Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State approved 1,004 appointments in Akure, including one commissioner, three special advisers, 90 Senior Special Assistants and 910 Special Assistants, in a major expansion of the state’s political and administrative structure.
The appointments were announced by Ebenezer Adeniyan, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Aiyedatiwa, as the administration moves to strengthen its presence across different sectors and communities in Ondo State.
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Erelu Taibat Yemi Oloruntoba of Akoko North-West Local Government Area has been nominated as Commissioner for Special Duties.
Her nomination has been forwarded to the Ondo State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.
The three newly appointed Special Advisers are Abimbola Fajolu, Special Adviser on Environment; Chief Ade Adeniyi, Special Adviser on Rural and Community Development; and Muyiwa Ogunyemi, Special Adviser on Transport.
The wider appointments comprise 90 Senior Special Assistants and 910 Special Assistants, bringing the total number of new political appointments to 1,004.
Among the Senior Special Assistants are Erelu Toyin Ogungbure, SSA on Women Mobilisation (South); Bidemi Obayangbon, SSA on Forestry; Gboluge Olufunmi Alex, SSA on Community Engagement (South); Hon. Akin Adeniyi, SSA on Community Engagement (Central); and Obayan Theophilus Ayodeji, SSA on Community Engagement (North).
Other appointments include Kelvin Solomon as SSA on Students Affairs, Adeolu Iwakun as SSA on Volunteer Services, Samson Job Bazuaye as SSA on Oil and Gas, Fade Ojamomi as SSA on Youth Empowerment and Job Creation, and Sam Adepoju as SSA on Public Engagement.
Alhaji Samad Orijeminiyi was also named SSA on Scholarship, while Victor Omodara was appointed SSA on Grassroots Mobilisation. Abayomi Adefolalu was named SSA on Photography.
Alhaji Abdukadiri Adenoyi, Prince Nzuoma Egbulefu and Alhaji Garba Goni were appointed Senior Special Assistants on Non-Indigenes.
The state government said the complete list of Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants would be released at a later date, while the appointments take immediate effect.
The latest Aiyedatiwa appointments place additional emphasis on community engagement, youth empowerment, women mobilisation, rural development, transport and environmental affairs, suggesting an effort to maintain a broad administrative reach across the state.
The development also comes against the backdrop of other initiatives pursued by the Aiyedatiwa administration.
In 2026, the governor’s government launched a solar-powered initiative targeting 1,000 businesses across Ondo State, with the programme designed to improve access to reliable electricity and support economic activity.
The administration has also previously pursued women-focused economic interventions.
A 2025 initiative supported 1,000 low-income women in Ondo, reflecting the government’s broader emphasis on grassroots economic empowerment.
The latest appointments, however, also expand the size of the state’s political workforce.
Their effectiveness will ultimately depend on how the appointees translate their respective mandates into measurable improvements in public services and community engagement.
For Oloruntoba, the nomination carries an additional institutional dimension.
She has previously served in Nigeria’s National Population Commission, including as Acting Director of Public Affairs, where she was involved in official communications concerning the national census.
The governor’s decision therefore gives the new team a broad remit, from sector-specific policy advice to grassroots mobilisation and community representation.
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With all appointments taking effect immediately, attention will now turn to how the new officials support Governor Aiyedatiwa’s administration and whether the enlarged governance structure delivers the promised impact for residents across Ondo State.
Ibrahim Onipede is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
