It is my privilege to celebrate someone who epitomizes leadership—a person whose life reflects a heart of service and commitment to faith, family, friends, and, most importantly, the youth as the future and tomorrow’s leaders.
PRINCE ‘DAPO OKUBADEJO (PDO) is a widely recognized expert in finance of international standard and repute, a strategic and kindhearted individual, an icon of hope, a change agent in organizations and communities, and a unique grassroots rallying point. PDO is an accomplished, unconventional leader and a proven status quo buster. He has successfully led numerous transformative policies in both his private and public roles, always with integrity. His award-winning work has been featured in various articles, journals, and international and national news outlets, including the Ogun State Government Review.
Currently, he serves our dear Ogun State as the Chief Economic Adviser and Honourable Commissioner for Finance under the dynamic leadership of Prince Dr. Dapo Abiodun, MFR, the Governor of Ogun State.
Let me share some nuggets from the CEA’s career that reinforce my point—all drawn from his performance and relationship with us:
A true and visionary leader does not create divisions or segregation among their kinsmen and community. Instead, a purposeful leader unites people with love, peace, and progress, regardless of background or differences. Politics is service to humanity, and indeed, it is about serving the people—not creating divisions out of selfishness or greed. When your intentions are pure, you don’t lose anyone; they lose you, especially when you know your worth and value, guided by faith in God as the Alpha and Omega, without arrogance or disregard for those who deserve respect.
With such an impressive and sustained record of exceptional performance, one might wonder: What is the secret to this man’s astoundingly successful career and incredible effectiveness as a leader? I have come to believe it boils down to a single word: Love—not just any love, but Agape Love, a self-sacrificial, others-oriented love that places service to others as the foremost priority in one’s life.
This definition of love is inspired by the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and the Holy Qur’an, which we both believe to be the perfect and greatest life and leadership handbook ever written by God Almighty.
Another spiritual passage that addresses this internal drive to selflessly serve others is found in Chapter 13 of 1st Corinthians, written by Saint Paul. Here is a part of that chapter that many of us are familiar with:
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
While this passage is often quoted at weddings, I am convinced it belongs in the boardroom and the battlefield too. In fact, I would argue it is needed there now more than ever.
What few people realize is that the passages immediately before and after these verses discuss leadership and the power of working together. Love, as the author Paul explains, is the motivating force behind living and leading our lives in a more excellent way. Whether in our marriages, personal and professional relationships, workplaces, or places of worship, love is what propels successful leaders like our own egbon and rallying point in Ijebu Ode’s government and political system: Prince AbdulRahman OlaDapo Okubadejo (PDO), who hails from the Fusengbuwa Royal Family of Ijebuland.
PDO constantly strives to be and do his best in service to others, particularly Ijebuland. The ongoing infrastructural transformations across Ijebu-Ode LGA cannot be overlooked without appreciating the exceptional service and extra efforts of Prince Dapo Okubadejo, whose total loyalty and commitment to the Ogun State Government and his boss, our Governor and Leader, Prince Dr. Dapo Abiodun, MFR, are unparalleled.
The easiest way to see why I believe this to be true is to substitute “a leader” for “love” in the above quote.
Prince ‘Dapo Okubadejo (PDO) enjoys helping people, especially the youth, learn to walk differently in the world so they can become the best versions of themselves. Egbon is blessed to be married to one of God’s most special creations—a humble, quiet, reserved yet confident, ever-gorgeous princess, a caring and accommodating soul, and a patient person of inestimable value. Together, they have raised amazing children.
KESHINRO Sulayman OluwaSesan ONILOGBO (KSO)
Bibi’re Kose F’owo Ra,
Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria.
