Ekimogun: When Landmark Makes Home Marks
By Femi SALAKO
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Hon. Olamide Oladiji, the unusual leadership spec, popularly known as Landmark, has made false the maxim ‘a prophet does not have honour in his home.”
This genius who represents Ondo East Constituency, has been found worthy of honour in his own Ekimogun home.
This honour, by all dip sticks, is a different one coming from the home front. And for the awardee, it is indeed a peculiar fulfilment. Oladiti has over the years carved a niche for himself as a politician and philanthropist that is dutifully committed to the development of the masses at the grassroot level. He has also proven himself as a committed leader who never shied away from rendering selfless
services to the people at the grassroot level.
Credence was lent on the qualities of Hon. Oladiji by the Ondo State Chairman of APC, Engr. Ade Adetimehin whom he glowingly described as someone that has distinguished himself in leadership and service to the people of Ondo East and West Local Councils. The obviously impressed Adetimehin could not hide his enthusiastic joy while presenting the 2019 NUJ award to Hon. Oladiji.
The award ceremony in honour of Landmark was greeted with the presence of high and mighty in Ondo State politics. Present at the event were the Ondo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Fagbemi Omolola Julianah and the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon. Donald Ojogo. Also in attendance at the event was the Chairman of Ondo East Local Government Area, Hon. Akinkuotu Wale Little. The event also had in attendance all the APC Ward Chairmen and their Executive members from the wards of Ondo East. All the Supervisory Councillors from Ondo East Local Government Council, leaders of APC in the Council as well as numerous supporters of Hon. Oladiji also attended the award presentation.
The Council Chairman of Ondo East, Hon. Akinkuotu Wale Little was full of praises for Landmark whom he described as someone who had done the Council proud and also proven a point that Ondo East Local Government could always be be reckoned with amongst other local councils of the state.
Meanwhile, the Ondo born philanthropist and the Deputy Majority Leader of Ondo State House of Assembly has clearly stand out as a strong pillar of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ondo state. Although, impacts of his political activities are largely felt the more in Ondo East and West Local Government Areas of the state. Landmark is indisputably the major financier of the APC in Ondo East and West Local Government Areas. It is also to his credit that the party has become very popular and evidently strong in the two local government areas. Oladiji contested the same State House of Assembly election in 2015 which he lost narrowly to the candidate of PDP; but, he however, succeeded in winning the heart of his majority of the people of Ondo East Local Government.
The foray of Oladiji into partisan politics is clearly in fulfilment of his desires to positively impact the lives of large number people within and outside of Ondo State. Landmark is one of the subscribers to the belief that there is always a restrictive financial limit to whatever anyone can do in individual capability to better the lives of his people. As a matter of fact, Landmark is widely loved for his selflessness and for always seeking the good of the haves not.
It is important to state that the commitment of Landmark to systemic growth of APC in both Ondo East and West Local Government Areas has been most commendable; despite the fact that he had regularly contended with the fortified political structures of the immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko. He has consistently been giving all sorts of support to the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the two local government areas with a particular focus to ensure that structures of the party in the affected councils are giving the regularly needed financial oiling.
Landmark as a pillar of support to his political party donated two branded buses to the APC in 2014 for the ease of movement of party members and leaders within and outside of the state. He has also been paying the rent of his party’s 10 ward offices in Ondo East Local Council in a bid to ensure that the structures of APC are firmly entrenched at the grassroot levels. He had also undertaken the distribution of customized APC phones to party leaders at the grassroot levels while all “Olojas” in the two local councils had been empowered with power generating sets that were donated by Hon. Oladiji.
Landmark may have been born in a rusty village at Ondo East, yet he is so suave and very refined in his deeds and thoughts. He grew up in a predominantly agrarian environment, yet he has a full grasp of virtually all topics that cut across different shares of human endeavors. Oladiji never had the luxury of attending any private school, yet he has armed himself with the best of education and owns one of the best educational institutions in the country.
