Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has constituted an 11-member planning committee for the organizing of the 50th anniversary celebration of the creation of the State

The governor, in a letter signed by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Segun Ogunwuyi, announced the appointment of Mr. Akinade Fijabi, a former member of the House of Representatives, as Chairman of the 11-member committee, on Monday in Ibadan.

Other members of the committee include a former Head of Service of the state, Alhaja Ololade Agboola; Dr Z.O. Ajuwon; Mustapha Razaq; Alhaja Fatimah Azeez; S.A. Adejumo; and Pastor John Alabi.

Also in the committee are Alhaji A.K. Bello; Mr. Fatai Owoseni and the Director General of Protocol, Mr. Samuel Badejo, while Mrs. Ronke Adedayo will serve as Secretary.

The appointment, the letter said, was with immediate effect.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oyo State was created on Feb. 3, 1976, when the former Western State of Nigeria was divided into three states of Oyo, Ogun, and Ondo, under the regime of General Murtala Muhammed.

Initially, the state included what is now Osun State, which was carved out in 1991. (NAN)