The footprints of the consummate leader, administrator per excellence and a man of integrity, Prof Taoheed Adedoja as he turns 70 on Thursday, May 27 2021.
Thursday, May 27, which coincides with Children’s Day celebrations is a happy and memorable day for a celebrated politician, technocrat and a man of vision, Prof Taoheed Adedoja as he gracefully turns 70.
Only a few will believe that the erudite scholar is 70, going by his youthful looks of a young man radiating positive energies and uncommon vibrancy for that age of 70 with the grace of God.
GOOD GOVERNANCE TRACKERS, with organs and networks across Nigeria in this piece has therefore chronicled the story of Prof. Taoheed Adedeji Adedoja as a reference point of emulation of a visionary and God fearing man who relies absolutely on the Almighty. A good man whose family, old friends and his community are dear to him, with the fear of the Almighty very paramount .
BIRTH AND PARENTS:
Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, an indigene of Ibadan, Oyo State was born on Children’s day, the 27th of May, 1951 in Kano, Kano State. He is one of the children of Late Pa Gbadamosi Omotoso Afolayan Adedoja who died at the age of 103 on August 16, 1987 and buried in his family compound at the Oloosa Igbonna in Popoyemoja, quarters in Ibadan and his late Mother, Alhaja Rabiat Layonu Olorunkemi of Sobaloju compound, Osogbo died at the age of 92 on 3rd March, 1992 and buried at the Ansarudeen burial ground in Osogbo Osun State.
EDUCATION:
Taoheed Adedoja had his primary education at Ansar-Ud-deen Primary School, Kano, from 1958 to 1965. His parents paid for his school fees in primary school but he went after one form of schorlardhip or the other in pursuit of further education or travels within and outside the country. He had received parental blessings for this, and attended Kano Teachers College with all expenses undertaken by Kano State government including monthly stipends for upkeep between 1966-1970 .He became the Deputy Senior Prefect at the College and thereafter proceeded to the College of Education, Abraka, in the then Midwest State ( now DeltaState) from 1972-1975 for the Nigeria Certificate in Education, NCE.
University education took him to the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife in 1975-1978 for a degree in Physical and Health education with the federal government bursary awards (full scholarships) for Education students .He later obtained the Masters of Science degree in Social Psychology at the Eastern Illinois University (EIU), Charleston Illinois, USA in 1981 with the EIU offer of graduate assistantship including tuition waiver and monthly stipend . Taoheed Adedoja proceeded to Oklahoma State University, Stillwater Oklahoma, USA for his Doctorate degree which he completed in record time in 1984 with the competitive Oyo State Overseas post graduate scholarship under late Governor Bola Ige.
ADEDOJA AS A YOUTH AND STUDENTS ACTIVIST
Taoheed Adedoja’s youthful experience and adventurous life have contributed immensely to his self development and better understanding of the needs of Nigerian youths.
His parents encouraged him to enroll as a member of the Nigerian Boy Scouts Movement in Kano, where he rose to the highest position of Eagles Scout at the age of 16.
Towards the end of the Nigerian civil war in 1968, Taoheed Adedoja emerged first position at a competition organized for youths in Kano, coordinated by the late Danmasanin Kano , Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule which qualified Taoheed Adedoja to represent Kano State among the 27 youths chosen from the then 27 States of Nigeria that travelled to the UK from Lagos in 1968 by Sea “ to showcase the unity of Nigeria inspite of the Nigerian civil war’’.
From 1976 to 1978 Taoheed Adedoja was a Student activist at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife and elected as National President of All Nigeria United Nations Students and Youths Association (ANUNSA) with opportunities to represent Nigerian youths at various international youth fora that took place in Japan, Yugoslavia, and the Special session of the United United Nations in New York. He also led Nigerian students tour to West African countries by road.
At the College of Education Abraka, he was the Public Relations Officer of the Students Union and a frontline member of the College basketball team from 1972-1975
PUBLIC SERVICE
Prof. Adedoja has had a very successful public service career with records of achievements, competence and integrity. His public service career started as an Education Supervisor at the Education Resource Centre, Shahuci, Ministry of Education, Kano, from 1971-1972 he then became a Lecturer at the Kano State College of Education, Gumel from 1979-1981 where he also served his NYSC (National Youth Service Corp). He became a para Graduate Assistant at the Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois, USA in 1981.
At the University of Maiduguri where he had his first appointment immediately he completed his studies from the United States, he was promoted twice within 4 years (1984–1988) under the accelerated promotion track initiated by Prof. Jubril Aminu, the then Vice Chancellor of the University “for outstanding lecturers”.
