Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, fondly called “Lagun” within the family circle was born on Saturday, February 3, 1951 in Okuku, Odo Otin Local Government Area of Osun State into the royal Oyinlola family. His father, Late Oba Moses Oyewole Oyinlola was the Olukuku of Okuku between 1934 and 1960 and has a record of a peaceful and successful reign. Olagunsoye’s mother, Late Olori Comfort Ololade Oyinlola, hailed from Otan Ayegbaju. Her family migrated from Otan-Ayegbaju to settle in Okuku. Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s mother died in 1959 when he was barely eight years old while his father died a year later. Following the loss of both, at a very tender age, the task of nurturing Olagunsoye fell on the elderly members of his family.
The formative stages of his educational career saw Olagunsoye attending four primary schools between 1958 and 1963 due to the fact that his guardians who took over his parental responsibilities were not stable. He, however, completed his primary education at St. Michael’s Primary School, Okuku in 1963.
Thereafter, he proceeded to Odo-Otin Grammar School, Okuku, from where he obtained the West African School Certificate in 1968. Olagunsoye Oyinlola, out of love for the military profession, enlisted in the Nigerian Army in 1969 as a private Soldier and was posted to the Signals Corps, then headed by Late General Murtala Ramat Mohammed. He rejected an admission offer into the Ahmadu-Bello University, Zaria, as a result of his love for the uniform. He later attended the Nigerian Defence Academy as a participant in the Short Service Course 11 and was commissioned as an officer in 1971, into the Armoured Corps of the Nigerian Army at the prime age of 20.
In quest of knowledge, Olagunsoye Oyinlola attended the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife from where he bagged a Diploma in International Relations in 1979. He later proceeded to the University of Madras, India, where he graduated with M. Sc. Degree in Defence Studies in 1988.
Olagunsoye, in consideration of the fact that knowledge is power, also attended the University of Ibadan where he added the Masters Degree in Strategic studies to his academic achievements in 1999. Not yet satisfied with his academic attainments, Oyinlola again proceeded to Buckingham University, United Kingdom where he graduated in law in 2003. His decision to study Law was influenced by his desire to provide free legal services to the poor.
Prince Olagunsoye had a fulfilling career in the military. Prince Oyinlola trained at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Command and Staff College Jaji, where he also served as a Directing Staff, and Military Institutions in India and the United-States.
Prince Oyinlola was at the National War College, Abuja where he was awarded the Fellowship of the War College in 1998. He served meritoriously in various capacities as Troop Leader, Squadron Leader, Battalion Commander, Brigade Commander, Acting General Officer Commanding and Military Administrator.
He participated in the United Nations Peace-Keeping exercises in Chad in 1983 and Somalia in 1993. The stream of successes recorded by Olagunsoye Oyinlola in the military and his humility and level headedness, saw him being appointed the military administrator of Lagos State, a position he held from December, 1993 till August 1996. He bowed out of Military Service as a Brigadier-General in 1999.
MILITARY INSTITUTIONS ATTENDED AND QUALIFICATIONS OBTAINED
1. Nigerian Army School of Education – Ilorin 1973 – French, English/Current Affairs Course.
2. 5e Regiment de Chasseurs, Periguex France 1974 Specialities on AML 60 and 90.
3. NAAC School Ibadan 1974 – Young Officers Course.
4. Royal Armoured Corps Centre, Britain 1975 – Troop Leaders Armoured Course.
5. The School of Armour Pakistan 1977 – Communications Instructors Course.
6. Command and Staff College Jaji 1979 – Junior Division Staff Course.
7. US Army Armour School, USA 1981 – Armoured Officer Advanced Course.
8. Command and Staff College, Jaji 1982/83 – CSC course 5.
9. US Army Institute of Personnel and Resource Management USA 1984 Adjutant General Officer Advanced Course.
10. US Army Institute of Personnel and Resource Management, USA 1984 Military Personnel Officer Course.
11. Defence Services Staff College,walkington,India,1987/88 Comparative staff college
12. National War College, Abuja 1997/98 – NWC Course 6
A humane, compassionate and accommodating personality, Prince Oyinlola married his wife, Omolola, (nee Majekodunmi) in 1978. The union is blessed with four children. His hobbies include golfing, hunting and fishing. Olagunsoye Oyinlola emerged the Governor of Osun State by winning the gubernatorial polls of April 19, 2003 on the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Since assumption of office as Governor of Osun State, on May 29, 2003, Prince Oyinlola has embarked on several welfare schemes and developmental programmes designed to improve the living standard of the populace. The programmes of his administration accorded immediate priority attention include Water Resources, Transportation, Agriculture, Health, Education, Security Poverty Alleviation and Job Creation.
Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola has handled the intricate art of governance with the greatest zeal, commitment and dedication. The various streaks of successes being recorded by the current Administration in Osun State are due largely to team-work and the ability of the Governor to carry everybody along in the scheme of things. Olagunsoye Oyinlola, a gifted and talented manager of human and material resources is imbued with immeasurable native wisdom. He has fallen back on this attribute in the handling of State matters to the admiration of the citizenry. Olagunsoye Oyinlola is gradually transforming Osun – State, which he inherited as a theatre of conflicts and irreconcilable differences into a modern and peaceful state which is in a hurry to develop. Governor Oyinlola has been able to steer the ship of the State to the total admiration of all, convincingly exhibiting a responsive and responsible leadership style that has stood him out as an achiever and selfless patriot.
This, not being his first outing in this kind of assignment, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola has thrown himself headlong into the service of his people and by implication the Nigerian State. Several people – friendly policies, including “Operation-Sweep” were introduced by Olagunsoye Oyinlola during his tenure as Military Administrator of Lagos State. A good manager of human-resources, Oyinlola pays particular attention to the welfare of the working class and the general populace.
The programme of the Government of Osun State, which he heads as Governor has been mapped out to accord the development of “man and his environment” the major focus. Oyinlola believes strongly in the principle of management by objective and has therefore consistently managed the human and material resources in Osun State in line with laid down objectives of Government. The current Administration, headed by Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola has utilized to the greater advantage of the citizenry the principle of visioning and planning. His wide acceptability has resulted in his emergence as the Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State.
A believer in the doctrine of justice and fairplay, Oyinlola has continue to review anti-people policies inherited by his Administration. Issues are treated without discrimination and without ill-will or affection, not minding whose ox is gored. Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s posture is that of ensuring the running of a responsible and responsive Government.
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