Ambassador Olutola John Onijala
AMBASSADOR OLUTOLA JOHN ONIJALA was born to the family of Rev’d Daniel Abegunde and Rebecca Idowu Onijala at Oro-Ago in Ifelodun LGA of Kwara State, but he hails from Olla in Isin LGA.
He attended the Higher Teachers Training Demonstration School, Igbaja for his Primary School Education. He then gained admission to Titcombe College, Egbe, Kogi State for his West African School Certificate.
Ambassador Olutola John Onijala is a 1980 Graduate of French from the University of Ife, Ile-Ife (now known as Obafemi Awolowo University). He joined the Foreign Ministry in 1981 and rose through the ranks to become a Foreign Service Officer, Special Grade (GL 17) in 2006.
He served in different capacities at home and abroad. Overseas, he served in Missions in Rome, Italy, the Consulate General of Nigeria in New York, the Embassy of Nigeria in Naimey, Niger Republic and was Charge dAffaires in the Embassy of Nigeria Budapest, Hungary which had concurrent accreditation to the Republic of Serbia, Republic of Croatia, Republic of Solvenia and the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Domestically, he served as Deputy Chief of Protocol (2003-2004); Director of East and Central African Division, (2009-2010), Director, Regions Department (2010-2011) and Chief of Protocol in 2011. From his position as Chief of Protocol he was appointed Ambassador and State Chief of Protocol to President Goodluck Jonathan (2011-2013) from where he retired.
Ambassador Olutola John Onijala also studied in the following Institutions: Universitat des Saalandes in 1976 in former West Germany, Universite Nationale Abidjan, Cote d’lvoire, Nigerian Foreign Service Academy and St. John’s University, New York, USA.
He has travelled far and wide around the world to 60 countries; speakes French fluently, and has a working knowledge of German, Italian and Hausa.
He owns a mechanized farm in Olla, Isin, LGA of Kwara State and is a Board member of the Wole Soyinka Foundation. Ambassador Onijala is currently the patron of the Women Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN) Kwara State Chapter. And also, he is the patron of the National APC Christian Leaders Forum of Nigeria (NACLFON) Kwara South Chapter.
He has also received several honors from Institutions and Communities. He is the Bobajiro of Olla Land, Isin LG. He is the Bobagunwa of Oro-Ago Kingdom, Ifelodun LG, the Aare Fiwajoye of Oba Land Isin LG and Aare Fiwajoye of Okala, Ijesha Land. Osun State.
He is married to Moremi Oluwafadekemi, daughter of Prof. & Mrs. Wole Soyinka and has three (3) beautiful Daughters and three (3) Grandchildren.