By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Lagos State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Akinyemi Ashade, has been redeployed to take over as the Commissioner for Finance.
A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Habib Aruna, explained the decision was made shortly after the State Executive Council meeting on Wednesday.
Mr Aruna further explained in the statement issued today that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has directed Mr Ashade to resume his new portfolio with immediate effect.
However, the CPS noted that Mr Ashade would still oversee the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget pending when the State Executive Council would be reshuffled.
It would be recalled that Governor Ambode had on Wednesday, October 19, carried out a cabinet reshuffle, dropping of the Commissioners for Tourism, Mr Folorunsho Folarin-Coker; Finance, Dr Mustapha Akinkunmi; and Transportation, Dr Ekundayo Mobereola.
Mr Ashade was until his appointment by Mr Ambode a Partner at KPMG Professional Services, one of the big 4 international professional services firm with specialisation in audit, tax and advisory services.
With over 16 years of professional experience with KPMG Nigeria and extensive skills in financial services industry, project and quality assurance management and public private partnership, he is surely a round peg in a round hole.
A Chartered Accountant and Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Ashade was born in Badagry on 6th October, 1975. He had his primary education at Anglican Primary School, Ilado, Badagry between 1981 and 86 and proceeded to Iworo Ajido High School, Badagry where he passed the West African School Certificate of Education in 1992 before proceeding to University of Lagos where he graduated with B.Sc (second class upper division) in Biology in 1997.
Mr Ashade joined KPMG (then Arthur Andersen, Nigeria) in March, 1999 and this provided an opportunity for a career change to Accounting. He became chartered in 2004 and was admitted as a partner in KPMG 2013. In 2015, he was appointed a Fellow, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.
Aduragbemi Omiyale