In a significant administrative move, Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has executed a major reshuffle of his cabinet. The changes, announced on Monday, 5th January 2026, involve the removal of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and the appointment of several new officials to key positions.
Key Changes and New Appointments
The reshuffle was detailed in an official statement released by the Governor's Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju. Professor Olanike Kudirat Adeyemo has been relieved of her duties as the Secretary to the State Government with immediate effect. Stepping into this pivotal role is Professor Musibau Adetunji Babatunde, a seasoned economist and former Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning.
Further adjustments include the redeployment of Barrister Temilolu Seun Ashamu from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. Governor Makinde also elevated his Senior Special Assistant on Public Works, Ademola Aderinto, to the position of commissioner-designate. Aderinto's name will be forwarded to the Oyo State House of Assembly for the necessary screening and confirmation.
Profile of the New SSG
The newly appointed SSG, Professor Musibau Babatunde, brings a wealth of academic and practical experience to the role. He is a professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Ibadan, where he has built an impressive career.
His academic and professional journey includes:
- Obtaining his B.Sc, Master's, and PhD degrees in Economics from the University of Ibadan.
- Being awarded a Doctorate in Economics on June 30, 2007, and joining the university as an Assistant Lecturer on November 1, 2006.
- Emerging as the Overall Best Graduating Student in the Master of Science degree in Economics at UI.
- Receiving the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doctoral Internship Visiting Scholar Support Award in Geneva in September 2005.
- Winning the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) Collaborative PhD Scholarship Award for African scholars.
Beyond academia, Professor Babatunde has a strong record of public service and consultancy. He previously served as Chief Economic Adviser to Governor Makinde during the governor's first term and later as Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning. His international experience includes directing courses for African policy makers at the United Nations African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP) in Dakar, Senegal.
Additional Strategic Appointments
Governor Makinde also approved other strategic appointments to bolster his administration's focus on key sectors. Honourable Abiodun Adedoja was appointed as the Special Adviser on Energy Security, reflecting the state's focus on power and energy stability. Meanwhile, Kolawole Elijah Akanmu was named the Senior Special Assistant on Budget and Economic Planning, a role crucial for fiscal planning and implementation.
This cabinet reshuffle signals Governor Makinde's intent to reinvigorate his administration's executive team as it pursues its developmental agenda for Oyo State. The appointment of a seasoned economist like Professor Babatunde as SSG underscores a continued emphasis on economic planning and strategic governance.
