The former first Lady of Oyo State, Her Excellency, Chief Oluwakemi Alao Akala adds another year today, July 7, 2020.
The Ilorin, Kwara state born damsel was born into a Christian family in a town known as the town of Moslem clerics – ilu Alfa. His father was Revd Ayo Bello of the blessed memory. Revd Bello served at First Baptist Church, Ikoyi Ile, Oyo state in the 50s and major evangelism in that Moslem dominated community took place in his time.
Oluwakemi Bello was at the Queen Elizabeth School, Ilorin for her Secondary education before proceeding to University of Ilorin for her university education. She graduated in 1983 at the age of 21.
She started her Working career as a banker with Kwara state owned Trade Bank. He earlier did her mandatory youth corps service at the Police Training college, Ikeja where her later life husband, Bayo Alao Akala was the instructor or commandant. I think the prying eye of the lanky six footer police officer caught the damsel while serving at Police college. She later married Alao Akala.
God almighty blessed her coming into Alao Akala’ s life because everything he does received God blessing. He joined politics after retiring from police and had a meteoric rise to the position of local government Chairman, deputy governor and governor within the state of ten years.
Chief Mrs Kemi Alao Akala as she came to be addressed after being installed as yeye Otunba Akinmorin, therefore served as the wife of local government Chairman, wife of deputy governor and governor, an uncommon accomplishment.
As a special Assistant to the woman during Alao Akala eleven month administration from January 26 – December 15, 2006, I can testify that the woman was a contributory factor of the feat performed by Alao Akala’ in his era as the governor of Oyo state. She brought her Midas touch to the affairs of Government house , Agodi and all renovation conducted in the deputy governors and governors residences were products of Kemi Akala Midas Touch.
Her pet project, Community Link Advancement Program (CLAP), through which she impacted the lives of vulnerable children and women will go down in history as a turning point in governmental intervention in not only in Oyo where Governments after the Akala years are cosmetics in their approach to governance but Nigeria as a whole.
She criss crossed all nooks and crannies of Oyo state where she puts smiles in the faces of women and children.
Unfortunately, her project could not achieve the desired result because of her husband ouster from Government in 2011 election. To make matter worst her successors were just first lady in name with no clear cut mission. Like their husbands, they were first ladies in government house and Ibadan alone.
In spite of not being in government, she continued to impact lives outside Government house. As the pretty, virtuous, dependable and responsible woman, wife, mother and community leader savour her day I wish her and our father , her husband, Otunba Bayo Akala long lives and prosperity. Amen.
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