Tayo Ayinde

Tayo Akinmade Ayinde (born 24 August 1964) is a Nigerian accountant and administrator. He was appointed in 2019 as the chief of staff to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Early Life and Background Tayo Akinmade Ayinde, popularly nicknamed "Buffalo", was born on 24 August 1964 at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, into a family of entrepreneurial businesspersons. A man of stature and calm demeanor, Ayinde earned his nickname due to his solid presence and protective aura—traits that became synonymous with his work in security and governance. With a formidable background in intelligence services and close affiliation with Nigeria’s political elite, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ayinde has steadily built a legacy grounded in loyalty, governance, grassroots mobilization, and philanthropy. His blend of administrative acumen and compassion for the less privileged has positioned him as apolitical influence to be reckoned with

Education

•Primary and Secondary Education: Attended St. Peters’ Anglican Primary School in Alausa and obtained his First School Leaving Certificate. He later completed his West African School Certificate at Ogudu Grammar School, Ojota, Lagos •Tertiary Qualifications: Earned an OND in Banking and Finance and an HND in Accountancy from Federal Polytechnic, Anambra •Advanced Academic Training: Holds an MBA in Financial Management from Lagos State University. He enhanced his strategic acumen through short courses at top global institutions: University of Toronto (Strategic Thinking), University of Cambridge Judge Business School (Business Model Innovation), and Harvard Business School (Strategic Financial Analysis for Business Evaluation) •Professional Training: Completed rigorous training in VIP protection and anti-terrorism in the UK and Israel. He is also an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Diplomacy and Management