By Femi Salako
(publisher Triangle News Media)
When Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo aka BTO was elected member of the House of Representatives in 2019, he saw a herculean task before him. A task that will take sincerity of purpose to accomplish.
To get the job done, he promised a clean break from the past and two years on, the young business executive who left the board room to play the political game at the House of Representatives is doing well, many of his constituents agree.
News of his birth may not have made headlines when he was born on this day – May 1, some decades ago. At that time, no thoughts of a political dynasty resting on his shoulder in his family would have crossed the mind of his parents.
Now, he is one of the most important lawmakers running the Nigerian House of Representatives.
What else can such a man who rose from grass to grace to become a prominent political leader in Nigeria, and a success in business do other than to roll out drums in thanking God?
Rising from a man whose opinion didn’t matter in the affairs of his immediate community before now, to become a rallying point and a beacon of hope for Oke-Agbe, Akoko and Ondo state, there is definitely a lot to be thankful for.
Born May 1, a day the world celebrates international workers Day, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, is an accomplished businessman and management consultant. He was inspired at the early stage of his life to settle for nothing but excellence.
He is one man who did not allow the circumstances of his childhood distract him from focusing on his ultimate goal in life.
BTO was educated at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) Staff Secondary School. He was at the Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Osun State, briefly before leaving Nigeria for the United Kingdom where he attended London Metropolitan University from 2002 to 2006, Britannia Information Technology Training Academy in UK from 2004 to 2006. He equally attended Smith Health Care in UK from 2002 to 2003.
He started his career at HSC Bank, went through Barclays Bank, T-Mobile across Europe. After giving so much value in building organisations in Europe, he considered it was time to go back home to add value to the society that made him. He returned to Nigeria and started his business.
Before his political career beckoned, he had made remarkable exploits in the private sector. He was on the board of Matrix IT, Planet Projects Limited and other thriving companies as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Since going into the Green Chamber in 2019, his panache, determination, doggedness and achievements he has recorded in less than two years has earned him wide commendation and has also given his constituents the assurance that it is no longer business unusual.
He has demonstrated through action that he can effectively put his intimidating profile and oratory prowess to use to bring development closer to his people and put Akoko land in the national limelight.
The sort of deep understanding of politics and community development he has displayed in the last two years did not come from growing up in a home where public service is a family business. He has his mother, Madam Olayinka Tunji-Ojo, to thank for the upbringing that prepared him for public office and bred empathetic spirit in his bones.
BTO shows no signs of slowing down. He has not lost focus of his agenda and promise to the people, he credits his wife, Abimbola Tunji-Ojo, for that. She constantly reminds him of his pledge to the people who reposed so much confidence in him.
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has proven to be a great asset to Akokoland and Ondo state, and as he celebrates another year today, we wish him many years of impactful representation to his people and Nigeria.