Lucky Aiyedatiwa has officially taken the oath of office as the Governor of Ondo State, marking the beginning of his first full four-year term. The swearing-in ceremony was held on Monday at the Ondo State Sports Complex in Akure, the state capital, drawing a large crowd of supporters, political figures, and dignitaries.
Speaking after his inauguration, Governor Aiyedatiwa who said his administration has restored confidence in the government among the people, promised that he and his deputy with not rest on their oars.
“We like to assure you that the overwhelming renewed mandate you have freely given to us has further placed on us a huge burden of leadership and we promise never to rest on our oars.
“I and my deputy, we make a solemn pledge this day that we shall lead and govern with the fear of God and utmost dedication to the progress of the state. We will prioritise the welfare of our people particularly most vulnerable among us, that is the poor, the sick and the marginalised.”
He also pledged to make improve the state economically in the next four years.
“In the next four years, we will work with interested investors and our development partners in ensuring that our Port Ondo becomes a reality.
“We will also facilitate investors to explore our large deposit of bitumen for local use and export purposes thereby generating huge revenue for the state,” Aiyedatiwa said.
Aiyedatiwa’s journey to the governorship began under difficult circumstances. He initially took over as acting governor following the death of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu in December 2023. Two months later, he secured his position through a successful election under the All Progressives Congress (APC) and has now been officially inaugurated as the state’s leader.
Born on January 12, 1965, in Obe-Nla, an oil-rich community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Aiyedatiwa’s early education took place at Saint Peter’s Primary School in his hometown. He later moved to Lagos, where he attended Ikosi High School, Ketu, completing his secondary education in 1982. His academic background includes a Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) in Economics and Government from Lagos State College of Education in 1986.
He further obtained an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from the University of Ibadan in 2001, a Postgraduate Certificate in Chief Executive Education from Lagos Business School in 2009, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Liverpool in 2013.
Before venturing into politics, Aiyedatiwa built a career in various sectors, including education, pharmaceuticals, finance, and trade. In 1996, he established the Blue Wall Group of Companies, which focused on trading, foreign exchange, and travel logistics. His political career began in 2011 when he joined the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which later merged into the APC.
Aiyedatiwa’s first major political appointment came in 2018 when he was appointed as a Federal Commissioner representing Ondo State on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). In 2020, he was elected as Deputy Governor alongside Governor Akeredolu. His tenure as deputy governor saw him working closely with Akeredolu until the latter’s passing on December 27, 2023, after a long battle with prostate cancer.
