In a celebration of excellence and heritage, the pioneer editor of ThisDay Lawyer, Ms. Olufunke Aboyade, SAN, was recently honored with the Oyo State Award. The prestigious recognition was conferred during the state’s 50th-anniversary milestone, held on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, in the capital city of Ibadan.
The event, hosted by Governor Seyi Makinde at the State Banquet Hall in Agodi, served as a platform to celebrate individuals who have significantly shaped the identity and progress of the state. In a particularly moving moment, the state government also presented a posthumous award to her father, the late Professor Ojetunji Aboyade, a globally celebrated economist whose intellectual legacy continues to influence the nation.
These honors reflect the government’s appreciation for those whose professional lives and personal integrity have projected Oyo State in a positive light, both at home and on the international stage.
Ms. Aboyade’s credentials speak to a lifetime of academic and professional brilliance. Currently the Managing Partner of Aboyade & Co., she is a distinguished Notary Public and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK), Nigeria Branch. Her journey to the top began early; she earned her law degree from the University of Ife at just 19 years old, finishing in the top one percent of her class. This was followed by a stint at the Nigerian Law School, where she graduated with distinction, and later, an LL.M from Jesus College, University of Cambridge, where she recorded first-class grades.
Her elevation to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2013 was a historic milestone, making her the first woman from Oyo State to achieve the prestigious title. As the only woman from her Law School set to attain the rank of SAN, her career remains a powerful testament to breaking glass ceilings in the legal profession.
The dual recognition of father and daughter underscores a family tradition of service and excellence that has left an indelible mark on the history of the state.
