By Dipo Olowookere
Ogun State Governor, Mr Ibikunle Amosun, has approved the appointment of Mr Abayomi Oluwole Sobande as the new Head of Service (HoS) of the state.
The appointment, according to a statement issued on Thursday by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa, takes immediate effect.
Mr Sobande’s appointment follows the retirement of the former Head of Service, Elder Abraham Olusola Adeyemi, who bowed out of service on Wednesday.
The new Head of Service holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) in Sociology from the University of Ibadan in 1982.
Mr Sobande joined the State Civil Service in 1985 as an Assistant Secretary (Recruitment & Training) after a stint as a Teacher between 1983 and 1985. He rose through the ranks and was appointed a Permanent Secretary in October, 2012.
The 56-year old Sobande who hails from Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state was until his latest elevation the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs.
Similarly, Mr Amosun has named Mr Tolu Odebiyi as his Chief of Staff.
Aged 54, the new Chief of Staff, who was a member of the State Judicial Service Commission and Transition Committee on Housing where he served amongst other notable members to develop a blue print for mass housing delivery in 2012 and 2003 respectively, has over 25 years international and domestic real estate experience.
He holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) in Building Construction and Engineering Technology from the Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston Massachusetts.
A thorough bred professional, Mr Odebiyi was until his present appointment a Managing Partner at Travant Real Estate and Boutique Estate firm.