Ayoola Reflects on Decades of Cerebral, People-Centric Leadership in Lagos
Dr. Oyeyemi Ayoola, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Central Internal Audit, has described her experience working with successive governors of the state as interesting and rewarding. The Igbobi-Sabe-born chartered accountant emphasized that Lagos has been consistently blessed with visionary and hardworking leaders who have shaped its growth over the years.
Career Progression and Service Under Multiple Administrations
Ayoola, who holds a first degree, second degree, and PhD in Accounting, reflected on her decades of service under administrations led by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode, and Babajide Sanwo-Olu. She credited Tinubu with laying a strong foundation for inclusive governance by actively involving civil servants in decision-making processes and investing in their capacity development.
According to Ayoola, this model has been sustained by subsequent administrations, leading to continuous growth and development in Lagos State. Successive governors – Fashola, Ambode, and Sanwo-Olu – followed that line, and it is making Lagos greater, she stated, describing all four leaders as cerebral and hardworking.
Inspiration and Mentorship in Public Service
Ayoola explained that her decision to remain active in public service after retiring as a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance was driven by a passion to give back to society. She drew inspiration from icons such as Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady of Nigeria, and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation.
I see examples and mentorship especially in Senator Oluremi Tinubu; she is a woman I admire a lot, Ayoola said. Many people do not know that she has done a lot in the business world before going into politics. This inspiration led her to found the non-governmental organisation Women Inclusion in Policy Advancement Organisation (WINPAO), aimed at promoting gender inclusion in policy-making.
Key Contributions and Innovations in Governance
As a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Ayoola outlined her career progression through key financial and administrative roles, including:
- Council Treasurer
- Director of Finance and Accounts
- Director of the Project Financial Management Unit (PFMU) in the State Treasury Office
- Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance
These positions enabled her to contribute significantly to policy development and implementation. For instance, she wrote the financial feasibility reports for the collaboration between Lagos State and Kebbi State on LAKE Rice production and was part of the team that initiated the Agric Youth Empowerment Scheme (Agric-YES), which trained young agri-preneurs in the state.
Ayoola also spearheaded initiatives such as Insurance Week to promote awareness of insurance benefits among civil servants and encouraged private sector players to support workers through corporate social responsibility, leading to the distribution of houses and vehicles. Additionally, she played a key role in developing LOLA, a payment platform used by the Ministry of Finance for Land Use Charge revenue collection.
Current Innovations Under Governor Sanwo-Olu
In her current capacity under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Ayoola has introduced innovations aimed at improving transparency and accountability in public service. These include the Payment Voucher Tracker and a biometric staff auditing system, which enhance efficiency and reduce fraud in governmental operations.
She concluded by emphasizing the importance of adding value in any position, stating that her work has always been guided by a commitment to societal development and the exemplary leadership she has witnessed over the years in Lagos State.
