LESSONS FROM THE LUCKY CLASS: TRIBUTE TO HIS EXCELLENCY LUCKY AYEDATIWA AT 61

His Excellency Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has not only yielded a personality for tales but he is undoubtedly a didactic story himself. Perhaps one of the things that has undergone most change is 'definition'. So, permit me to redefine a class as not only a place where lessons are learnt or a group of people who advertently learn under a tutor but a person through whom lessons are learnt. HE Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa is certainly such a class. Age is an unexciting story if it has not impacted the ageing, their age and ages to come. At 61, His Excellency Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa has impacted, is impacting and will certainly impact ages to come.

How much do you know about Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa? Let's check him out.

HUMILITY

His humility - of which we all know - is not merely about his humble rise from a 'pastoral' coast and creeks to fame. Of course you know that he is a native of Obe-Nla, an oil-bearing community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.  He was born to the family of Mr. Titus Akande and Mrs. Rosanah Moyebi Aiyedatiwa (of blessed memory) on the 12th day of January, 1965.  He had his elementary education at Saint Peter’s UNA (now FAC) Primary School, Obe-Nla/Obe Adun in Ilaje LGA of Ondo State between 1970 and 1976. 

ENTERPRISE AND DETERMINATION 

His piscatorial background was never allowed to constitute a limiting barrier to his ambition. He had his secondary education at Ikosi High School, Ketu, Lagos in 1982.  He then proceeded to Lagos State College of Education (now Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education), Ijanikin, Lagos, where he obtained a Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) in Economics and Government in 1986. After a period as a classroom teacher and subsequent diversification into business, Aiyedatiwa later attended the University of Ibadan for an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration with distinction in 2001.  He is an alumnus of Lagos Business School – Pan Atlantic University, Lekki, Lagos, with Post Graduate Certification in Chief Executive Education (CEP) in Business Management in 2009.  He is also an Alumnus of the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, where he obtained a Master’s Degree of Business Administration (MBA) in 2013.            

Prior to the establishment of his own business in 1996, Aiyedatiwa worked in other organisations and institutions, which include: Scoa Assembly Plant Plc. Apapa, Lagos, as Inventory/Store Officer, 1982-1983.  Reliance International Schools, Ijokodo, Ibadan, Assistant Head Teacher, 1987-1990. Universal Pharmaceutical Supply Co. Ltd., Ikeja, Lagos, as Marketing Officer, 1990-1993.  Global Trust Limited, Gbagada, Lagos, as Assistant Investment Analyst, 1992-1993.  Biz Mart Nigeria Limited, Lagos Island, Lagos, as General Merchandise Manager, 1994-1996. Aiyedatiwa is a business development professional and a successful businessman with interest and substantial experience in Marketing, Financial and Human resources management, New Product Development, Forex Trading and Management, Construction, Real Estate, Hospitality, Public Relations, Travels and Tours.  He was the MD/CEO of Blue Wall Group of Companies, established in 1996, which includes; Blue Wall Nigeria Ltd, a Trading Company, Blue Wall BDC Nigeria Ltd., a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) licensed foreign exchange trading company and Blue Wall Safety Travels and Tours, an IATA licensed Travel Agency and Logistic Company. He has attended further training and acquired knowledge and skills in business management, project management, crisis management, leadership, strategy and new product development, nationally and internationally.

RESPONSIVENESS 

I don't intend to dwell too much on this because the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Did you know that even before joining active politics, Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa was a teacher. That was yet another class. He was a conscientious teacher. Did you know that even when he was a businessman, without relying on salary or support from government or any Non-governmental organization, he gave back to the people by organizing Lucky Ayedatiwa football to competition for several years? If you do didn't know all that, now you can see how that trait of responsiveness has been part of his identity in governance today.

He joined active politics in 2011 as a card-carrying member of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2014.  He was one of the National Delegates from Ondo State at the All-Progressives Congress (APC) National Convention in Abuja in 2014 and later became the House of Representatives Candidate of the Party for Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency in the 2015 Presidential and National Assembly General Election.  Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as Federal Commissioner, who represented Ondo State on the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), 2018-2019.

Before his appointment by the President, he had also held other positions in other social and professional bodies.  He was the National Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) from 2004-2010.  Chairman of the South West Zone of ABCON 2010-2011.  Trustee/Treasurer, Ilaje League of Professional, President of Chief Executive Class ’18 (CEP18) of Lagos Business School, Alumni Association.  Executive Member of Lagos/South West Network of the University of Liverpool Global Alumni.  He was also conferred a platinum award by the Chartered Institute of Local Government and Public Administration of Nigeria (CILGPAN) on 16th September 2021. On Sunday, 11th October, 2020, Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa were re-elected Governor and Deputy Governor of Ondo State, as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).  On 24 February 2021, Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa were sworn into office as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ondo State, respectively. 

EQUANIMITY AND PERSEVERANCE 

H.E. Lucky Aiyedatiwa was on Wednesday, December 27 sworn in as the new Governor of Ondo State by the Chief Judge, Justice Olusegun Odusola. This followed the death of his predecessor, Rotimi Akeredulu who died in the early hours of Wednesday. Before his swearing-in at the Cocoa Conference Hall in the governor’s office in Akure, he was acting governor of the Sunshine State after Akeredolu transmitted power to him on December 13, 2023, as he embarked on a fresh medical trip overseas, the second in 2023. He acted as governor from June to September 2023 and earlier in December when Akeredolu was on medical leave. He was subsequently sworn in as Ondo State Governor on December 27, 2023, following the death of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

All of these are no longer news. But has that political amnesia - or is it euphoria - made you to forget the political storm which Lucky by luck survived before arriving the shore of Ondo State Government house? Perhaps it's neither of those reasons but most probably the politically uncharacteric equanimity with which he weathered the storm and accepted the 'customary' calm which followed the silence of that storm.

Undoubtedly, we have 'all' come to know a man who is so kind-hearted that there is, for once, no discrimination between the ayes and nays. We have come to know a man so unassuming that even in the face of barrages of criticisms he has gradually silenced all skeptics with unprecedented and incredible successes.

LUCKY IS THE GODLY

Perhaps it's the manifestation of the word of God that He would bless whom He would bless and honour whom He would honour. That's fate. That's destiny. And if it is, and of God, let no man dare confront it. But certainly, when a man is godly as Lucky is why won't he be Lucky?

Happy lucky birthday,

Lucky Governor,

Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa.

Sunday Akinbulejo

Ayemafuge Radio,

Igbokoda.

12th January, 2026.