By Gbenga Sodeinde
Heritagenewsng.com is specifically celebrating this Ekiti man, Ekundayo Francis Olayemi whom we believed should be a model for every Ekiti young men for having not allowed his poor background, and other discouraging conditions surrounding him to stop or discourage him from pursuing his vision.
In his piece titled: “The Smallest Percentage of My Untold Story”, Ekundayo Francis Olayemi told the amazing, touching and Inspiring story of his life where alot of lessons could be learnt.
So inspiring and motivating story of his life revealed how he managed and fought several inhibitions in his career progression from the lowest rung of the ladder to where he climbed to presently.
From his story, one could see diligence, integrity, dignity, hardwork, and perseverance. All of which are core values of Ekiti.
His Story Reads:
“I remembered that in August 2010 when I was posted to the Local Government Staff Training School, Ilawe-Ekiti as Accountant II, someone remarked that I was just a young man who graduated in 2007, went for youth service in 2008/09 and was employed by the year 2010. I was seen as a lucky young man.
“The basic facts revealed in my curriculum vitae gave that impression. Can these facts be true in totality? Are all facts written down? Was the day Joseph became the Prime Minister the day he started work? It was obvious that Joseph had discovered himself, his purpose and prepared for that position right from his youth through thick and thin.
“The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.” Proverb 16:1. King Solomon further admonished in the same book of proverbs that: “Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.” – Proverb 24:27.
It therefore goes without question the saying of Jesus that proper preparation prevents shame in Luke 14:28 and Mark 3:27 in the story of building a tower and entering a strong man house respectively.
:At 31 in 2010 when I was employed as Accountant II by the Ekiti State Local Government Service Commission, I had spent 39% of my age working and living in the Government House Ado-Ekiti as a junior staff.
“Precisely, on the 29th April, 1998 I was employed as a gardener after a successful physical fitness interview. On that fateful day, three of us (Mr Afolabi Elijah, Mr. Idowu and I) were brought to the government house grounds and cutlasses were handed over to us. We demonstrated physical ability as we cut grasses with vigour and agility.
“We were employed as gardeners on grade level 02 each. That was after I had worked as Class Teacher for two years in Idowumi Nursery and Primary School, Ido-Ekiti between 1996 and 1997.
Late 1997, I gained admission into Federal Polytechnics Ado-Ekiti to study Draughtmanship; a 2-year certificate course in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The programme was on a part-time basis therefore giving me opportunity to study and work.
“My experience as a junior staff span through two specific periods; the time I was a gardener and that of a Steward. I was a gardener during the period of the first two Military Administrators of Ekiti State in persons of Major Gen. Muhammed Inua Bawa and Navy Captain Atanda Yusuff. As Military Administrators, they have their uniqueness and distinctive peculiarities as well as similarities.
“Their administrative lives might be known to senior civil and public servants and the general public who had the course of interacting with them outside the State House but we the staff of Government House have the privilege of understanding their domestic relationship. We see them more closely and at their natural behavours particularly when their military uniforms were replaced with casuals.
“One unique thing about the military is that a subordinate can spend hours cleaning the shoes of his boss and pressing the clothes of same. Their orderly are equally on a 24-hour job a day and respect as well as loyalty is almost 100%.
“One major undeniable privilege of a staff of Government House whether junior or senior was the unrestricted access to public functions like Christmas Carol, Children Party and any parties organized for top government functionaries. It was a rare and unique experience.
“In April 2000, I was posted to Open Registry of Government House and Protocol Department to function as Office Assistant. Within two months of that posting, I was posted to the Government Guest House in Similoluwa, Iworoko Road, Ado-Ekiti to function as a Steward. The Building being used for the Guest House was Raji Rasaki House.
“Thereafter I was posted back to Government House, Ado Ekiti to function as a Steward at the Governor’s Lodge. The building being used then by the Governor and family was General Sanni Abacha Villa now Bawa Lodge in the heart of Government House, Ado-Ekiti.
“As a Steward to the Governor, my primary functions were to serve food and drinks to the Governor and his family as well as his guests, cleaning the utensils and house generally plus any other duties as may be assigned.
“Who says my work was easy? It wasn’t. It was a 24-hour job. The kind of cleaning is not the wishy-washy type of cleaning done in most ordinary homes. It was a thorough job. Although good food may be eaten, I must do a tedious job to avoid executive query.
Between the year 2000 and 2010, I served the following Governors and Administrator with each one having a unique and distinctive characteristics:
(i) Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo 1999 – 2003
(ii) Mr. Ayodele Fayose 2003 – 2006
(iii) Hon Friday Aderemi 2006 – 2006
(iv) Bri. Gen. Adetunji Idowu Olurin 2006 – 2007
(v) Hon. Tope Ademiluyi (FCA) 2007 – 2007
(vi) Engr. Adebayo Segun Oni 2007 – 2010
Each of these number one citizens of Ekiti has unique characteristics to learn from.
“Their ways of life, ideologies, dispositions and relationship differ. But I learnt many things from each of them which would be topics for other days; God’s willing.
Each of them was able to notice my diligence and doggedness to take a better future. They also contributed in one way or the other to make me what I am today. I could remember that Prince Wole Ajakaye; Personal Assistant to Governor Adeniyi Adebayo used to calling me Professor.
“However, I drew motivations from them all. I was never discouraged by fulfilled or defeated expectations. I was more determined to succeed throughout my stay until my present appointment which I got on the recommendation of one of them.
“I had strong belief that education was capable of liberating me. I was pursuing my education until I got to an enviable level and today I can stand among peers academically and professionally all to the glory of God. I am yet a moving train.
It can be concluded that every Joseph must discover self, purpose and work hard through goal setting and focus if dream must be achieved. It is necessary to know that distractions must be overcome else achievement of goal will be a nightmare.
“There were sufficient distractions in the State House which were capable of making any one especially junior staff to be fulfilling other people dreams but I was among the few that stood out in the history of Government House Ado-Ekiti Stewards. It was God’s grace.
“Genesis 32:10 says: I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.
Ekundayo Francis Olayemi
(B.Sc, M.Sc, ACA)
23rd July, 2022.”