Landmark was born and named Olamide Oladiji Adesanmi. He was born in the present day Ondo East Local government area into the family of the late Pa Oladiji, a renowned cocoa merchant with the popular appellation of “Ore-Agbe”. He attended St. Paul’s (R.C.M) Primary School, Ondo before proceeding to St. Joseph’s College, Ondo for his secondary school education. He thereafter attended the prestigious Ondo Boys High School for his Higher School Certificate (HSC). Oladiji obtained a National Diploma in Accountancy from the Akanu Ibian Federal Polytechnic Unwana Afikpo, now Ebonyi State in 1993 and later bagged a Higher National Diploma in Accountancy from the Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti in 1998. Landmark also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Theology from the Redeemed Christian Church of God where he graduated with a distinction. The doyen of Ondo East politics has equally obtained several other professional certificates in Nigeria and United Kingdom.
Aside being a successful educationists, Landmark is also committed to giving better meaning to the lives of the masses in his federal constituency through the instrumentality of politics. Landmark is no doubt a God made and self made business man whose palm kernels have been neatly cracked for him by the benevolent gods.
Landmark is a philanthropist of note who has affected a good number of lives. He had taken it upon himself over the years to engage in the distribution of writing materials to primary school pupils in Ondo West and East Local Government Areas to aid their learning. It was in recognition of selfless contributions of Olamide Oladiji in helping to build the APC and its members in Ondo East and West Local Government Areas that he was made the Director General of Akeredolu Campaign Organization in the two Council Areas. He nonetheless did very well by delivering more than half of total valid votes cast for Akeredolu in the November 26, 2016 gubernatorial election. This achievement was against all odds of having to contend with the fact of the areas being the political stronghold of the former governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.
Olamide Oladiji has been the brain behind and the main financial pillar of Landmark Vanguard, a non governmental organization that is concerned with the provision of qualitative education to students within and outside of Ondo State. Activities of Landmark Vanguard also covers the acquisition of vocational skills and varied forms of empowerment initiatives for the youths in Ondo East and West Local council Areas. It is also a major concern of Landmark Vanguard to attend to the needs of widows and orphans that are domiciled within Ondo East and West Local Government Areas of the state.
Unlike an average Nigerian politician, Landmark is not in politics for personal aggrandizement. God has indeed blessed him beyond measures as he sits atop a good number of thriving businesses across and beyond the Nigerian borders. He is the Founder and Chairman of Dynamic Landmark Group of Schools with locations in Abuja, Lagos, Ogun, and Ondo States. The schools remain one of the best private schools in the country with a clear cut international approach to teaching and learning. He is also the Proprietor of a fast growing Landmark Polytechnic and the Managing Director of Ladiji Integrated Services Limited. Landmark is equally the brain behind Mercy Joash Auto Ventures and Lammy Hotels Limited. He is also the Chief Executive Officer of Ladiji Petroleum.
Landmark is indeed young at heart but extremely experienced, creative and versatile. He is a man given to an expansive worldview with a mindset of an all round possibilities. He is driven by a certain philosophy that whatever can be conceived in the mind is very much achievable.
Individuals in the mould of Olamide Oladiji that are not self seeking, but passionately concerned about his fellow beings are indeed very few in Nigeria of today. Here is a man who is not only exceptionally creative, but never run short of positive ideas to create values. He is a good example of hard work and a symbol of integrity. Landmark is very conscious of the fact that good name is far better than riches. He is a firm believer in doing the right thing at all times with good conscience.
Landmark is indeed an individual that is guided by the fear of God and constantly propelled by superior ideas. He is also a man that exudes integrity and whose word can readily be taken to the bank. Although, he is a first time member of Ondo State House of Assembly, he has been deservedly appointed the Deputy Majority Leader of the House.
Oladiji is an ardent respecter of family values and happily married with responsible children. He has in times past, been decorated with several other awards within and outside of Nigeria in recognition of his selfless contributions to philanthropy, service at the grassroots and for championing the cause of alleviating the plights of the masses.
