•CHICAGO Based Naija Biznessmen, Otunba AKEEM OSINOWO
Otunba Akeem Babatunde Osinowo is a proud Nigerian businessman based in Chicago in the United States of America. He is among the hardworking Nigerians making the country proud abroad. Akeem Osinowo runs Dee-Wyse Group of companies, a stream of business ventures which cover automobile, haulage and logistics, realtors, rental services, catering services, and ranch farms. He is also the founder of Dee-Wyse Foundation (DWF), a non-profit organisation that attends to the well-being of vulnerable children and widows by empowering them to break hardship and making them self-reliant.
Otunba Osinowo is a core Ijebu man and he doesn’t hide this. He is from an ancient town called Ilisan-Remo in Ogun State. His love for his home town is unrivalled as he always extends his hands of benevolence to the people by reaching out to the indigents and needy from time to time. Hence, the people of Ilisan-Remo singled him out for an honour. They recently installed him and his loving wife, Mrs. Baliqis Oluwatosin as Otunba and Yeye Otunba Gusenmade Ademo of Ilisan-Remo.
The installation ceremony was held on December 29, 2022 at the palace of His Royal Highness Oba M. O. M. Sonuga, the Olofin of Ilisan-Remo. The talk of town event was a glamorous one as family, friends and associates of Otunba Sonubi and wife stormed the palace to witness the occasion. Those based abroad turned up as they travelled down to Nigeria to witness the day. The reception party was held at Babcock University’s Cafeteria Hall where dignitaries and guests got entertained as popular Apala music icon, Alhaji Musiliu Haruna Ishola performed to further spice up the Occasion. City People’s Reporter, Jamiu Abubakar (08085185886) was at the ceremony. Meanwhile, he interviewed the newly installed Otunba where he got him to speak about his coronation and how he felt about it. He also dwells a lot on his love for business and how his mum influenced his love for doing business which eventful paved the way for him as a successful businessman.
How do you feel about your coronation ceremony?
I feel great. I never expected the crowd here today and I really appreciate everybody that came all the way from the US; Chicago especially all my friends. I want to thank all my Afro Diaspora club members in Chicago. I want to thank them especially for finding time to come all the way from the United States. Despite the bad weather, they still find time to come around. I feel great and humble as I appreciate everybody.
 The people of your community have honoured you with such a big title in the land, how do you feel about this?
I want to say I’m like a philanthropist. I have a business and I have a foundation which I have been running for a while. And I am giving back to the community, to the less privileged, to the orphanage. Through the foundation, I have distributed a lot of educational materials for students. Within the community, I just dug a bore hole to provide drinkable water for the people every day. Even if there is no electricity, they still have access to the water. I think these are part of the things that the community observed and thought of conferring me and my wife with the chieftaincy titles. Also, I do my philanthropic work in Lagos and everywhere.
What does the new title mean to you?
It means a lot. It means that the people appreciate what I have been doing in the community. This gives me a big challenge to do more. I usually hold a community programme every year. I’m even looking at ways of doing more. Most of what I do is in Lagos. I’m going to face my home town now by doing more of it.
How old is Dee-Wyse foundation?
 I have been running the foundation for a while. I started it in 2004 and I got it registered with CAC in 2020. It is called Dee-Wyse Foundation. I have a business group which I named the Wyees group. We specialize in farming haulage, cars, poultry and catering services. Through my company I was able to establish a foundation called the The Wyees foundation.
What is responsible for your high level of the industry?
Actually, I can say it’s hereditary. My grand mum is a business-oriented person. In her active days, she used to sell wares like kolanut from states to states in those days where there were limited means of transportation. They put it in their bags, they put it in their heads and walk from Ondo to Ijebu selling bitter kola. They used to sell it and likewise my mum took over that from her. In terms of being business oriented, I would say I took over that from my mum.
Tell us a bit about your background.
I was born in Lagos and I schooled in Lagos. I had my high school in Lagos and I had my college in Lagos. After then I worked briefly with the United Bank for Africa and during the merger, I started my own business called Wyse electronics.
During my business, I had a dealership with LG. Within that period, I proceeded to America with my family; I mean my wife and kids. So I have been in the states since 2009. All glory be to God, everything is doing great. My first daughter is in college now studying computer science. My son, Ibrahim is in his final year in high school. Farihat is my daughter and my last Aleem. They are all doing great.
What would you say about your wife who was also honoured with you today?
We met during our high school days. This year made it 30 years we have been together. We went to the same high school. I was her senior back then in Sanya Grammar School along Mile2-Ijesha road. We have been together for a long time. She is a cool headed lady. The gentility is too much and everybody knows her for her calmness. She is the sweetest person I have ever met. I love her so much and I don’t want anything to hurt her. We have been doing things together and we have been kicking it. She has 4 wonderful kids for me; 2 boys and 2 girls
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