Comrade Prince Ayodele Adewale-Oloto, a descendant of Pawu who succeeded Ogunfuminire. Ogunfuminire led the Awori people, that migrated from Ile Ife and established Lagos after the great migration in the 15th-century. Paternally, I originated from Ipele in Owo Local Government of Ondo State and I have a bloodline to Itsekiri Kingdom through my maternal great grandmother Mrs. Matilda Ukeguli OkoroBoyo, one of the daughters of Chief OkoroBoyo Diare while my maternal great grandfather migrated from Sierra Leone down to Lagos.
After passing out from St. Gregory’s College Ikoyi, I got admitted to study chemistry at Lagos State University during the tumultuous era of military rule, I steadfastly held onto my beliefs and principles that I’ve developed in St. Gregory’s, unaware of what the future holds.
During my time at Lagos State University, I joined the pro-democracy activist as a Student Leader and subsequently contested and won the election for Students Union President during my second year (200 level). This marked the beginning of my journey as an activists and a youth leader.
My interest to make more changes and impact led me to join some progressive students leaders to unify the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) which had been balkanized into two major factions by the Nigerian military for almost two decades led me to use the resource of Lagos State University Students Union to organize various unity meetings of all Nigerian Students Union Presidents and activists along with my friends such as comrade Ogachi Upemo President Federal University of Technology Oweri (FUTO), comrade Baglo President University of Agriculture Abeokuta (UNAB), Babatunde Ogunbamila a.k.a Babs Mila President University of Lagos Students Union (ULSU), Prince Linus Okorie President Imo State University (IMSU) and many more led me to contest for other positions in NANS. I contested and won the office of National Public Relations Officer of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and subsequently contested for NANS President.
During my service years, I was elected as President of NYSC Youth and Tourism Club, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State in an unprecedented and unopposed election. All the other 5 contestants stepped down for me on the day of our election.
During this period, I had joined some key figures who were founding fathers of the Nigerian State, Nigerian Labour Union leaders and other visionaries,and together we confronted the brutal military regime under General Sani Abacha. Our confrontations took place on the streets of Lagos and extended to various states in Nigeria, often involving night travels to these other states, street protests, tear gas encounters with police and military forces, beaten and shot at, and some were victims of instances detention under terrible conditions. While I escaped being incarcerated or killed during this protests, I and comrade Chichino PRO of University of Lagos Student Union (ULSU) at one time were apprehended and put in jail during a peaceful protest at Ojuelegba in Lagos State.
Some of my fellow activists lost their lives while others disappeared or were severely injured during these peaceful protests.
In addition to graduating with good results, my experiences culminated in me becoming part of the collective effort to bring about change in Nigeria. I collaborated with some of our finding fathers and pro-democracy activists such as late Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Late Baba Oniwide Omojola, Late Prof. Jadesola Akande, Late Chief Edet Uno, Late Chief Alfred Ilenre, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, late Ambassador Segun Olusola, Dr. Kesia Awosika, comrade Rasak Oladosu, comrade Rasak OlokoOba, comrade Wale Okuniyi, Ambassador Olu Otunla, late Comrade Chima Ubani, late Comrade Bamidele Aturu, Barr. Titi Akosa, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu et al and I held several positions such as the Mobilisation and Liaison Officer of Chief Anthony Enahoro led Pro-National Conference Organisation (PRONACO), Secretary to Late Dr. Beko Ransom-Kuti in the June 12 Coalition, Secretary of the Citizens Forum founded and headed by Prof. Wole Soyinka and a junior member of NADECO during the life time of Admiral Ndubusi Kanu Rtd in pursuit of a new Nigerian constitution through the platform of the Pro-national Conference Organisation (PRONACO).
In the course of our consultative endeavors, I was privileged to meet with Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu in Enugu State alongside fellow PRONACO leaders such as the late Chief Anthony Enahoro CFR, Prof. Wole Soyinka, and the late Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, among others. On our return journey to Lagos at midnight while riding in a bus, I and my team was confronted by armed robbers who unleashed a barrage of bullets from machine guns on us. Fortunately, we managed to evade death once more. All of these experiences was in our bid to further strengthen democratic structures in Nigeria.
Throughout my journey, I engaged in political and social activities, including contesting and winning the election for the Office of Executive Chairman in Amuwo Odofin Local Government at the age of 33years with support of GOD, my leaders in the civil society especially Baba Oniwide Omojola, my campaign team, my parents and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This achievement marked me as the youngest chairman in my era, and I effectively served two consecutive terms of 3 years each, spanning from 2008 to 2014.
In the course of these years, we embarked on a transformative journey, significantly reshaping institutions and securing some accomplishments that improved the popularity of our political party at the local government level and got international recognition.
One of my major achievements was receiving an award of excellence from an organization affiliated with the United Nations, presented to me at the United Nations headquarters in New York, USA.
Amidst these endeavors as a grassroots foot soldier fighting for equality for all and for a better Nigerian State, I remained dedicated to my profession study as a Chemical Scientist and my love as an Environmentalist and was involved in climate change studies, advocacy, and programs. Furthermore, I was signatory to many climate change initiatives by some United Nation’s initiatives such as COP 16 in Copenhagen Denmark down to various COP like in Cancun Mexico, Warsaw Poland, Doha Qatar, and Durban in South Africa. As part of my commitment to creating positive change, I was recognized as the first local government chairman to established a climate change unit within the local government structure and I also registered Amuwo Odofin Local Government with ICLEA, a global body of local governments were I met David Cadman a former Canadian politician, who served in Vancouver City Council
from 2002 to 2011 and was head of ICLEA.
I also ventured into business while maintaining my grassroots activism and professional responsibilities.
#Wearegrassrootsweareprofessionals
1. https://youtube.com/watch?v=0Lrv_F_ve2Y&feature=share
2. https://youtube.com/watch?v=FktGi0Ewrcw&feature=share
3. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Hi3dES6DHxE&feature=share
4. https://youtube.com/watch?v=EIW5fdiDvjA&feature=share
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