By Bukola Hameed
Governor Sanwo-Olu of Lagos has expressed his virgin pleasure and raw confidence in his Chief of Staff. Mr. Tayo Ayinde, the Buffalo, as he’s fondly called by admirers, as he celebrates his birthday today.
Mr Tayo Ayinde, an astute accountant, born on the 24th of August 1964 at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, clocks 57 today.
Mr Sanwo-Olu’s birthday message read, ” Today, I celebrate an indefatigable, quintessential Gentleman, a man of integrity, diligence, and a model of excellence. One whom I’m well pleased to call my Chief of Staff. Mr. Tayo Ayinde.
Buffalo, as he is fondly called, served as my campaign DG and today he is the powerhouse that helps ensure governance in Lagos operates smoothly at all levels.
To our dear Buffalo, here’s wishing you the very best as you celebrate your birthday. May the good Lord continue to bless and keep you. Amen”.
Meet Mr. Tayo Akinmade Ayinde, the Lagos Chief of Staff
Mr. ‘Tayo Akinmade Ayinde was born on the 24th of August 1964 at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. He attended St Peters’ Anglican Primary School, Alausa, Ikeja where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate. He also attended Ogudu Grammar School, Ojota, Lagos where he sat and obtained his West African School Certificate.
He was admitted into Federal Polytechnic, Anambra from where he was awarded the Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Banking and later the Higher National Diploma (HND) in Accountancy. He worked briefly with TELL Magazine as Account Officer in 1993. In that same year, he joined the State Security Service (SSS) in which ranks he distinguished himself as a dedicated, loyal, courageous and trustworthy Officer till he retired meritoriously in 2009.
While in the SSS, Mr. Ayinde was Head of the Accounts Department of State Security Service (SSS) Shangisha Office from 1993 – 1999. He later worked with the former Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Governor Emeritus Jagaban Borgu the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Chief Security Detail.
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Mr. Ayinde holds a Master’s Degree (MBA) in Financial Management from Lagos State University. He also attended University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management, where he underwent a Course of Study in Strategic Thinking Approach. He later attended the University of Cambridge, Judge Business School for a Course of Study in Business Model Innovation. Not done still, he went further to study Strategic Financial Analysis for Business Evaluation at Harvard Business School, Boston, USA. All these were in addition to his professional training on VIP protection and anti-terrorism in the best Institutions in Israel and the UK.
A committed supporter of universal human values and an advocate of support for the less privileged, Mr. Tayo Ayinde has touched many lives for the better. In a bid to deploy his immense capacity for service to humanity, Tayo Ayinde delved fully into politics in 2009. He was the Director General for Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat’s Independent Campaign Group, and later Chairman of the Inauguration Committee after the March 9th 2019 victory at the gubernatorial elections.
Mr. Tayo Akinmade Ayinde, a devout Christian, is happily married and blessed with children.
