For the past few days, a social media storm has brewed over the educational background of the Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Monisade Christiana Afuye. The heated debate, ignited by a forum group known as Olooto Ekiti, has raised questions about her academic qualifications, fluency in spoken English, and suitability to represent the governor at official university events in the state.
The forum group alleged that the deputy governor is “not outspoken” and “lacks fluent English,” claiming she is unable to adequately represent the state’s leadership during academic convocations or other high-profile events. In their view, her perceived inability to deliver speeches in polished English reflects poorly on the state’s image. They further alleged that she possesses only primary and secondary school certificates without any tertiary education.
These allegations have been circulated alongside taunting statements on social media, with one particularly viral post questioning: “How would you tell unborn kids that Ekiti once had a deputy governor who couldn’t deputise for the governor at state varsity convocations?” Such comments have generated strong emotional reactions, with some users adding crying emojis to underscore their disbelief and disapproval.
The Olooto Ekiti group and its supporters have also made sensational claims, including that Ekiti, a state known for producing one of the highest numbers of professors in Nigeria now has a deputy governor who they described as an “Iyan seller with just NECO.” This unverified claim has sparked heated debates about leadership standards and representation in public office.
Another circulating narrative suggests that some Ekiti children are beginning to see education as less important, allegedly reasoning that if someone they believe sold iyan (pounded yam) could rise to the position of deputy governor without a university degree, then they too could achieve political success without completing formal education. Such claims, while unproven, have been widely shared in comment sections.
Some critics have gone further to challenge her supporters to post any video of the deputy governor delivering a speech in English, insisting that her alleged poor communication skills disqualify her from representing the state on academic platforms. This challenge has gone unanswered in most of the online discussions observed by The Nigeria Education News.
However, amid the noise and heated opinions, The Nigeria Education News conducted independent fact-checking to determine the authenticity of these claims. Reliable information obtained from a credible and verified source paints a more complete picture of the deputy governor’s educational background, contrary to some of the allegations spreading online.
Chief Monisade Christiana Afuye, born on September 28, 1958, in Ikere-Ekiti, hails from Ikere Local Government Area of Ekiti State. She attended Saint Joseph CAC Primary School, Aramoko-Ekiti, where she completed her foundational education. She then proceeded to Amoye Grammar School, Ikere-Ekiti, for her secondary education, earning her West African School Certificate.
In contrast to claims that she only has a secondary school certificate, findings reveal that Chief Afuye furthered her education at Crown Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, where she obtained both an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Public Administration. This directly contradicts the narrative that she has no tertiary qualification.
Public Administration as a field of study equips students with knowledge of governance, policy formulation, and administrative procedures skills relevant to political leadership. Thus, her qualifications suggest she possesses formal training in areas directly related to her current role as deputy governor.
While it remains open to debate whether communication skills should be a primary criterion for political office, it is inaccurate to state that the deputy governor has no higher education. The records from Crown Polytechnic confirm her completion of advanced studies beyond the secondary level, making her more academically qualified than many online critics suggest.
It is important to note that political leadership in Nigeria, as in many parts of the world, has seen a mix of leaders with varying educational backgrounds from Ph.D. holders to those with vocational training. Ekiti’s deputy governor is not the first Nigerian politician to have faced scrutiny over academic credentials, but the ferocity of the current debate underscores the state’s proud academic heritage and high expectations for its leaders.
Nonetheless, communication in governance is vital, particularly in representing a state at national and international events. Whether or not the deputy governor’s spoken English meets the expectations of critics is subjective and may depend on personal biases or political leanings. Some of the online criticisms may therefore be politically motivated rather than purely based on factual assessment of her abilities.
The controversy over Chief Afuye’s qualifications offers a reminder of the need for accurate fact-checking in public discourse. Misinformation whether deliberate or accidental can quickly erode public trust and damage reputations. As The Nigeria Education News findings show, she is indeed a polytechnic graduate with formal administrative training.
In conclusion, while the deputy governor of Ekiti State may continue to face political and public scrutiny over her communication style, claims that she has no tertiary education are false. She holds both OND and HND certificates in Public Administration. The wider conversation, however, may shift towards whether her performance and representation of Ekiti meet the leadership standards expected in a state known for its rich educational legacy.
