By Noimot Salako-Oyedele
As Ogun State marks its 50th Anniversary, I am deeply honoured to reflect on a family history rooted in public service to our State.
My mother, Alhaja Rahmat Adebisi Salako, was a pioneer civil servant in Abeokuta following her transfer from the former Western State Government. A dedicated Tax Officer, she initially commuted from Ibadan to Abeokuta for several months, an act of commitment that spoke to her sense of duty. In time, family considerations required her to transfer her service to the University of Ibadan, but her contribution to the early administrative foundations of Ogun State remains part of our family’s proud history.
My late father, Prof. Lateef Akinola Salako DSc. CON NNOM FAS, Emeritus Professor of Pharmacology, also played a significant role in the formative years of Ogun State. He served as the first Chairman of the Ogun State Scholarship Board (1976-78) and later as the pioneer Chairman of the Ogun State University Teaching Hospital Board of Management (1985-1997), helping to shape access to education and strengthen tertiary healthcare institutions in the State.
Today, I am honoured to continue this legacy of family service to Ogun State, celebrating my parents’ contributions while reaffirming my own commitment to serving our people as we mark this important milestone.
_Image 2: Mum & Dad, London, December 1975
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