Ex-Southwest Youth APC-PCC begs Tinubu to nominate Raji as additional minister from Oyo
…as Fola Akinosun assures of positive response from the presidency.
The Southwest youths of the defunct 2023 APC Presidential Campaign Council have issued a communique demanding that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu nominate their leader, Hon. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, KK, as one of the ministers that will represent Oyo state in the current administration.
The communique was issued in Ibadan on saturday morning August 12, 2023 after an overnight meeting with relevant youth APC-PCC stakeholders across the Southwest states in Nigeria.
The Communiqué was signed by the representatives of the youths across the southwest states.
The Communiqué reads “We the former APC PCC members from South West, in alliance with the Oyo State chapter, humbly plead with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, to consider Hon. Kazeem Kolawole Raji for ministerial nomination in Oyo State
“We believe that Oyo State being the political Headquarters of the Southwest State deserves more than a ministerial slot
“We urge our President to consider the resourcefulness and vibrancy of Hon Kazeem Kolawole Raji, the former Director of the recently dissolved National Youth Mobilization, Southwest of the APC Presidential Campaign Council as an additional ministerial nominee for Oyo State
“Hon Kazeem Kolawole Raji KK, a seasoned ICT expert who was also a Senatorial aspirant for Oyo Central during the last 2023 elections had coordinated the support of the youths in the Southwest towards the actualization of President Tinubu’s presidential ambition.
“Hon. K K Raji who could coordinate the volatile Southwest youths without any rancor with a high level of accountability and transparency no doubt, possesses the capacity to play a productive and vibrant role as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Since he joined the telecommunications industry over two decades ago, Mr. Raji has worked at various levels as a Senior Business Executive with extensive hands–on experience in Business Management, Executive Leadership, working with Board of Directors, Government, Banks, and Attorneys. Specifically, he is an expert in Mobile Telecommunications, Space Research, Satellite Communications Networks, Radio Frequency Planning and Optimization, Radio Communications and Spectrum Management, Strategic Leadership, System Development, and Project Management.
“In September 2017, Mr. Raji received a well-deserved appointment as the Executive Director, Technical Services, Nigerian Communications Satellite LTD (NIGCOMSAT) by President Muhammadu Buhari. In this position, he manages and operates the First Ever Communications Satellite in Sub-Saharan Africa having held several key positions in Multi-national Telecommunications Companies both in Nigeria and Abroad.
“Before that, Mr. Raji worked at MTN Nigeria Communications Limited for 12 years, where he rose to the position of the Head of MTN Radio Planning/RF Planning Manager for the Northern Region with its Headquarters in Abuja, after he had worked in Lagos and Ibadan Regions of MTN. He was also a Director of ICT/Telecommunications with Dermo Impex on Basic Registry and Information System in Nigeria (BRISIN), a project of the Federal government of Nigeria domiciled in the Presidency. As part of his public sector experience, Mr. Raji worked with Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) in the ICT department before joining the private sector.
“He had also worked with O2 Mobile/WFI LTD in Salford in Mancester, Croydon, Hatfield and Newcastle, United Kingdom as a Radio Frequency planning and Optimization Engineer and the Chief Technical Officer of Merit Telecoms. He is a Radio Frequency Planning and Optimization Consultant with over 25 years cognate experience in Multi-National Telecommunications Companies with very strong skills in Strategic Planning, GSM Radio Networks, WiMAX, Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G/LTE, 5G, Satellite Networks and worked on several Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) such as Ericsson, Huawei, Nokia, Nortel, Newtec, Gilat, and iDirect. He is an MBA-qualified engineer with an established record of success in growing enterprise value and optimizing business operations.
“His role as Executive Director (Technical Services), Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd had afforded him the opportunity to engage with World leaders in Satellite manufacturing and Satellite Operators such as MDA/SSL of Canada and USA now Maxar Technologies, Lockheed Martin USA, China Great Wall, Airbus USA, ViaSat USA, Turksat, SES, Avanti, Intelsat, Thales Alenia Space of France, Arabsat, ABS Satellite and AMOS SpaceCom of Israel.
