Lucky Aiyedatiwa

{{Infobox officeholder

|honorific_prefix = His Excellency

|image = Lucky Aiyedatiwa.jpg

|caption =

|office = Governor of Ondo State

|term_start = 27 December 2023
{{small|Acting: 13 December 2023 – 27 December 2023}}

|term_end =

|deputy = Olayide Adelami

|predecessor = Rotimi Akeredolu

|successor =

|term_label1 = Acting

|term_start1 = 13 June 2023

|term_end1 = 7 September 2023

|predecessor1 = Rotimi Akeredolu

|successor1 = Rotimi Akeredolu

|office2 = Deputy Governor of Ondo State

|term_start2 = 24 February 2021

|term_end2 = 27 December 2023

|governor2 = Rotimi Akeredolu

|predecessor2 = Agboola Ajayi

|successor2 = Olayide Adelami

|birth_name = Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1965|1|12|df=y}}

|birth_place = Ilaje, Western Region (now in Ondo State), Nigeria

|death_date =

|death_place =

|party = All Progressive Congress (APC)

|spouse = Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa

|children = 3

|education = Ikosi High School

|alma_mater = {{ubl|Lagos State College of Education|University of Ibadan|Lagos Business School|Pan Atlantic University|University of Liverpool}}

|occupation = {{hlist|Politician|businessman}}

}}

Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa (born 12 January 1965) is a Nigerian businessman and politician who has served as governor of Ondo State since 2023. He previously served as deputy governor of Ondo State from 2021 to 2023 under Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.{{cite web|date=2021-02-25|title=Akeredolu, new deputy sworn in for second term|url=https://guardian.ng/news/akeredolu-new-deputy-sworn-in-for-second-term/|last=Akingboye|first=Oluwaseun|access-date=2024-09-14|work=The Guardian}}{{cite news|title='Compete fairly'|url=https://thenationonlineng.net/compete-fairly/|access-date=2022-03-11|work=The Nation}} He is a former commissioner of Niger Delta Development Commission.{{cite web|date=2020-07-29|last=Olafusi|first=Ebunoluwa|title=Akeredolu picks Lucky Aiyedatiwa, ex-NDDC commissioner, as running mate|url=https://www.thecable.ng/akeredolu-picks-lucky-aiyedatiwa-ex-nddc-commissioner-as-running-mate|access-date=2024-09-14|website=TheCable}}

On 13 December 2023, Aiyedatiwa became acting governor following the departure of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on medical leave.{{cite web|title=Akeredolu embarks on another medical leave, hands over to deputy|url=https://www.thecable.ng/breaking-akeredolu-embarks-on-medical-leave-hands-over-to-deputy|last=Egbas|first=Jude|access-date=2024-09-14|website=TheCable|date=2023-12-12}} He had previously served as acting governor from June to September 2023 when Akeredolu was on medical leave.

Early life

Aiyedatiwa was born on 12 January 1965, he hails from Obe-Nla,{{cite web|title=SUNSHINETRUTH|url=https://sunshinetruth.com.ng/?cat=-1|access-date=2020-08-01}} an oil-bearing community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Background

Aiyedatiwa had his primary education at Saint Peter's UNA (now FAC) Primary School, Obe Nla/Obe Adun, in Ilaje LGA of Ondo State between 1970 and 1976. He had his secondary education at Ikosi High School, Ketu, Lagos, in 1982. In 1986, he obtained the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) in economics and government from Lagos State College of Education (now Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education), Ijanikin, Lagos; he later attended the University of Ibadan for an advanced diploma in business administration in the year 2001. He became an alumnus of Lagos Business School – Pan Atlantic University, Lekki, Lagos where he obtained postgraduate certification in chief executive education (CEP) in business management in 2009. In 2013, he obtained a master's degree in business administration (MBA) from the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.

Career

Aiyedatiwa worked as an inventory/store officer at Scoa Assembly Plant Plc, Apapa, Lagos, between 1982 and 1983. In 1987 he was assistant head teacher at Reliance International Schools, Ijokodo, Ibadan. In 1990, he became a marketing officer at Universal Pharmaceutical Supply Co. Ltd, Ikeja, Lagos. In 1992, he was an assistant investment analyst, Global Trust Limited, Gbagada, Lagos; he was general merchandise manager, Biz Mart Nigeria Limited, Lagos Island, Lagos, 1994.

