Amosun: Celebrating Servant Leader @ 64
Raheem Ajayi
No doubt, Nigeria’s Fourth Republic has thrown up many actors at critical moments of defining junctures. But only the few who deploy the vantage position of power to provide true leadership for uncommon services will remain indelible in the hearts of Nigerian people. As some events are fast becoming watersheds in the annals of Africa’s most populous Nation, the footprints of the servant leader resonate in the hearts of admirers and traducers alike. There should be no mincing words that one of the revelations of true meaning of leadership of this era is the inimitable Senator Ibikunle Amosun (SIA); an esteemed patriot fondly called Ajiri. While many actors and leaders covet praise worship, Ajiri is simply unassuming. He’s rather down-to-earth, focussed and dogged. He would rather his followers demonstrate diligence, responsiveness and responsibility. Here is a man you can only show genuine appreciation through commitment to service and the cause of humanity.
Amosun is committed to the cause of humanity and in raising leaders that will be beacons of hope in leadership and governance. Amosun is a man with a large heart and forgiving spirit who invests generously in leadership without asking anything in return or indulging in the bandwagon of godfatherism.
Amosun apparently assumed the stature of a servant leader without deliberately setting out to be a godfather. Prior to accepting the challenge of political leadership, he had done wonderfully well in philanthropy as a private person. He is reputed as a friend of the less privileged who continue to benefit from his philanthropy through scholarships, payments of hospital bills, support for farmers and small scale businesses as was the case prior to 2003 when he was first elected Senator. In fact, he started giving scholarships to students, through his firm, Ibikunle Amosun & Co from 1986 and he hasn’t stopped till date.
Amosun who is currently the Chairman of Senate Committee on Capital Market has a Master of Arts degree in International Finance from the prestigious University of Westminster in London, United Kingdom. He is also a member of Committees on Appropriation, Public Accounts, National Security & Intelligence, Petroleum (Upstream), Aviation and Foreign Affairs. He has sponsored bills that are critical to the socio-political and economic advancement of the people; amongst which are the bills for; the establishment of Federal University of Medicine & Medical Sciences, Abeokuta, Ogun State (SB.26), Child Rights Act 2003 (Amendment) 2019 (SB.227), Nationwide Toll, 2020 (SB.583) and Electronic Transactions Bill 2019. Others are South West Development Commission (EST ETC) Bill 2019, Insurance Act (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (SB 578), Investment & Security Act CAP 124 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill 2019, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (EST ETC) Bill 2019, and National Hospital for Women & Children Abuja Act (Amendment) Bill 2020.
Senator Ibikunle Amosun sponsored the bills on Motor Vehicles Third Party Insurance Act (Amendment), Miscellaneous Offences Provision Act CAP M17 LFN 2004 (Amendment), 2020 (SB. 597), Abduction, Wrongful Restraint & Confinement, 2021 (SB 762), Counterfeit Goods, 2021 (SB 768), Emergency Powers 2021 , Mortgage Institutions & Allied Matters Act CAP M19 LFN 2004 Amendment, 2021 (SB 757), National Institute for Sports Act Cap N54 LFN 2004 (Amendment), 2021 (SB.781) and Suppression of Piracy, 2021 (SB. 827) as well as National Industrial Technology Park (Establishment) Bil, 2021 (SB.850)
His knack for financial prudence underscored his uncommon administrative and developmental footprints as Ogun State Governor between 2011 and 2019. His political and administrative sagacity became the driving force for the developmental strides he recorded in Ogun State as Governor.
SIA is widely regarded as the architect of modern Ogun State. On assumption of office as Governor, he left no one in doubt about his unwavering, unflagging and unflinching determination to turn the fortune of Ogun State around for good. His five-point developmental agenda tagged “Mission to Rebuild” became the special purpose vehicle for delivering on good governance. The agenda which encompasses Affordable and Qualitative Education, Efficient Health Care Delivery, Agricultural Production and Industrialization, Affordable Housing and Urban Renewal as well as Rural and Infrastructural Development / Employment Generation redefined the face of governance in the Gateway State.
Amosun’s financial reengineering positively impacted revenue generation drive in Ogun State as the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) witnessed a growth from N700 Million per month in 2011 to an average of N6.8 billion per month in 2019.
At the inception of his administration, Ogun State was rated 35th out of the 36 states on the ease of doing business index. Through diligent governance , Ogun State moved to 3rd position in 2014. Amosun’s exemplary leadership turned Ogun State to Nigeria’s industrial capital with over 300 high profile industries coming on stream in Ogun State. The huge investments of his administration in infrastructure didn’t only attract businesses to Ogun State, the face-lift as well as comfort it brought made the state a destination of choice for investors and the Nigeria Industrial Capital.
Hearty 64 cheers to a unique servant leader; the bridge-builder and patriot on a divine mission for the cause of humanity.
Raheem Ajayi wrote from Imashayi, Ogun State.
