Our true wealth — the people who shape Ekiti at home and across the world.
Founder, Afe Babalola University
ado
Senior Advocate, philanthropist and founder of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), a leading private university in Nigeria.
Senior Advocate, Founder of ABUAD
ado
Eminent legal luminary and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD). One of Nigeria's most celebrated advocates and philanthropists.
Founder, Christ Apostolic Church
efon
Pioneering Nigerian evangelist (1904–1959) and founder of the Christ Apostolic Church. His cenotaph stands at River Oni in Efon-Alaaye.
Professional footballer
ijero
Six-time African Women's Footballer of the Year; CAF Footballer of the Year multiple times.
Former Governor of Ekiti State
irepodun-ifelodun
Former two-term Governor of Ekiti State. Native of Afao-Ekiti.
Governor of Ekiti State
ikole
Incumbent Governor of Ekiti State, sworn in 16 October 2022. Native of Ikole-Ekiti.
Former High Commissioner; broadcaster
ikere
Former DG of NTA, MD of Cadbury Nigeria, Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK, and founding figure at the Lagos Business School.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria
ikere
Past President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Pro-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, and one of Nigeria's leading constitutional lawyers.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria
ikere
Leading Nigerian jurist and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association. Native of Ikere-Ekiti.
Former CEO, First Bank of Nigeria
ado
Veterinary doctor turned banker; led First Bank of Nigeria as Group Managing Director through major transformation.
Economist; Lagos Business School
ado
Chair of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (2019–2023); long-serving faculty at Lagos Business School.
Former Governor of Ekiti State
oye
Two-term Governor of Ekiti State, former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, and a leading voice on African democratic reform.
Former Governor of Ekiti State
oye
Former Governor of Ekiti State (2010–2014, 2018–2022) and former Minister of Solid Minerals Development. Native of Isan-Ekiti (Oye LGA).
Economist; presidential adviser
ado
Economist, former presidential candidate, and Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs.
Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission
ido-osi
Public administration scholar, retired Federal Permanent Secretary, and founder of the Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy.
Former Minister of Transport
oye
Veteran politician, former Minister of Transport, author and Awoist political thinker.
Former Governor of Ekiti State
ido-osi
Engineer and former Governor of Ekiti State (2007–2010); previously National Vice Chairman (South-West) of the PDP.
Actor, filmmaker, producer
ado
Award-winning Nollywood actor and producer; recent films have broken Nigerian box-office records.
Actress & Filmmaker
ado
Award-winning Nollywood actress, producer and director with Ekiti heritage. Known for the "Jenifa" franchise and record-breaking box-office films.
Retired Justice of the Supreme Court
ado
Retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria with extensive jurisprudence on electoral and constitutional matters.
Retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria
ise-orun
One of Nigeria's most respected jurists, served on the Supreme Court 1978–1992 and chaired multiple national judicial reform panels.
Governor of Ekiti State
ikole
Sitting Governor of Ekiti State (since October 2022), former Secretary to the State Government, and a career public servant.
Former Deputy Governor of Ekiti
ado
First female Deputy Governor of Ekiti State (2010–2013); remembered for her work on women's empowerment.
Poet & Professor
ikere
Internationally renowned Nigerian poet, dramatist and literary critic. Native of Ikere-Ekiti. Professor of English at the University of New Orleans.
Elder statesman; former Afenifere leader
ise-orun
Centenarian elder statesman, retired educator and former leader of Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation.
President, African Development Bank
ekiti-west
Former Nigerian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; current President of the African Development Bank Group and World Food Prize laureate (2017).
Historian and Yoruba leader
ise-orun
Historian of the Yoruba; former Senator of the Federal Republic and prominent Yoruba cultural advocate.
Poet and Professor of English
ikere
Internationally celebrated Nigerian poet, recipient of the Commonwealth Poetry Prize and the Noma Award; Distinguished Professor at the University of New Orleans.
Professor of Philosophy, Cornell University
oye
Africana philosopher and author of "Africa Must Be Modern" and "Against Decolonisation".
Professor of Medicine, University of Chicago
ikere
MacArthur Fellow and global leader on breast-cancer genetics in women of African descent. Founding Director of the Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics at the University of Chicago.
Professor of Organic Chemistry
ido-osi
Distinguished Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Lagos, specializing in heterocyclic compound synthesis and natural product chemistry. Born 24 November 1957 in Ido-Ekiti. Former Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics & Research) at UNILAG (2018–2022), former Dean of Science (2008–2012) and Head of Department of Chemistry (2002–2005).
Professor of Criminology and Senior Advocate
ado
First female Senior Advocate of Nigeria from Ekiti origin; Professor of Public and International Law at the University of Ibadan.
Senate Leader, Federal Republic of Nigeria
irepodun-ifelodun
Leader of the 10th Nigerian Senate, representing Ekiti Central. Lawyer, former Commissioner for Information in Lagos State.
Singer-songwriter
ikere
Internationally touring Afropop artist of Ekiti origin, known for "Johnny" and continent-wide collaborations.
Afropop Singer
ekiti-south-west
Internationally acclaimed Nigerian Afropop singer of Ekiti descent. Known for the hit "Johnny" and pan-African collaborations.