The Iare of Oye-Ekiti kingdom, Chief Ayodele George Ogunlade simply known as Chief Ayo Ogunlade has passed away. He died peacefully on Monday at the age of 91 after an illness.
Born on March 18, 1931 in Lagos and married to Miss Folasade Foluke Dare in 1965, they were blessed with wonderful children.
He was educated at St Peter’s School, Sekondi, Ghana, 1942-47, Methodist School, Ifaki-Ekiti, 1947-48, Wesley College, Ibadan, 1950-53, Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology, Ibadan, 1957-59, University College (now University of Ibadan), Ibadan, 1959- 62, Indiana University, Bloomington, USA, 1962-63. In whole, he bagged BA, and MA degrees.
He was appointed as Primary School Teacher, 1954-55; Teacher, Teachers’ Training College, 1956-57; Secondary School Tutor, 1958-59; Executive Producer, WNTV-WNBS, 1960; Senior producer, defunct Western Nigeria Television and Broadcasting Services, WNTV-WNBS, 1963-64; acting Controller of Programmes, WNTV WNBS, 1964-65; Personnel Manager, Nigerian Tobacco Company, 1965-66; and Director of Programmes, WNTV-WNBS, 1966-75.
He later became the Chairman of Central School Board of the old Western State in 1975 and continued in that position even in 1976 when the old Western State was broken to Ogun, Oyo and Ondo States respectively.
Chief Ogunlade was appointed as Nigeria’s Federal Commissioner (Minister) for Information by the General Olusegun Obasanjo military government.
He, along with his junior brother, Chief Ogunmodede who later predeceased him, went into private ventures and founded ‘Ule Use Adegbemile’ (Adegbemile Enterprises Limited) which they named after their mother.
And for the second time as Nigerian Minister, the retired broadcaster and industrialist, was appointed as Minister of National Planning under the military government of General Sani Abacha from 1995 to 1998.
He was former President, Rotary Club of Akure and District Governor, Rotary International (District 913).
He celebrated his 90th birthday in March 2021 and was greeted on that occasion by high and mighty in Nigeria, Africa and all over the world including the governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi.
Information as to his burial arrangement is still sketchy at the moment. When available, the details would be provided on this platform.
May his gentle soul rest in peace.