A week-long celebration marking the 60th birthday of former Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, will begin on Monday, February 3, 2025. The events will kick off with a roundtable discussion on regional integration in Nigeria, organised by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission in Ibadan. A major highlight will be a colloquium on February 6 at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, featuring former South African President Thabo Mbeki as the keynote speaker. The event will explore Pan-Africanism in today’s world and will also include the launch of Dr Fayemi’s new book, If This Giant Must Rise, as well as the formal unveiling of the Amandla Institute for Policy and Leadership Advancement.
In recognition of Dr Fayemi’s contributions to democracy and governance, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) will hold a special event in his honour on February 7 at its Abuja headquarters. The celebration will then shift to Ekiti on February 8, where a Youth Festival organised by Ekiti youths will take place in Ado-Ekiti. On the same day, Dr Fayemi will commission a block of classrooms at Command Secondary School, Isan-Ekiti, which he donated as part of his commitment to education and community development.
The celebrations will conclude with a thanksgiving service at St. Martin’s Catholic Church, Isan-Ekiti, on February 9, followed by a reception at his residence. Dr Fayemi, who served two terms as Ekiti State Governor and was the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, has had a distinguished career in governance, academia, and policy development. He currently serves as a Professor at King’s College, London, continuing his advocacy for democracy, leadership, and regional development in Africa.