Hon. Babatunde Olatunji is a member of the 9th Osun State Assembly, representing Ife North State Constituency. He is a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
He has been tipped to hold a key post in the 9th Osun State Assembly in recognition of his outstanding performance during his first term as a legislator. He sponsored bills to better the lives of the indigenes.
The brilliant lawmaker got re-elected for taking Parliamentary business to a greater height.
His vast experience in financial matters has given credence to his top-notch leadership qualities within and outside the political sphere. He was a former banker, who had held key positions in Union Bank, Wema Bank, and Access Bank.
He is a graduate of Computer Engineering from Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso. He also earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration, MBA, with specialisation in Financial Management. He is a workaholic whose contributions on the floor of the hallowed Chamber law of Osun State House of Assembly have changed the way Lawmaking business is conducted.
Hon. Olatunji is the Chairman of the Osun State House of Assembly Committee on Industry, Commerce, Cooperatives and Empowerment and his effectiveness assisted the state to recover millions of naira. He is also a member of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation. Hon. Olatunji is one of the contenders for the Speaker’s seat. He is also a Motivational Speaker, Philanthropist, an Astute Academic and the youngest member in the House.
Hon. Olatunji has a serious inclination in mentoring youths and supporting them in various ways such as e. Educational Ventures, Traditional-cum-Cultural Heritage events sponsorship and entrepreneurship throughout his constituency and beyond.
City People’s Magazine Business Development Manager, BUNMI DUROJAIYE, had an exclusive interview with Honourable Babatunde Olalekan Olatunji. He spoke on his desire for rendering service to his people and why he left his banking job to seek election into the Osun State House of Assembly for a second term and coming out victorious.
Tell us about yourself?
I am Honourable Babatunde Olatunji, a member representing Ife North State Constituency in Osun State House of Assembly. I started my Primary Education at Sijuade Primary School, Ile-Ife and my Secondary Education was at Seven Days Adventists Grammar School, which is now School of Science. I had my First Degree in Computer Engineering from Ladoke Akintola University. I also have a Masters’ in Business Administration (MBA) with Specialisation in Financial Management. I am a Business Development Expert. I was into Commercial Banking before joining politics in the last 4 years.
Why are you so popular in Osun State?
Inspirational leadership is the best way to maintain contact. If you must make a difference in governance, you go in there. I do the clearing up jobs. Politics helps one to get to the masses and I want to make a difference by bringing in clean players. You can actually maintain contact and not get contaminated. It guides me in things I do. I want to encourage others to join me in making every day worthwhile. I love to leave my footprints on the sands of time. I hope I will succeed in making a lot of difference between what was and what ought to be. This is why I chose to do more. For me, it is a calling.
It is one of the greatest callings one could have. Banking is a tasking career. leaving it for governance, I found out that banking is a child’s play. But politics is fulfilling and it gives more avenues to mentor more people. Tomorrow I will be in University of Ilorin to talk to students. I do a lot of Public Speaking and Mentoring for a better society. We must be ready to change our tomorrow because today is nothing, but the consequences of our yesterday. My hands are full; I am into many things.
Why are you so passionate about Leah Sharibu?
We both share the same birthday, which is the 14th of May. Second, I believe we all must rise against the scourge of insurgency and Boko Haram and Leah Sharibu became a victim in the course of pursuing her education and if you look at it, it takes a lot of encouragment for girls to go to school. The incident is getting global attention. It is painful to see a girl who in the course of getting education for future now becomes a victim of rabid religious fanaticism. Whatever we may feel, we must rise up and defend her. It is quite sad but we will continue to support her and pray for her. We are very hopeful and praying to God that soon she will be released one day out and be reunited with us. This is our little way of showing love and standing for justice and sending a signal to those involved that what they did was satanic, demonic and condemnable, as it is not the right thing to do.
We will continue to pursue course for her freedom devoid of political sentiments and pray for the Nigerian forces who are doing so much to stop Boko Haram and other agencies supporting them. We will continue to pray also for the government and we hope that God will put smiles on our faces.
What are you doing to help your constituents so far?
In 2012, I had a project known as “BIDI” which means “Be the Inspiration” BIDI and give back to society. Bring the Youths together. You do not need to wait for parents or the government to do something.
You should be your inspiration, if not you will not succeed. I know why I am in politics which is the purpose to serve and I think governance is all about problem-solving. I do a lot of critical thinking. Africans should start thinking about solving problems. If our forefathers died of malaria, we should be able to produce vaccines for the cure of malaria. Necessity Is the mother of invention and so, I find myself in so many places. I look out for problems to solve. I want more professionals in politics for them to bring their skills to bear on politics, which will better governance. And the job is a no thanks stuff. It is a ‘Thankless Job’. I’m a private person, but I sacrificed my privacy so that people can have access to me and it is fulfilling. I love to touch lives and being acknowledged to be among those building a better future which is worth more than a million dollars. Putting smiles on the faces of people is fulfilling. Some months ago, there is a village in my constituency where we did ‘Need Assessment’ and we agreed to open up a path to a major market with 3 to 4 kilometres graded road and it was in the last 37 years in 1982 that the village saw such a project. The villagers did not go to farms and they assisted workers to get the work done so, for me, it was heart-warming because it connects a big village in another constituency to a big market and short cut to another village. And these boost their revenues and ease their lifestyles, as it serves and boosts their economy and productivity.
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