Prof Adedoja later moved to Bayero University Kano as Senior Lecturer, 1988-1991, he became a Head of the Department in Physical and Health Education, 1989-1995 and later became a Dean of the Faculty of Education from 1992 to 1996. Prof Adedoja became a Professor at the age of 43 at Bayero University Kano.
His outstanding stewardship as Provost of the Federal College of Education (special) Oyo from 1996 to 2002, earned him a commendation letter for GOOD LEADERSHIP by the Federal Government of Nigeria based on the white paper of the report of the visitation panel to the College.
Professor Adedoja left an indelible foot-print at the Federal College of Education, FCE (Special) Oyo, an institution cited as “the best of such colleges in the training of Teachers and Personnel for persons with Disabilities in AFRICA” and was subsequently engaged by the NUC, Abuja as a Consultant for two years by Prof. Peter Okebukola the then Executive Secretary of NUC who has always been impressed by Prof Adedoja`s leadership dispositions.
Prof Adedoja was later appointed by the British Council and DFID as Oyo State Adviser on Universal Basic Education for the World Bank grant to the State from 2003 to 2004 from where he was appointed Executive Chairman of Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board Oyo (SUBEB) by Governor Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja and subsequent retained by Governor Adebayo Alao Akala.
Prof Adedoja’s outstanding performance as Executive Chairman of Oyo State SUBEB from 2004 to 2006, earned Oyo State 2nd position for the year 2005 performance among all states in Nigeria for outstanding performance.
During Adedoja`s tenure, Oyo State experienced a hitch free recruitment and training of over 5,000 primary school teachers in the history of the State. As Oyo State Commissioner for Education from 2009 to 2010, the State recorded unprecedented reforms in the Education sector, paramount of which was the quality of monitoring of schools by the engagement of retired head teachers and retired principals.
Prof. Taoheed Adedoja’s transatlantic board room experience as a former consultant to several International agencies such as the British Council, Department of Foreign International Development, (DFID), UNESCO; UNICEF; NUC; the World Bank etc, has assisted his governance boardroom outlook.
In 2010, Prof, Adedoja attended an intensive training programme at the World Bank Institute, Washington DC, sponsored by the World Bank on Strategic Reforms in Education. In year 2020, he was at the Ohio State University , Dayton, Ohio, USA for an intensive training programme on research grantsmanship by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFUND. In the same year Prof Adedoja fully participated in the Education Summit on free primary and secondary education organized by Kano State government.
Prof Adedoja was once a visiting Professor to the University of Birmingham UK in 1999 and 2002, University of Zimbabwe in 1996, Wayne State University Detroit, Michigan, USA in 1998 and 2002; University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana; and visiting Professor at the National Open University of Nigeria from 2015 to 2017, as well as a visiting Professor at the National Teachers Institute Kaduna from 2017-2020.
He is currently a Consultant to several organisations and agencies, (public and private) alongside his participation in politics. He has authored and co-authored books and chapters in books as well as articles in reputable journals both locally and internationally which has attracted him additional global recognition.
Prof. Adedoja has received several awards at State, National, and International levels. His penchant for self-development and adventurism necessitate his active participation in several national and international meetings, conferences, exhibitions, competitions and consultancy services on education, cultural, social, economic and political issues which had taken him to 37 countries. He has equally served as a member of various accreditation panels: National Universities Commission, (NUC); National Board for Technical Education (NBTE); and National Commission for Colleges of Education, (NCCE); Member of Visitation Panels and external examiner to several institutions.
PRIVATE CONSULTANCY
Prof. Adedoja is currently a consultant in Education and social issues with several state governments, individuals, international organizations and private institutions as his clients. He is on the Board of Ibadan Business School, Harvest Institute of Agriculture, Infinity Care Initiative, He is a Grand Patron of Joint Associations for Persons with Disabilities and several other organizations.
He is a Member of the Nigerian Academy of educaNigerian Associatuon for Physical, Health Education, and Recreation, International Federation Adapted Physical Activities (IFAPA); Nigerian Institute of Management,
Member, International Society for Sports Science. Charter member, International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthrometry,
SCHOLARSHIPS
Prof Adedoja’s leadership qualities have earned him several scholarships both nationally and internationally amongst which were, the Federal Government of Nigeria Undergraduate Scholarship (1975-1978); Eastern Illinois University Scholarship, Charleston, Illinois, U.S.A, (1981); Oyo State of Nigeria overseas post‐ graduate scholarship (1982-1984); Commonwealth Foundations Travel Grant to Newzealand (1990); UNESCO Travel Fellowship to Japan, (1976); British Council Travel Fellowships to the UK, 1986; 1985; Association of African Universities (A.A.U)Travel grant to Zimbabwe in 1990.
