Otunba (Mrs.) Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, MPA, BA, P.G.D.E, is the Former Deputy Governor of the State of Osun and the Honourable Commissioner for Education otherwise known as “Ipinle Omoluabi.” She was born in Osogbo to the Amon Oyeyemi Laoye family. Her early education includes St. Catherine Girls Grammar School, Owo and Victory College, Ikare.
Upon completion of her secondary education, she attended University of Lagos and obtained a Bachelor of Arts Hons in History in 1973. As an avid learner, Otunba acquired two additional post-graduate degrees a P.G.D.E. in 1978 and Masters in Public Administration in 1984. On completion of the compulsory National Youth Service Scheme, the Federal Ministry of Education employed Otunba Titi Laoye Tomori as an Education Officer in 1974. Overall, she spent six years at the Federal Ministry of Education (1974-1980).
In 1980, she began a career as an administrator at the University of Lagos where she was appointed an Assistant Registrar. She rose to occupy the post of Principal Assistant Registrar by the time she left the University in 1989. She has served in various capacities at the university such as Faculty Officer at the Faculties of Education and Sciences, Establishment Officer and later the University Admissions Officer. Her professional career also includes senior level positions with companies such as Coopers & Lybrand International, PFM Consulting Limited, Industrial and General Insurance Plc, as well as her own consulting company Quints Management Consultants. During the same period, Otunba was also appointed to the Board of International Health Management Services Limited, a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) as an Executive Director, Finance and Administration.
In recognition of her wealth of experience at the public and private sectors, she was unanimously considered as the Deputy Governorship candidate to Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola in 2007. The mandate freely given by the good people of the State of Osun in April 2007 was validated through a Court of Appeal Judgment on Friday, November 26, 2010. Otunba Laoye Tomori has positively impacted the State as the Deputy Governor and achieved great works as the Honourable Commissioner for Education. As a result, she has received accolades such as The Most Innovative Education Commissioner Award for the South West Zone organized by President’s School Debates Nigeria, an agency of the Federal Ministry of Education. She is also the recipient of the West African Gender Dialogue in Conjunction with West African Institute for Leadership and Governance, Most Outstanding Female Deputy Governor of the Year 2012.
She is married and blessed with four children.