{The Race & The Runners} DUROTOYE: From Ivory Tower To Seat Of Power

PROF. ADEOLU DUROTOYE is a Professor of Political Science and presently the Provost of Social and Management Sciences at Afe Babalola University where he has distinguished himself as an astute administrator and excellent manager of human and material resources.

He attended Oke Iragbiji Grammar school between 1979 and 1982 before moving to Ilobu Secondary Commercial Grammar school where he concluded his O-level certificate in 1984. He was at Osogbo Grammar school for his A-level between 1984 and 1986. He went on to study Political Science at the University of Lagos where he graduated with a 2nd Class upper in 1990.

He got his masters degree from the same university in 1992. He was a German scholar having studied at the University of Leipzig between 1997 and 2001 where he got his PhD graduating with Magna Cum Laude (DISTINCTION). He has been a journalist with the Guardian newspaper and African Concord Magazine. He equally taught politics at different times at the University of Ibadan, University of Toronto and Afe Babalola University. He is an astute administrator, public affairs analyst, motivational speaker, University teacher and provost as well as preacher.

He is the recipient of the prestigious University of Lagos distinguished Alumni award in 2005 and Meritorious Service award of the Men’s Missionary Union of Osun Baptist Conference in 2017. He is also the recipient of Utility Teacher Award of Afe Babalola University in 2017.

His impeccable organisational ability made Aare Afe Babalola appoint him as the Chairman, Local Organising Committee of 2017 Afe Babalola Agric. Expo as well as Chairman Afe Babalola University Convocation Committee in quick succession. He won the “Distinguished Academic of the year” Award of the Society for Research and Academic Excellence, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He is the founder of Adeolu & Jane Durotoye Foundation which has offered scholarship,  provided free eye glasses and medical examination, vocational skills training and business takeoff grants to many in the past 4 years.

He has lived in Africa, Europe and North America and has travelled wide to different parts of the world. According to him “We shall bring industry back to Osun, motivate our teachers and the entire workforce to excel, engage our youth productively, rid our roads of pot holes, and create jobs in every local government area.

Born in Ede 48 years ago, he will definitely bring his wide experience and exposure to bear in turning Osun around. His mission is to create an enabling environment for everyone to excel.

Durotoye has formally declared his intention to contest for the race under the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) and has since been moving round the nook and cranny of the state to seek the support of the people for his ambition.

Hail from Osogbo in Osun Central Senatorial District, and known to be a new breed in the political circle of the state, the university don has the hurdle of the PDP primaries to cross for the actualization of his dream.