Abimbola Abatta, Osogbo
Before the start of his political journey and his emergence as the 9th governor of Osun State in 2018, Adegboyega Oyetola had made his mark in the corporate world.
Even as the first citizen of the state, Governor Oyetola has been called a silent achiever whose giant strides in all sectors of the economy have made life conducive for Osun residents and citizens.
Also, by the virtue of his continued advocacy for a system that allows people to function in their respective areas of expertise, the governor has been described as a technocrat, progressive politician, and grassroots’ mobiliser.
In 1978, Oyetola bagged a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Insurance at the prestigious University of Lagos. He later obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the same university in 1990.
His career began during his mandatory one year National Youth Service between 1978 and 1979 in Yobe State, where he lectured at the Staff Training Centre.
He proceeded to work at Leadway Assurance Company Limited as Area Manager from 1980 to 1987. He became the Underwriting Manager at Crusader Insurance Company Limited between 1987 and 1990. From 1990 to 1991, he joined Alliance and General Insurance as the Technical Controller.
In 1991, he set up his own company, Silvertrust Insurance Brokers Limited, where he was the Managing Director until he was appointed as the Chief of Staff to Governor Rauf Aregbesola in 2011.
Meanwhile, from 2005 until 2011 he was the Executive Vice-Chairman of Paragon Group of Companies which has interest in Oil and Gas, Mining and Real Estate. He also served as the Chairman and Director of Ebony Properties Limited and Pyramid Securities Limited respectively.
Oyetola is an Associate Member, Chartered Insurance Institute in London and Nigeria. He is also a member of the Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM).
His expertise in politics, finance management, business and public administration has earned him the status of a competent administrator and leader within and outside the government circle.
Recognised for his public service and philanthropic acts, Oyetola has received iconic awards including: Distinguished Merit Award by his alma mater, Ifeoluwa Grammar School, Osogbo, February 2014; the Guardian Award for Exceptional Chief of Staff in the Federation 2017; the Distinguished Award of Excellence in Public Administration by Nigeria Union of Journalists, Osun State Council, August 2015; Leadership Award for Outstanding Performance by the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Osogbo Branch, March 2016; Award of Excellence by Osun State University, College of Law, Ifetedo, January 2016; Award of Excellence as ICON of Good Governance by Network of Non-Governmental Organisation (NETNOS) State of Osun Branch. November 2017.
Others are Award for Exemplary and Exceptional Support and Fellow of Osun State College of Technology, Esa Oke, January 2017; Grand Patron of the Local Government Chapel of Osun State NUJ, November 2016; Leadership Award by International Association of Lions Club, District 404B2, Nigeria, February 2016; NAOSS-NHQ Award of Excellence in Administration and Good Governance, May 2016; Award of Excellence in Public Administration by Rotary Club of Osogbo, Rotary International, July 2016; Meritorious Award by NAOSS, Obafemi Awolowo University Chapter, February 2017; African Students Union Parliament (ASUP), Pan-African Distinguished Leadership Honour as Icon of Nation Building in Nigeria 2018.
He also received BusinessDay’s award of the overall best governor of the Year 2020; Blueprint’s Governor of the year 2020, Champion Newspapers Man of the year and Governor of the Year; and Award of Excellence 2021 awarded by the Association Of Civil Servants Of Nigeria, Osun State branch.
These awards for Oyetola’s landmark achievements show that the governor is performing his duties as expected and fulfilling his promises to the people of the state as a productive leader.
As a certified insurance broker, entrepreneur, administrator, and politician, Oyetola has competently managed the affairs of Osun state, especially the limited resources of the state as a result of the debts he inherited from the previous administration.
It is a known fact that his dexterity as the Chief of Staff earned him the support and confidence of civil servants, politicians, youth and the citizenry.
Despite the paucity of fund in the state, he has continued to tackle the challenges of lean revenue, indebtedness, contractual obligations, collapsed infrastructures and unpaid salaries in the state.
He is indeed a strategist imbued with integrity, competence, sacrifice and the ability to wriggle the State out of its economic challenges.
Oyetola is leveraging social investment programmes to impact the lives of residents and citizens of the state, especially the vulnerable.
As a financially prudent Governor, Oyetola has been lauded for being able to pay salaries and benefits of workers as and when due.
Governor Oyetola has stayed true to his promise to engender people-oriented policies and programmes. He has put efforts in place to reposition Osun economy, empower youths and women, improve the internally-generated revenue, strengthen Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and boost the agriculture, health and education sectors.
Knowing full well that the health sector can make or mar an economy, the governor is the first, in the history of Nigeria, to rehabilitate three hundred and thirty-two (332) Primary Healthcare Centres per ward.
In a swift response to the yearnings of the people of Osun, he reviewed and reversed some of the educational policy put in place by his predecessor such as the single uniform policy, 4-5-3-4 structure, and school merger among others.
In the agricultural sector, farmers have been awarded loans worth millions of naira to boost their farm produce. In the area of road construction, Oyetola has rehabilitated and constructed several road networks.
Across all sectors, particularly in the areas of capital development, commerce and industry, health, mining, agriculture and culture and tourism, Oyetola has distinguished himself as a technocrat, competent administrator, prudent manager, silent achiever, and a trailblazing leader who is committed to the welfare of the people and progress of the state.