| Michael Adekunle Ajasin | |
|---|---|
| Governor of Ondo State | |
| In office 1 October 1979 – 31 December 1983 |
|
| Preceded by | Sunday Tuoyo |
| Succeeded by | Michael Bamidele Otiko |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 November 1908 Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria |
| Died | October 3, 1997 (aged 88) |
Michael Adekunle Ajasin (28 November 1908 - 3 October 1997) is a Nigerian politician who was elected Governor of Ondo State (October 1979 - October 1983) on the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) platform during the Nigerian Second Republic.[1]
Michael Adekunle Ajasin was born in Owo, Ondo State on 28 November 1908. He attended St. Andrews College, Oyo between (1924–1927). He worked as a teacher for some time, then was admitted to Fourah Bay College, Sierra Leone in 1943, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Modern History and Economics in June, 1946. Following that, he went to the Institute of Education of the University of London where he obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Education in June, 1947.[2]
On September 12, 1947, Ajasin was appointed Principal of Imade College, Owo, where he initiated an aggressive staff development program, including sending teachers to University College, Ibadan for further training. In 1951 he wrote a paper that was to become the educational policy of the Action Group party, advocating free education at all levels. He was one of the founders of the party, whose other policies included immediate independence from Britain, universal health care, and abolition of want through effective economic policies. In December 1962, he left Imade College to become founder, proprietor and first principal of Owo High School from January 1963 to August, 1975, when he retired.[2]
He married Babafunke Tenabe, a teacher, on January 12, 1939. They had four children, two boys and two girls. One daughter, Mrs Olajumoke Anifowoshe, became attorney–general and commissioner for Justice in Ondo State.[3]
Ajasin was elected governor of Ondo State, taking office in October 1979, with Akin Omoboriowo as his running mate. Omoboriowo later fell out with him, and switched to the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), where he competed against Ajasin in the 1983 elections and was initially declared winner. Later the result was annulled and Ajasin was sworn in for a second term.[4] Ajasin held office until the military coup of 31 December 1993 that brought General Muhammadu Buhari to power.
As governor, Ajasin signed the law establishing the Ondo State University in 1982. Later, the university was renamed the Adekunle Ajasin University in his honor.[5] He also opened The Polytechnic, Owo.[6]
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