Elder Joseph Babatunde Afolayan was born in Wusasa, Zaria, to the family of late Pa Elder D.A. Afolayan of Kajola Town, Oke-Ero Local Government Area, Kwara State. He began his education in Zaria before obtaining his First School Leaving Certificate from Kwara State College of Technology LGEA Staff School, Ilorin. He attended Offa Grammar School and later pursued Advanced Level Studies at Kwara State Polytechnic. He is a graduate of Economics Education from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He joined the Kwara State Civil Service as a teacher before transitioning to the Kwara State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development. His expertise in education quality assurance and strategic planning led to several key appointments, including his role as a pioneer staff member in the Ministry of Tertiary Education. He has contributed to major education policies and reforms, serving on committees such as the NEEDS assessment of public tertiary institutions in Kwara State and the establishment of the Kwara State University of Education. He is currently the Director of Continuing Education at the Ministry of Tertiary Education.