Governor Fayemi appoints 24-year-old scholar as Special Assistant on Digital Communications

The Governor of Ekiti State and Nigeria Governors’ Forum Chairman, Dr Kayode Fayemi (CON)
has appointed Tosin Durodola as his Special Assistant on Digital Communications.

Mr. Durodola, 24, hails from Igede-Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA. Until his appointment, he was a
Technical Assistant at the Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Governor’s Office, Ado-Ekiti.

Mr. Durodola obtained his M.A in African Studies (Diaspora and Transnational Studies) with the
highest Distinction from the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. His thesis
which emerged as the overall best at the faculty level was recently nominated for the 2021 Africa
Thesis Award. He graduated from Bowen University, Iwo in 2016, with Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in
History and International Studies. He has a Certification from the Centre for Terrorism and
Counterterrorism (CTC), Leiden University, Netherlands. He is an alumnus of Christ’s School,
Ado-Ekiti.

Confirming his appointment, Tosin Durodola posted on his Facebook page, “I am privileged to have
recently been appointed Special Assistant (Digital Communications) to the Governor of Ekiti State,
Dr Kayode Fayemi. Glory be to God! This is a rare opportunity to continue working on and
managing the Digital communications, solutions and services for the Government and Governor of
Ekiti State as part of my contributions to making a difference in governance and public service.

This work is exactly what I have been prepared to perform and hope to do more in line with higher
standards of discretion, loyalty, and excellence enshrined in public service rules. I am grateful to
H.E. Governor Kayode Fayemi and H.E Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi for the trust and confidence
reposed in me, as well as the Communications and Strategy Advisory Committee (CSACS).

Special thanks to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communications and Strategy, Mr. Akin Rotimi
for the recommendation. To my parents, thank you for the solid foundation and the bold decision to
allow me venture into partisan politics at a young age. I am forever grateful.”

Mr. Durodola has a substantial record of research and policy development, and community outreach
on broad range of governance, migration, conflict, and displacement related issues. He is a Research
Fellow of the French Institute for Research in Africa (IFRA-Nigeria) and was a Research Intern at
the Centre for African Studies, University of Mumbai. Some of his research work have been
featured at prestigious institutions such as Oxford University’s Centre for Migration, Policy and
Society (COMPAS) and the Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR), while a
few of his papers are under review for publication at reputable journals such as the International
Organization for Migration’s (IOM) International Migration Journal, Palgrave Handbook of
Global Social Change, Oxford Monitor of Forced Migration, Journal of African Currents amongst
others.

He worked as a Broadcast Journalist at the Nigeria Television Authority (Benin Zonal Network
Centre); Editor-in-Chief at Core Magazine Africa; and Investigative Reporter for Bloomshire Media
Nigeria, before joining Ekiti State Government as an ad-hoc staff.

He previously served at the digital media unit of the John Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation
prior to the 2018 Ekiti State gubernatorial election at the age of 20.

This appointment makes him the youngest political appointee in the state, and further reinforces the
commitment of Governor Fayemi towards excellence and youth inclusion in governance.
The new governor’s aide will manage the Digital communications, solutions and services for the
Government and Governor of Ekiti State.