He is the MD/CEO of Blue Wall Group of Companies{{cite web|title=Meet Akeredolu Running mate: Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa » 9jainsider.com|url=https://9jainsider.com/2020/07/30/meet-akeredolu-running-mate-lucky-orimisan-aiyedatiwa/|date=2020-07-30|access-date=2020-08-01|website=9jainsider.com}} which he established in 1996 which includes; Blue Wall Nigeria Ltd, a trading company, Blue Wall BDC Nigeria Ltd,{{Cite web|title=Central Bank of Nigeria {{!}} All Financial Institutions {{!}} Bluewall Bureau De Change Limited|url=https://www.cbn.gov.ng/Supervision/fi.asp?name=Bluewall%20Bureau%20De%20Change%20Limited&institutetype=Bureau%20De|access-date=2020-08-01|website=www.cbn.gov.ng}} a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) licensed foreign exchange trading company and Blue Wall Safety Travels and Tours,{{cite web|title=Blue Wall Nigeria Limited|url=https://bluewall-ng.com/|access-date=2020-08-01}} an IATA licensed travel agency and logistic company.

Early political career

Aiyedatiwa joined active politics in 2011 as a card-carrying member of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which later merged with other political parties and became the All Progressives Congress (APC). He was one of the National Delegates from Ondo State at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Convention at Abuja in 2014. He contested for the Federal House of Representative{{cite news|date=2014-03-01|title=Ilaje poll: Farukanmi urges APC chieftains to reconcile|url=https://thenationonlineng.net/ilaje-poll-farukanmi-urges-apc-chieftains-to-reconcile/|access-date=2020-08-01|work=The Nation}} for Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency in the 2015 Presidential and National Assembly General Election.

Niger Delta Development Commission

Aiyedatiwa served as the federal commissioner who represented Ondo State on the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission from 2018 to 2019.{{cite news|title=Senate confirms Buhari's three NDDC board nominees|url=https://punchng.com/breaking-senate-confirms-buharis-three-nddc-board-nominees/|last=Baiyewu|first=Leke|access-date=2024-09-14|work=The Punch|date=2018-04-12}}

Ondo State Government

Aiyedatiwa was selected as the running mate of the governor of Ondo State Rotimi Akeredolu in the 2020 Ondo State gubernatorial election.{{cite news|title=Ondo Election: Akeredolu Names Aiyedatiwa As Running Mate|url=https://www.channelstv.com/2020/07/29/ondo-election-akeredolu-names-aiyedatiwa-as-running-mate/|last=Ewodage|first=Rejoice|access-date=2024-09-14|agency=Channels TV}}{{cite news|title=Ondo poll: Akeredolu picks Ayedatiwa as running mate|url=https://punchng.com/ondo-poll-akeredolu-picks-ayedatiwa-as-running-mate/|last=Dada|first=Peter|work=The Punch|date=2020-07-29|access-date=2024-09-14}}{{cite web|date=2020-07-02|title=Akeredolu unveils Aiyedatiwa as running mate, inaugurates Otetubi, Francis as new cabinet members|url=https://www.osrc.ng/akeredolu-unveils-aiyedatiwa-as-running-mate-inaugurates-otetubi-francis-as-new-cabinet-members/posts/4524|access-date=2020-08-01|agency=Ondo State Radiovision Corporation}}

On 11 October 2020, Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa were elected governor and deputy governor of Ondo State as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

On 25 February 2021, they were sworn into office as governor and deputy governor of Ondo State respectively.{{cite web|date=2021-02-25|title=Akeredolu, new deputy sworn in for second term|url=https://guardian.ng/news/akeredolu-new-deputy-sworn-in-for-second-term/|last=Akingboye|first=Oluwaseun|access-date=2024-09-14|work=The Guardian}}

Aiyedatiwa became acting governor of Ondo State on 13 December 2023, as Akeredolu left for end-stage leukaemia treatment.{{cite news|title=Breaking: Akeredolu proceeds on medical leave, transfers power to deputy|last=Johnson|first=Dayo|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/12/breaking-akeredolu-proceeds-on-medical-leave-transfers-power-to-deputy/|access-date=2024-09-14|work=Vanguard|date=2023-12-12}} He was previously acting governor from June to September 2023 when Akeredolu was on medical leave.

=Governorship=

On 27 December 2023, Akeredolu died and Aiyedatiwa was sworn in as governor.{{cite news|title=Lucky Aiyedatiwa sworn in as Ondo governor|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/12/breaking-lucky-aiyedatiwa-sworn-in-as-ondo-gov/|last=Johnson|first=Dayo|work=Vanguard|date=2023-12-27|access-date=2024-09-14}}{{cite web|title=Just In: Rotimi Akeredolu, Ondo governor, dies at 67|url=https://www.thecable.ng/just-in-rotimi-akeredolu-ondo-governor-dies-at-67/|last=Egbas|first=Jude|website=TheCable|date=2023-12-27|access-date=2024-09-14}}

Aiyedatiwa was declared the winner of the 2024 Ondo State gubernatorial election, held on 16 November 2024, defeating his closest rival, Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party.{{Cite web |last=Bamigbola |first=Bola |date=2024-11-17 |title=[UPDATED] #OndoDecides2024: INEC declares Aiyedatiwa winner |url=https://punchng.com/breaking-ondodecides2024-inec-declares-aiyedatiwa-winner/ |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}}