It is always a delightful sight, a very impressive one which must be lauded by all whenever we find amongst us illustrious son of the soil who have through their illustrious career built for themselves a personality which can be identified with greatness.
The popular saying employed by many to motivate and spur men to greatness goes thus,” there’s greatness in every one of us” while this is true, we also need to raise our glasses high in a toast to celebrate men who have showed amazing and tremendous efforts backed with success in reaching for greatness. They by all description are not little men or ones whose light can be hidden by any form of obscurity.
Standing tall among the category of men in the aforementioned is Bola Ilori, one who in every sense can be described as a true and great achiever. One whose profile reels with amazing and breathtaking milestones which he has gathered through the course of his brilliant years.
The phenomena called Bola Ilori started his journey in the economically disadvantage but politically conscious town of Ondo in Ondo State, Western Nigeria about three decades ago.
His parents, Chief & Mrs. M.O Ilori who understood the importance and essence of Education ensured that they placed started him on a sound educational footing by enrolling him at a time when nursery education was not too common at Christ Nursery and Primary School, Ondo. He went for secondary education at Jubilee Community Grammar School, Ondo.
He did his Higher School certificate at Ondo Boys high School and concluded that phase of his education at Anwar-ul-Islam College Agege Lagos in 1988. Determined to pursue his educational advancement to an inspiring level, Bola Ilori Became a member of the Akokite family when he was admitted into the university of Lagos in 1990 to read sociology.
It took no time for Bola Iloris political inclination, which he carried over from his agitated juvenile mile at the lower classes to manifest at the university. He was elected into the faculty executive council in his first year and the central students union parliament in the second year. Ilori later won an election into the university of Lagos students union (ULSU) executives as the welfare secretary in his third year and became the Secretary General of the union in his final year.
Bola Ilori, a former Council Chairman of Alimosho Local Government, former Special Assistant to Jargaban Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State. Former Senior Special Assistant to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State, former Special Adviser to Ondo State Governor Rahman Olusegun Mimiko and Immediate Past Honourable Commissioner to State of Osun Governor on Regional Integration.
Everywhere Bola Ilori was opportune to serve, he always left behind footprints that lasted a lifetime to outshine. He was the youngest and most decorated council boss in the history of Lagos State, served in the largest Local Government in Lagos/Nigeria (Alimosho). He championed the hands that wrote philosophy programming of KAI in Lagos, which was later inculcated into the State Civil Service mainstream. He was the chairman of Ondo State Beautification Initiative, his outstanding performance in that capacity before leaving Ondo State was among the factor deciders that won Mimiko his second term in office. Bola Ilori, the brain behind creation of O’Clean numerous programme that provided thousands of job for the State of Osun Indigenes.
Also he was appointed a Special Adviser to the Former Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, later he was elevated to the position of a Commissioner in Osun State. Adding to this, he proceeded to becoming a Special Adviser to the Minister of Interior. He is also the Chairman Presidential Task force on Expatriate Quota.
Bola Ilori, a professional environmentalist graduate of Harvard University, USA. A three legged politician that is well rooted in Ondo, Osun and Lagos. A team player and compendium of bravo ideas.
Today he will be honored as the Ondo State Man of the year, an honor well deserved as he has evidently showed and proven himself as a force to be reckoned with in Ondo State and in Nigeria in general.