Aragbaye steps in as Ondo Head of Service

Photo: Ondo State new Head of Service, Mr. Oluwadare Aragbaye, R, with his predecessor, Barr. Toyin Akinkuotu, at the swearing-in ceremony

By Banji Ayoola

Mr. Oluwadare Aragbaye, R, was sworn in as Ondo State Head of Service by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, at the International Event and Cultural Centre, The Dome, Akure, on Monday, July 1, 2019.

He succeeds Barr. Toyin Akinkuotu, who retired statutorily.

Before his new appointment, Aragbaiye was the Permanent Secretary, Government House and Protocol.

He joined the state public service in 1985 as an Administrative Officer on Grade Level 08 in the Ministry of Finance and rose through the ranks to become a permanent secretary.

The man, who has traversed several MDAs in Ondo state public service, including serving as Permanent Secretary in the Ministries of General Administration and Transport, was born in October 1960 in Owo, Owo local government, to the departed Mr Jacob Ajinaja Aragbaiye and Mrs Comfort Folake Aragbaiye, Nee Fadamitan, of the famous Ojumu family in Owo.

He attended St. Patrick’s Anglican Primary School, Owo; Owo High School Owo;  Special Sixth Form College  Ikare-Akoko; University of Ife, Ile-Ife, between 1980 and 1983; and the Federal University of Technology, Akure for his Master Degree in Business Administration.

He has served in several capacities in the state Civil Service variously as Assistant Secretary 1 (Admin & General) Governor’s Office; Private Secretary to two successive Military Administrators – retired Col. Ekundayo Opaleye and Navy Captain Olabode Ibiyinka George; and Chief Protocol Officer to former Deputy Governor, the late Dr Olusegun Agagu.

He also served as Assistant Secretary (Personnel) Post-Primary School Board; Personal Assistant to former Military Governor, retired Col. Moses O. Fasanya; Director of Finance and Administration, Board of Internal Revenue; Director of Establishments; Director/Chief Executive, Board of Internal Revenue; Director of Finance and Administration, Ministry of Health; and Director of Personnel, Finance and Administration, Civil Service Commission.

His former duty posts also included Administrative Secretary, Ondo State Public Service Training Institute; Administrative Secretary, Office of Establishments; Administrative Secretary and later Permanent Secretary General Administration, Governor’s Office; and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport.

His civil service career, spanning various Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government is said to be remarkable. For instance, renovation of the state secretariat complex and upgrade of facilities happened under his watch as Secretary and later Permanent Secretary at the General Administration, Governor’s Office.

This include asphalt overlay of the parking lots of the Ministries of Finance , Education, and the Transport Pool of the General Administration Department, which he initiated. While at the then Post Primary School Management Board, he handled the production of the first ever Teachers’ Newsletter as Editor-in-Chief.

His service at the State Board of Internal Revenue as Director and Chief Executive, led to a notable growth in revenue generation beyond N200 million for the first time ever in the state.

Aragbaiye is known for outstanding dedication to duty, compliance with work ethics and protection of the public service operational principles for effective service delivery.

He has attended several training/capacity  building programmes within and outside Nigeria spanning Finance, Health, Personnel and Human Relation functions, among others. Besides, he has presented several seminar papers to groups of civil servants across MDAs within and outside the State.

His marriage to Loveth Oladunni (Nee Omirin), is blessed with children.