IFE OYEDELE :
AUDACIOUS GUBER AMBITION OF A QUINTESSENTIAL TECHNOCRAT
Every developed nation has attained greatness by allowing the best of their brains to assume positions of responsibility and authority. Merit is a catalyst that promote development just the same way righteousness exalts a nation. Rooms are often than not yielded for the intellectual powerhouses whenever critically challenging situations are at hand. Impending gubernatorial election in Ondo state has threw up a little below one hundred aspirants across the major political parties for the single Alagbaka’s job.
Oyedele is evidently a man of extreme humility that also shares a whole with President Buhari as far as integrity is concerned. He is a man whose honesty and commendable level of transparency can never be denied. He is clearly different from an average Nigerian politician that sees political offices as opportunities to amass wealth at the expense of the populace. Ifeoluwa has the enviable reputation of being a stickler for integrity, accountability, transparency and orderliness.
The 61 years old gentleman was a member of ACN/CPC Merger Committee that negotiated the merger of the legacy parties that eventually metamorphosed into the All Progressive Congress (APC). He had prior to the merger talk served as a member of the Board of Trustee of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). He was also a member of the APC Constitution Drafting Sub-committee as well member of APC Constitution Review Committee.
Ifeoluwa has to his credit the honour of designing the party logo of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and he was indeed one of the 15 gentlemen that began plans for the emergence of General Buhari as the Presidential Candidate of APC in 2014, shortly after the party was registered. He was thereafter appointed as the Ondo State Coordinator of the Buhari Campaign Organization when GMB became the APC presidential candidate. It is noteworthy that Oyedele was the first person to open a State Campaign Office/Secretariat for General Muhammadu Buhari in August, 2013.
He was the Head of Media and Publicity Committee of Buhari Campaign Council in Ondo State in the run up to 2019 presidential election. The political organizing skills of Oyedele as well as his active involvement in Ondo state politics were seen displayed during the 2019 presidential election in which the APC narrowly lost to the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It is worthy of note that he made substantial donation to all the candidates that contested on the platform of APC in the 2019 general election. APC candidates that benefitted from this substantial donations included the senatorial candidates, House of Representatives candidates and all the House of Assembly candidates of the party. Meanwhile, it is apropos to point out that APC could have woefully lost the same election in Ondo if not for the active involvement of thoroughly committed party men like Ifeoluwa Oyedele.
Ifeoluwa Oyedele has over the years built a robust career that cut across engineering management, manufacturing, construction, venturing, governance and engineering consulting from 1982 till date. He has evidently proven his mettle in both the public and private sectors.
The unapologetically detribalized Oyedele is the Executive Director in charge of Engineering and Technical Services at the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited. He was appointed into this position strictly on merit in August, 2016. He had earlier been appointed and served as the Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer of Gambil Builders Nigeria Limited and Rikmor International Limited. In his capacity as the Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, Engr. Oyedele was responsible for mapping out strategic business agenda, negotiating contracts and ensuring that quality as well as standard of jobs were maintained.
The highly respected Ifeoluwa had earlier worked as the Head of the Sales Department of Dynapower Nigeria Limited for two years. He thereafter consulted for Edison Group and Partners where he strictly designed electrical engineering projects and services in accordance with clients’ briefs and terms and also supervised the execution of projects.
Engr. Oyedele began his career with DAFEC Consultants as an engineer with responsibilities to design and prepare tenders for rural electrification projects. His responsibilities also included supervision and monitoring the implementation of projects. He later joined Oyo State Ministry of Works and Transport on the recommendation of the then Governor of old Oyo state, late Chief Bola Ige. He worked at the ministry for two years with similar career responsibilities in his previous jobs.
The fearlessly honest 1982 graduate of Electrical Engineering from the University of Lagos is a member, Nigerian Society of Engineers and a Registered Chartered Engineer. The career feat of Ifeoluwa as an accomplished engineer has been recognized and rewarded by many reputable professional organizations within and outside of Nigeria. Of particular mention is the Award of 10th Ondo State Man of the Year conferred on him in 2018.
Oyedele has striven to effectively balance career development with politics and social engagements. He unwinds by getting involved in sporting activities, chief of which is golf. He is a member of Ikoyi Club 1938, Smoking Hills Golf Club, Ilara-Mokin, IBB International Golf Club, Abuja, Lions Club International amongst others. He is a responsible father, loving husband and someone that is committed to family values.
Engr. Oyedele is no doubt a brand that all and sundry in Ondo state should be proud of. He has quietly brought himself into the consciousness of everyone in the state through his open display of honesty, humility and charitable giving.