MARITAL LIFE AND FAMILY
Behind every successful man is a good woman. It was a gloomy day for Prof. Taoheed Adedoja , his five children: Hakeem, Khafeela, Amina, Rabiat and Raheela, the entire Adedoja and Olapade families and other relations and friends across the country when on March 6, 2009 death took away Prof. Adedoja’s wife and childhood friend, Mrs. Hadijat Adebisi Adedoja Nee Olapade who died of kidney failure after a long battle at Coventry University hospital in UK, and flown home for burial in Ibadan.
Hadijat was a descendant of Ile Mogba Ayogun compound, (her late father’s family) and Oluawo Abodunrin compound both in Osogbo, Osun State. Late Hadijat who was described by many as a pious, respectful, caring and loving woman left a gaping hole in his life and family, they are blessed with five children and seven grand children.
In May 20 2016, 7 years after the demise of his late wife, Hadijat Adebisi, Prof. Adedoja got married to Jamila, the daughter of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. His marriage to Jamila has proved to be a stabilizing factor and marks another chapter in Adedoja’s life.
JOURNEY IN POLITICS
Prof Adedoja’s journey in politics began in 1998 as the Oyo State governorship candidate of the Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN), the election which was truncated by the death of the then Nigeria’s Head of State Gen Sani Abacha. Prof Adedoja also emerged as the governorship candidate of Action Congress (AC) under the leadership of Late Alhaji Lam Adesina in the 2007 governorship election which placed him in third position behind Chief Adebayo Akala of PDP who emerged governor of Oyo State with Late Abiola Ajimobi in second position.
Adedoja’s emergence as governorship candidate during the period enabled his familiarity with the political terrain and the socio-economic needs of Oyo State having toured all nooks and corners of the State during campaigns.
In March 13, 2009 Prof. Adedoja moved back to PDP and was appointed Commissioner for Education under Governor Adebayo Alao Akala from where he became the Minister for Sports and Special Duties representing Oyo State at the Federal Executive Council under President Goodluck Jonathan. Prof. Adedoja had a very Impressive records of achievements as Nigeria’s Sports Minister, rated as one of Nigeria’s best Sports Ministers since independence “for bringing professionalism and technocracy to the management of sports in Nigeria”. Though he did not make the final list of returnee ministers after the 2011 general elections, Prof. Adedoja was eventually appointed the Chairman and Pro Chancellor of the Federal University in Dutse, Jigawa State in 2014, a position where he also made a mark till he left in 2015.
Prof. Adedoja found his way back to APC from PDP in Oyo State in 2019 just when PDP won the the governorship election against the norms but by divine inspirations , according to him “ I left as divinely directed”. During an interview granted recently Prof. Adedoja was quoted to have said “my decisions on all my moves have never been dictated by human calculations but by divine directions. I always seek Allah’ s guidance and I am always satisfied with where ever God puts me because He is the All knowing”.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
As a philanthropist, Prof. Adedoja prefers not to publicize his numerous scholarship awards, and financial assistance to several indigent individuals who needed assistance but to seek for the mercy of God particularly for the hereafter.
CULTURE AND RELIGION
As the Mogaji of Oloosa Igbonna dynasty in Popoyemoja, Ibadan and recipient of several chieftaincy titles, the erudite scholar received the prestigious merit award of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, CCII in 2008 and he is a member of both Omoajorosun and Lagelu Social clubs in Ibadan, Prof. Adedoja played a very prominent role as the chairman of the Olubadan 90th Birthday planning committee which organized the historic one week long series of activities for the 90th birthday ceremony of the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Ajeogungunniso 1.The grand final ceremony was held on August 20 2018 at the University of Ibadan Conference Center.
Prof. Taoheed Adedeji Adedoja has been a member of the Ansarudeen Islamic society of Nigeria since his sojourn in Kano and one of the foundation members of the Bodija Muslim community Central mosque, Ibadan.
AT 70
To further tap from his wealth of experience in the Education sector, President Muhammad Buhari recently announced and confirmed the appointment Prof. Taoheed Adedoja as the Chairman of the governing council of the Federal College of Education, Obudu, in Cross Rivers State.
Prof. Taoheed Adedoja has never had any high profile ceremony and his 70th birthday that comes up on children’s day Thursday, May 27 this year 2021 will not be an exception. He prefers a happy moment of prayers and thanks to the Almighty for a fulfilling life of service to humanity and the benefits of divine capacity to still do more.
With Prof Adedoja’s acceptability across all geo political zones of Nigeria and his deep understanding of the socio economic and political terrain of Nigeria, he is regarded as a true pan Nigerian who fervently believes in the unity of the country.
GOOD GOVERNANCE TRACKERS,
Abuja Nigeria
