Mr. Joseph Lafimihan Olagunju

Birth Date: February 23, 1948

Home Town: Igede-Ekiti

Location: Ado Ekiti, Ekiti

Country: Nigeria

Alumni: Old Student

Category: GOVERNMENT

Period: 1967 - 1968

Profession: Civil Service

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Submitted By: abi

Mr. Joseph Lafimihan Olagunju was born on February 23, 1948 at Igede-Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of the State. His late Father, Chief Ezekiel Olagunju was a produce licensed-buyer agent and notable business tycoon in Igede and environs during his time. His late mother, Chief (Mrs) Rachael Olagunju was the Eye Laye of Odo-Uri, Igede-Ekiti.

Mr. Olagunju started his early education at the Baptist Primary School, Igede and later attended Ansar-ud-deen High School, Ikole and Baptist High School, Igede for his West African School Certificate which he bagged in 1965. He also attended Higher School Certificate course at Ilesha Grammar School from 1967-1968. He proceeded to Ife University (Now Obafemi Awolowo University) where he had B.Sc (Hons) Social Science with specialization in Geography. He later had post Graduate Diploma in Public Administration and Masters, Business Administration all in the same University.

Before Mr. Olagunju started his Civil Service career in September 1969 he had taught at Annunciation Grammar School, Ikere-Ekiti from January to August 1969. He was employed as a Survey Draughtsman in the Ministry of Lands and Housing Ibadan, later that year he had a break in service for a short period during which he studied and obtained a first degree. After the course, he joined the Federal Civil Service as an Administrative Office Grade VII in August, 1976. He served as Assistant Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Housing. Urban Development and Environment. Later that year he proceeded to the old Ondo State Civil Service as an Administrative Office Grade VII. He subsequently worked in many ministries including the Ministry of Commerce and Industry as Investment Officer. He rose to the post of Principal Investment Promotion Officer in that Ministry before he was posted to the Cabinet Department of Governor’s Office, Akure where he was Under Secretary, (Special Service) from 1981 to 1983.

He was under Under-Secretary (Budget) in the Ministry of Finance from August 1984 to January 1986. in January 1986, he became the Director of Investment Promotion in the Ministry of Commerce and Industries. In March 1990 he was posted to the Military Governor’s Office, where he functioned as the Director of Personnel. In 1992, he was posted to the Ministry of Works and Transport as the Director of Finance and Administration, a post he held until he was appointed as director-general in January 1994.

As a director-general, he worked in the Ministry of Finance, Akure from January 1994 to September 1996 after which he was posted to the Ministry of Health. He carried this portfolio to the newly created Ekiti State in October 1996. In January, 1997, he was posted to the General Administration Department of the Office of the Military Administrator, the post he held till he was appointed the Head of Service for Ekiti State in January, 1999.

Other Ad-hoc duties he had performed are:

• Secretary, Ondo State Industrialisation Committee;
• Secretary, Ondo State Bitumen Committee,
• First company secretary, Ile-Oluji Cocoa Industry Limited;
• Member of Board Oluwa Glass Company Limited;
• Member of Board, Nigeria Italian Ceramic Company Limted, Ifon;
• Chairman, Technical Committee of Board of Nigeria/Italian Ceramics Company Limited;
• Member, Ondo/Ekiti Assets Sharing Committee;
• First Chairman, Governing Board of Ekiti State NYSC.
• He is a Director of Red Cross Society, Ekiti State Branch.
• He was that Chairman WAIC, Ekiti State.