuit became a Diocese in 1983.
Installed Ambassador of Excellence for Owo Diocese in 2004.
Installed the “Gbejoniyi Ijo” of Methodist Cathedral Gbogi, Akure in 2005.
Awarded Knight of John Wesley (KJW) by the Conference of Methodist Church Nigeria on June 24, 2007.
In January 2008 he went on a Holy Pilgrimage to the Holy Land of Israel
He was the President of Men’s Christian League Association, Methodist Cathedral Gbogi, Akure.

OTHER MERIT AWARDS
Fellowship Member, Education Foundation of Nigeria (FMNE)
Exceptional Management and Leadership Quality Award (EMLDQA)
Fellow of the Institute of Local Government of Nigeria.
Honorary Fellowship Doctor (FDR) in Communication Arts and Public Administration (Honours Causa) by the Institute of Journalism, Management and Continiung Education, Enugu listed by the World University of America 29th April 2004.

POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS
After his retirement from the United Local Government Service of Ondo State, he was appointed to represent Ondo State at the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (INEC) as Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC). He served at Abia, Ekiti and Plateau States respectively for four and a half years.
In 2007, he was appointed as chairman, Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) by the Ondo state Governor.
In January 2008, he was again appointed as a Full-time Member of the Ondo State Civil Service Commission until the change of Government in Ondo State in February, 2009.
Sir Dr. E.A.O Akintade is happily married to Chief Mrs F.A Akintade of blessed memory and Chief Mrs C.F Akintade. He is blessed with great children who are doing exploits in various fields of endeavors, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
With this rich resume, there’s no doubt that daddy was an illustrious son of Nigeria, taking Ondo state as a microcosm of Nigeria larger society.
Sir Dr. E.A.O Akintade came, saw and conquered. Adieu to this great family man, dogged fighter, consummate administrator, uncommon politician, lover of his people and an unparalleled ambassador of the Memuren Royal Family of Ode Ajagba kingdom, who has left his indelible footprints on the sands of time.

RIP Great man