Okubadejo: Technologically revolutionising Ogun’s wealth
Mr Dapo Okubadejo, Ogun State Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser to Gov. Dapo Abiodun was born in the 60’s in Ijebu Ode where he had his early education. He attended University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) from 1985 – 1990 and obtained a Bachelor of Agriculture degree in 1990.
Dapo is currently the Chief Economic Adviser to the Executive Governor of Ogun State where he leads the Economic Management team in the formulation and implementation of key economic policies of the Administration.
Prior to his appointment as the Honourable Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser on 17 July, 2019, Mr Okubadejo was the Executive Secretary of the Economic Transition Committee of the Governor Elect, Prince (Dr) Dapo Abiodun where he managed the Committee and led the development of the Economic Blueprint for the incoming administration sworn in on May 29, 2019.
He was formerly a Partner & Africa Head of Deal Advisory & Private Equity at KPMG. He is an expert on Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Project Finance, Investments, Private Equity and business transformation.
With about 28 years of professional experience, he has acted as Corporate Financial Adviser to many foreign and local investors in Nigeria and across Africa.
He started his professional career in Arthur Andersen in 1992 and spent over a decade where he rose to the position of Senior Manager and consulted for more than 40 companies in oil & gas, consumer goods and financial services on many projects in Assurance, Business Strategy & Planning, Financial Restructuring and Business Transformation.
In 2002, Okubadejo won the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) Scholarship in 2002, for a fully-funded MSc degree program in the UK. He resumed back at KPMG in 2003 to lead the newly established Financial Advisory service group, which has metamorphosed into Deal Advisory.
In 2006, he was promoted to the KPMG partnership as an Equity Partner and rose to become the Head of Deal Advisory & Private Equity for West Africa and Africa in 2009 and 2012 respectively. He was elected to the KPMG Nigeria Policy Board in 2017.
Mr Okubadejo is a recognized expert on Africa business and investments and has acted as a resource person, faculty, panelist and moderator at many international conferences, seminars and fora such as the World Economic Forum, Harvard Business School Africa forum, London Business School Africa, among others.
He has written many articles on investment opportunities in Nigeria and Africa, doing business in Africa and Private Equity in Nigeria and has delivered many lectures on corporate finance, business valuations, IPO and private equity.
As an highly successful financial expert with robust experience in the private sector, it is on record that Mr Okubadejo has brought to bear his wealth of experience in reengineering the finances of the state thereby making fund available to drive several developmental projects of this administration.
It is on good record that with your magical wand, the Internally Generated Revenue of the state has been moved higher by N4billion and you have also ensured strategic spendings such that many developmental projects across the state are receiving due attention.
Okubadejo has also leveraged on using the ICT tool to drive and reposition the economy of the Gateway state by blocking all leakages, and ensuring that resources meant for the coffers of the state government did not stray into any other pockets.
Of commendation is equally the launch of the Ogun State Land Administration and Revenue Management System, (OLARMS) which has been described as a revolutionary technological initiative in the management of land resources in the country with capacity to not only boost the income of the state but also raise its Ease of Doing Business Index.
Such laudable efforts in the area of digital economy have no doubt helped to reengineer the finance of the state and made more resources available to pursue several of its developmental projects.
Many are of the opinion that the success story of Gov. Dapo Abiodun especially when it comes to delivering on those key projects in housing, education, health, agriculture, roads among others have the imprint of this brilliant strategist and Chartered Accountant of international repute.
