{The Race & The Runners} Oriolowo: A Technocrat Joins The Race

 

Born on the 25th April 1956 into the family of Late Raheem Akanji and Alhaja Samirat Abidemi Oriolowo of the famous Oriolowo family, Molete, Iwo in Osun. He attended D.C School Oke-Ifa (1962 – 1963) and Baptist Day School Oke-Odo, (1964 – 1970) Iwo for his primary school education. He broke his primary education between 1968 and 1969 to work as a Shop Keeper on Agboville , Ivory Coast, to gather money for his Secondary School education which he had at Baptist High School Iwo (1971- 1975).

Having spent the first eighteen years of his early life in his native land, Iwo, the young lad was enrolled at The Polytechnic Ibadan for a two-year Ordinary Diploma course in Mechanical Engineering which he completed in 1978. From Ibadan, he became a student of the prestigious University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University. In 1984, Oriolowo got BSc degree in Agricultural Engineering at Ife.

After his one year service (NYSC) in 1985, Adelere Oriolowo worked briefly as a teacher at Bishop Onabanjo High School, Bodija, Ibadan and Kuta, Ile-ogbo Anglican Church Grammar School before proceeding to the enclave World Bank Assisted, Oyo North Agricultural Development Project (ONADEP) in Saki as Agric Engineer in charge of tractor hiring unit. When the enclave project (ONADEP) in the old Oyo State was expanded into State Wide Agricultural Development Programme (OYSADEP) in 1989, Adelere, the young but promising Engineer became the organization’s Executive Agro Processor (1989 – 1991). His job entailed sourcing for low-cost adaptable agro-processing equipment for crop processing as well as linking farmers in the project area with fabricators, Research Institutions and Organizations.

Having discharged his duties creditably to the admiration of his organization, he was appointed Principal Irrigation Engineer in charge of FADAMA I Coordination in 1991-1992.

It wasn’t long before Oriolowo got promoted into the Directorate cadre of the Public Service becoming Assistant Director in 1997, Deputy Director in 2001, Director in-charge of Engineering Services of Osun State Agricultural Development Programme (OSSADEP) in 2005.

He worked for Nigerian Bottling Company (Coca-cola) Ibadan as Mechanical Supervisor, (1978-1979) where he was able to change the Multinational Company’s production capacity from about 50% below target to over 50% above targeted production capacity in less than four months of his engagement by employing technical and managerial techniques.

Oriolowo has offered employment to many youths and women, as well as research and IT training to over 2,000 students of higher institutions across the South Western region of Nigeria. He established many agro processing factories and farms.

Engr. Oriolowo had International Development Project experiences when he served as focal point officer with the UNDP (1996 – 1999). He was Facilitator in charge of Water Control in the National Food Security Project, a Federal Government/FAO Assisted Project (2001-2006), Facilitator Agro-Processor for Root & Tuber Expansion Project, an Internation fund for Agric Development IFAD Assisted Project (2001 – 2007) and Coordinator FADAMA I, a World Bank Assisted Project (1991 – 1998).

He has his professional qualification at various places; he became a COREN registered Engineer in 2003 with registration number 9883, member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) in 1992 and member Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers (NIAE) in 1993. In the area of Project Management, he is a certified International Development Project Manager (IDPM) in 2011, Registered Member of Prestigeous Institute of Strategic Management in 2013, Nigeria Institute of Management in 2014, and Member of Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators in 2017.

Oriolowo is the Project Coordinator of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy affairs, Water Resources, Rural Development and Community Affairs in the State of Osun. He is also the current Project Coordinator for World Bank /French Development Agency (AFD) assisted Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP) (2007 to date), to say he has co-ordinated these effectively is to state the obvious, as the State of Osun is leading the other States in RAMP II.

He was also former Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Water Resources, Rural Development and Community Affairs (2013 – 2016). He was the General Manager, Osun State Agricultural Development Corporation in 2007 – 2013.

Engr. Oriolowo also trained by International bodies in different areas to attain many goals in the public service, leadership to maintain and strengthen the Project and achieve changes in team management and integrity. Engr. Oriolowo (OND Mechanical Engineering, BSc Agric Engineering, FNSE, FNIAE, IDPM, MNIM, MISM, ACArb, JP) is a practicing farmer, Agricultural Engineer, a foremost administrator, a father, creative and enterprising professional. Engr. Adelere Adeyemi Oriolowo is a widely travelled professional and administrator. He has undergone trainings in many part of the world.

He is married to Deaconess Felicia Ayanjoju Oriolowo and the union is blessed with children.

Oriolowo is currently being touted as the favourite of some powerful individuals in the All Progressives Congress (APC) who are currently mobilizing for him under a group called “GOP” to secure the party ticket.