“He attended the launch into orbit of AMOS-17 Satellite, the first ever satellite with Digital Channelizer owned by AMOS SpaceCom of Israel which was launched at Cape Canaveral, Orlando, Florida, USA in August 2019. He also attended International Telecommunications Union (ITU) conferences in Geneva, Switzerland, ESOA Satellite conferences and workshops in Belgium, Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization (CTO) in London, and international training on Satellites, ICT, and Telecommunications in the USA, United Kingdom, China, Sweden, South Africa, Republic of Ireland, France, Spain, Finland, Switzerland, Canada, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands and host of others.
“Mr. K K Raji was appointed in 2016 by the Federal Government of Nigeria as a Member of the National Implementation Committee on Nigeria Strategic ICT Roadmap 2016-2020, a Member of the National Implementation Committee for the Establishment of a Specialized Multi-Campus ICT University in Nigeria in 2018 and in 2019. He was also appointed a Member of the committee that drafted the Nigeria National Broadband Plan 2020-2025.
“Mr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, who hails from Morolasa Ruling House of Alapinni Chieftaincy, Oyo town, Oyo State attended the Prestigious Premier University, University of Ibadan from 1992-1997 and graduated with B.Sc. Honors Degree in Computer Science. In 2001, he obtained his Master’s Degree in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) from the University of Ibadan, Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Ibadan in 2005 and prior to his university education, he attended St. Andrew’s College of Education, Oyo, and completed his NCE programme in Computer Science/Mathematics in 1992. For his continuous appetite for knowledge, he went further for his MSC programme in Security and Strategic Studies at Nasarawa State University, Keffi and he is currently pursuing his Doctoral Degree programme in Security and Strategic Studies in the same University.
“Also, in his quest for more knowledge, Mr. Raji between 2002 and 2014 attended several Telecommunications Engineering courses with Childerley Solutions Wireless House, Cambridge, United Kingdom, Wray Castle Limited, Ambleside Cumbria, United Kingdom, LM Ericsson Training Centre, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, Republic of Ireland, HUAWEI Technologies, China, Telefocal Asia, Polaris Digitech LTD, UK and Executive Course IIA on In-Service Capacity Building Program for e-Government in Nigeria by Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
“He also attended Lagos Business School in 2013 and had Certificate in Business Data Planning and Analysis, Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Management Consultancy Practice and Organizational Transformation in the United Kingdom in 2017 and attended Applied Technology Institute, Maryland, USA in 2019 for a Certificate course in Satellite Communications Design and Engineering.
“Mr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji is a Certified Fellow International Professional Managers’ (FCIPM), United Kingdom, and Fellow Professional Managers’ Association (FPMA), United Kingdom.
“It is no longer news that Chief Adebayo Adelabu, an Ibadan indigene from Oyo South Senatorial District and the Accord Party governorship candidate for Oyo State during the last elections had been announced as a ministerial nominee for Oyo State.
“While we are full of praise and can not query the prerogative of our President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for this choice, we are also saying that it is not out of place if a very loyal party member and highly intelligent technocrat who worked round the clock to mobilise youth support across the country for the success of our leader’s presidential bid is rewarded with the ministerial appointment.
“Hon Kazeem Kolawole Raji is no doubt one of those with so much passion and respect for the President, he is always advocating the progressive style of leadership and capacity of the president and that was why he worked his heart out to ensure that the APC wins the presidential election in February 2023.
“He is a seasoned administrator, a progressive politician with over 25 years experience in telecommunications and ICT both locally and internationally. He will definitely add great value to the determination of the President to renew hope of Nigerians, and of course also be good ambassador of the youth in your good government”, the youth group explained
In a swift reaction, Dr Fola Akinosun, one of the APC Elder statesman in Oyo state addressed the youths. He appreciated them for making their demands in a peaceful manner.
He assured the aggrieved youths that their demands would be positively attended to by the Presidency.
The event was attended by media houses and relevant stakeholders in the party.
E-Signed by Southwest Youth Representatives as follows:
1) Bode Olabisi – Lagos State
2)Babalola Moneyin Obesurutu – Ondo State
3)Apalowo Temitoye – Osun State
4) OLamide Lawal – Ogun State
5) Olowe Olalekan – Oyo State
6) Abayomi Olaniyi – Ekiti State
7) Adekunle Adebayo AYOOLA – Ogun State Chairman/Coordinators
