A few days back,Senator Olugbenga Obadara who is from Ogun State clocked 60.But he does not look it.He still looks refreshingly young and vibrant. He was 60 on Monday 13th April 2020.He recently spoke to Citypeople Online about his life. Below are excerpts of the interview with the popular Ogun politician who has a rich pedigree.
Lets tell you a bit about this accomplished politician and successful businessman who has made a name for himself in the various fields he has served.
Senator Olugbenga Obadara, a son to the first Executive Chairman of Odeda Local Government, Chief Joseph Olajide Obadara, celebrates his Diamond Jubilee today, Monday 13th of April 2020.
Senator Olugbenga Obadara, an erstwhile member of the 7th National Assembly, representing Ogun Central Senatorial district, is well known for his sponsored and co-sponsored motions in the National Assembly; and unprecedented Developmental projects in the 74 wards of his Senatorial District.
Thus, the records of those wonderful accomplished projects are physically existing everywhere as references, which today no one has similar or equal achievements, needless of surpassing them. Perhaps, this pleasant performance has brought fame and consequently attract his Constituents to appreciate him.
Whilst in the Senate he was the Chairman of Privatisation and Commercialization Committee, and the only Chairman of a Senate Committee from Southwest of Nigeria.
He was a member of ECOWAS PARLIAMENT and the representative of ECOWAS in the UNITED NATIONS.
Moreso, he is a strong attention giver, a peace lover and possesses a high level of problem solving ability. The ability to persuade warring factions, all these were demonstrated in the recently extinguished resistive and angry contention in the Motorcycle Unions and several of such heated argument or conflict in the state.
He is an achiever and a Leader with extra ordinary accomplishment worth emulating. Before coming into politics he was a thoroughbred Corporate person with the following achievements both in Nigeria and internationally,
▪He is the first Nigerian to own a Telecom Switch in the United Kingdom.
▪The first Nigerian to operate and deploy pre-paid calling card platform in the United Kingdom.
▪The first person to deploy pre-paid calling card platform in Nigeria.
▪The first Nigerian to deploy electronic directory enquiry in West Africa.
▪The first operator of the largest multi-media platform in Nigeria and also the first person to deploy IX Solution across 9Nodes on NITEL Network for NITEL prepaid services.
▪He is the Founder and Chairman of LUCINDA MEDIA LIMITED, the Owner of SWEET FM 107.1. The first Entrepreneurial and Business Radio Station in Nigeria.
He later debut in the Nigerian telecommunications business becoming Managing Director of Imperial Telecommunications which pioneered pre-paid call cards and electronic directories in Nigeria.
▪He is consummate boardroom guru. At different times, he was the CEO and Managing Director of the aforementioned Telecommunication companies.
▪Senator Obadara was appointed the Vice Chairman of Media 15900 Limited;
Chairman, Kall Directories Limited;Director of Afrigate Limited; Director,
Redwood Technologies Limited; Director, Copy Centre Limited and, Director, SOS Transmitter Limited. For his contribution to the development of the Telecommunication Industry. He has received numerous awards. He was on Nigeria’s delegation at the Broadband Investment Summit and several telecommunication summits.
Senator Olugbenga Obadara is well read and Alumni of;
▪Ogun State College of Education, Ijebu Ode.
▪University of Benin, Benin City,
▪South Bank University, United Kingdom,
▪Institute of Public Private Partnerships, Arlington, United States and;
▪The Prestigious Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts.
How did you feel the morning you turned 60? Looking back how do you see your life?
With much adoration to my Creator who kept me to that day in peace, joy and happiness and above all a good health. Much have passed in the 60years but with deep faith in the Mighty Lord Jesus Christ I surmounted them. All glory to Him.
What are the lessons life has taught you ?
To have deep faith and serve God daily and in every situation for He is the Alpha and Omega that directs and ordained everything. When one door closed He always opened and another one without you knowing.
What are the highpoints and low points of your life at 60?
The high points of my life were many but few of them are when I had my first child Moremi Obadara, when I finished my programme in Harvard University, Boston Massachusetts, the day of my swearing in at the National Assembly as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, my first day at the United Nations, USA, New York representing ECOWAS Parliament for 4years and the opening of my Radio Station SWEET 107.1FM at Abeokuta, considering my beginning as a son of a Plantain Seller, Late Chief (Mrs)Lucinda Ayoka Obadara. Whilst the low points were when I lost my wife, Olufunsho Obadara and my mother.
You are a successful businessman and a great politician.How have you enjoyed the 2 worlds?
To God be all the glory. I have been favoured by Him to successfully be a pioneer of many ground breaking ventures in Nigeria and United Kingdom
And as a politician loyalty to the leadership, contentment and trustworthiness has been my ways of life and sustainability and they remain the only way to political success but above all trust and dedication to God
How do you see this Covid 19 pandemic?What are the lessons to learn?
It is very scary and the advice is to follow the instructions from our Government in order to flatten it completely.
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