It is often not very common to have a round peg in the round hole of Nigerian public administration. Meanwhile, Ondo State could be counted lucky to been availed the experience and service of Dr. Banji Awolowo Ajaka. More so, the Governor that nominated this highly experienced medical practitioner cum public administrator for the singular purpose of bringing his wealth of experience to bear in the overall best interest of Ondo State equally deserve to be commended.
The Ilepete in Ilaje born Banji may be said to have seen it all, both in medical practice and public administration. He is vastly experienced in medical practice just as he is deftly seasoned in public administration. Without doubt, the nomination and successful screening of Dr. Banji Awolowo Ajaka could not have come at a better time for the government and the good people of Ondo State.
The versatile medical practitioner was until his nomination the Medical Director of Lagos based Medway Hospital. He had earlier served as a Medical Officer at the Lagos based Tolu Medical Center. Before this time, Dr Ajaka had his mandatory one year NYSC service at the Ilesha General Hospital in the present day Osun State. He likewise had his internship at the State Specialist Hospital in Ado-Ekiti and at the Owo General Hospital.
The sixty two year old Ajaka served as the Ondo State Representative in the Task Team for Covid-19 for the Niger Delta and the Maritime Sector. He is up till date, a
member of the Governing Council of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo. He has also been serving as a member of the Governing Council of Achievers University, Owo from 2014 till date.
Also, Awolowo served as a
Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Defence from 2010 to 2011. He likewise served as a
Special Assistant to Ondo State Governor on Health Matters from 2007 to 2009. He was equally appointed and served as the Executive Chairman of Ondo State Hospital Management Board from 2003 to 2007.
The University of Ibadan alumnus served as the Executive Chairman of Ilaje Local Government Area from 2001 to 2002. He likewise served as a Commissioner in the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) from 2001 to 2002.
Doctor Ajaka bagged Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
degree at the premier university of Ibadan. He had earlier attended St. Gregory College at Obalende in Lagos where he obtained his Higher School Certificate. Earlier, the medical practitioner attended Nigeria Peoples High School in Lagos where he obtained his School Certificate. Ajaka attended
Methodist Primary School in Ilepete
where he obtained his Primary School Leaving Certificate.
The foray of Dr Banji into the political circle was rewarded with the appointment of APC Committee Secretary on Special Interest for Ondo State governorship election in year 2020.
He similarly served as a member of
APC Ondo State Mobilization Committee for the 2019 presidential election. He was likewise made a member of APC Planning and Strategy Committee for the 2015 presidential election.
The widely travelled Dr Banji Awolowo Ajaka has attended several foreign courses which include International Course on Human Resources for Health Towards Attaining the MDGs at the Harvard University in Boston, USA
and International Course on Improving the Quality of Health Services at the Harvard University in Boston, USA. He also attended
Course on Public Sector Management Strategies and Policies at the National Centre for Economic Management and Administration (NCEMA) in Ibadan.
Ajaka has equally attended important conferences and workshops which include World Conference of Milliary Medicine at Malaga – Nicaragua in 2010,
Conference of Chairmen and Chief Executives of Health Institutions in Nigeria at Abuja in 2003, First African Health Summit held at Abuja in 2003, International Summit on the Resolution of Niger Delta Crisis organized by the Ford foundation held at Otta, Ogun State in 2000, Ethnic Nationalities Conference at Lagos in 1998 and
Resource Persons/Facilitators on MDGs Health Program and Project Implementation, Supervision, M&E Health Training held in the same 1998.
The Ilaje born commissioner belongs to several professional and social organizations. He is a member of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and also belongs to Ilaje Youth Movement Development Organization. He is a member of Ilaje Forum Development Organization, Ilaje Great Paddlers Club, Club Elan Akure and Nigeria Coastal Environmental Guard.
Dr Awolowo has won several awards in appreciation of his excellent professional service and services to humanity and to his community. The Association of Psychiatric Nurses of Nigeria in 2006 honoured him with a Merit Award for The Upliftment of Health Services in Ondo State. Also, he was honoured by the FUTA chapter
of Junior Chambers International
with an Award of Excellence on Outstanding Leadership.
Dr Banji is also a winner of Merit Award organized by Ondo State School of Nursing, Akure and he has equally been done the honour of Honorary Rotarian by the Rotary Club of Ijapo. He has likewise won the Distinguished Merit Award conferred on him by the National Association of Ilaje Students. He has also won the Merit Award given by the Rotaract Club of FUTA Akure. He is also the patron of National Association of Ilaje Students (NAIS).
Dr Banji Awolowo Ajaka love swimming, travelling and engaging in brainstorming. The new commissioner is a devout Christian and he is married with higjly responsible and career focussed children.