Professor (Mrs) Modupe Adeola Adelabu, the former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of National Board on Technical Education(NBTE) is a Professor of Education at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile –Ife, was Head of the Department of Education Administration and Planning of the institution before her appointment as Chairperson of Ekiti State SUBEB in July 2011.
She is an Ado-Ekiti Princess married to an Ijero-Ekiti Prince.Her husband,late Prince (Dr)Adedeji Adelabu,was a scion of Ajero of Ijero Kingdom,Oba Olamiloye Oyiyosoye who reigned from 1866 to 1901.
Professor Modupe Adelabu was born on May 23, 1950 in Ado Ekiti to Prince and Mrs. Samuel Adepoju Adejugbe.
She attended Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti (1962 – 1967) and Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo (1968 -1970). She holds a B.A. (Ed) (1975); MPhil (1981); and PhD (1990), all from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile- Ife.
Prof Adelabu started her teaching career as a Graduate Assistant in 1976 in the Department of Educational Administration and Planning , OAU, where she rose to the post of Professor in 2008. She served as Head of the Department of Educational Administration several times and also served as External Examiner in some universities including the University of Ibadan; University of Lagos; University of Ilorin and Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti.
She has served as Council Member of National Teachers’ Institute (2001 – 2003), Council Member, Christ International Divinity College (an affiliate of Acadia University Canada) Erinmo (2005 – 2010); Member Planning and Implementation Committee Joseph Ayo Babalola University (2004 – 2005); Member of Council Joseph Ayo Babalola University (2005 – 2010). She was also a foundation member of Board, Ekiti State World Bank Assisted Poverty Reduction Agency (2000 – 2003); Member of Oxford Round Table, Oxford England, among other bodies.
A seasoned scholar and administrator of international repute, Prof Adelabu’s major research area is on policy and personnel issues in education, including the roles of the state in education; teacher education as well poverty and gender related issues in education, particularly in rural areas. She has published over 30 articles in both national and international journals.
She has consulted for the World Bank, Universal Basic Education Commission in Nigeria, United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) and other international agencies.
She has also served as resource person for UNDP, UNICEF and UNESCO on various educational issues. She was also part of the 15-member Education Reform Panel that worked on Ekiti State government’s reforms in the education sector.
She is a recipient of the 2013 Kwame Nkrumah Leadership Award (African Administration Icon) organised by the All- African Student Union (ASSU).
Professor Modupe Adelabu was the Deputy Governor of Ekiti State during the first tenure of Governor John Kayode Fayemi in May 2013- October 2014.Prior to her appointment as the Deputy Governor,she was the Chairperson of the State’s Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in 2011-2013.
Former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, in a letter dated May 3, 2013, and addressed to the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt.Hon.Adewale Omirin, requested the House to consider Professor Modupe Adelabu for the position of deputy governor, in the bid to fill the vacant position following the death of the former deputy governor, Funmilayo Olayinka, on April 6, 2013.
Professor Modupe Adeola Adelabu,the Ado- Ekiti and royal Queen of Ijero-Ekiti is blessed with children, grandchildren and extended family members that spread across Ekiti State and abroad.