SENATOR IYIOLA AJANI OMISORE
BIRTH/PARENTAGE
Senator Iyiola Ajani Omisore is a Chartered Engineer, a
qualified Public Private Partnership practitioner and a frontline Nigerian
Politician. Fondly referred ‘Otunba’ or ‘Apesin’ by his friends, professional
colleagues and political associates, he served as the second elected Deputy
Governor of Osun State, Nigeria from 1999-2002 on the platform of the Alliance
for Democracy. He was elected a member of the Nigerian Senate representing Osun
East district from 2003 -2011; on the platform of the People's Democratic Party
(PDP).
Senator Iyiola Ajani Omisore was born in Ile Ife, Osun
state, on 15 September 1957 into a royal family line of the people of Ile-Ife,
the cradle of the Yoruba race. He is the grandson of Lowa Omisore and his
father is Oba David Olajide Omsiore of Ayepe, Olode, Ile-Ife. Senator Omisore
is also the grandson of the Late Olufewara Kabiyesi, Oba Titus Adetoba of the
Oseganderuku ruling house in Ifewara where his mother, Princess Emila Adejola
ruled as Regent until her death in 2006.
Iyiola grew up in Ile-Ife, in a very large and extended
family where diligence, integrity and community service were part of both his
heritage and leadership responsibility as royalty. His parents were devout
Christians and members of the SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church Lagere Ile
Ife. Iyiola grew up and served as an altar boy to the priests, learning both
the value of giving as well as tolerance for all religions and people. It was
at this point that Iyiola started demonstrating the qualities of
forthrightness; keen intellect and uprightness which not only set him apart
from his peers but prepared him for community leadership and service.
EDUCATION
He had his primary education at the SS Peter and Paul
Roman Catholic School in Ile-Ife and his secondary education at St. John
Grammar School Ile Ife Osun State from 1972 – 1977, where he excelled. He later
attended Federal Polytechnic Owo in Ondo State Nigeria. He later sat for and
passed his Full Technological Certificate Examinations at the Technology
College, Reading UK, and obtained a diploma Certificate in
Electrical/Electronics Engineering. He also holds a Bachelor of Engineering
Degree in Power and Machines from Brunnel University Uxbridge, United Kingdom,
a postgraduate Certificate in Building service and Engineering Management and a
Master of Science Degree in Building Services from the same University.
Later, he went to Brunel University, Uxbridge, UK where
he earned a Post Graduate Certificate in Mechanical Engineering and an M.Sc
degree in Building Services Engineering. At present, the senator holds a Ph.D
in Infrastructure Finance from the International School of Management, Paris,
France and he is currently undergoing his DBA programme at the same
institution. In his pursuit of excellence, the Senator who is equally a Fellow
of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, England and Wales underwent several
courses in different high profile institutions. He did the Advanced Budgeting
Course at the George Town University, Washington DC, USA; the Appropriations
and Public Finance Course at the ABS Academy, Athens, Greece; the Advanced
Leadership Course at the University of Carolina; The Innovation and Leadership
Course at the West London College; the Public Finance Course at the Harvard
University and the Aid Effectiveness and Donour Harmonization Course at the
Internationale Weiterbildung und Entwicklung gGmbH, Germany.
In January 2013, he completed and was awarded a Doctorate
Degree by the International School of Management in Paris. He majored in
Procurement, Taxation, Corporate Governance, Infrastructure finance and Public
Private Partnerships. The concept of Public Private Partnerships is a key part
of the strategy that has been successfully used to provide affordable
infrastructure that meets public needs. The concept combines the best
capabilities of the Public and Private sectors for mutual benefit.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER
He is an embodiment of intelligence who has made the
pursuit of excellence his trademark. Senator Iyiola Omisore is an engineer and
politician of note, and an astute manager of resources whose attention to
detail, calmness, and ability to simplify, and proffer solutions to complex
issues is uncommon. In fact, his patriotic zeal and engineering acumen was
brought to play tremendously when he was in the Senate between 2003 and 2011
and the country benefitted tremendously from this.
Engineering
He started his early professional life with the firm of
Drake and Gordham while in the UK, in the early Eighties where he received on
the job training and rose to top Management positions. The same firm Drake and
Scull (Nig) Ltd took him back home to Nigeria where he worked on major
Engineering projects, it was while working at Drake and Scull that his project
management skills were horned. He later established his own Engineering firms;
Mechelec Consultants –an Engineering Consultancy outfit and Chrisore Eng Ltd –
an Electrical Engineering firm.
Omisore, a Fellow of the Chartered Institution of
Building Services Engineers started his engineering career as project manager
with Drake Gordham UK, Plc, in 1983 and was there up to 1985 before returning
to Nigeria to join Drake and Scull Nigeria Ltd also as Project Manager. Here,
he supervised the construction of 19 airfields including the Makurdi Air Force
Base. Apart from these, he supervised other projects like the Sokoto and
Makurdi Rice Mills, Taraku Oil Mill and the Sokoto University Teaching
Hospital. He was elevated to the post of a General Manager in 1987 and as a
General Manager there up till 1999, he handled such projects like the Federal
Mortgage Bank Headquarters Building, Onitsha Flour Mills, Bank of The North
(Now Unity Bank) Building, Podium Secretariat, Port Harcourt; Eternit, Sapele;
World Bank Assisted Health Projects for Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa States and
the Imiringi Rural Electrification project now in Bayelsa State.
OTHER PROJECTS
CBN Governor’s/Deputy Governor’s Lodges
UACN Commercial Complex, Abuja;
Union Bank (Stallion Plaza);
UBA Headquarters;
EIB Headquarters;
Afribank Headquarters;
British High Commission, Abuja;
Brawal Shipping Lines Office Complex (10 – Story)
As someone that has made his mark in the engineering
profession, he has some awards to show for this. He was conferred with the
Nigerian Society of Engineers Presidential Merit Award for Support and
Contribution to the Development of the Society in 2007. Also, when the NSE was
celebrating its Golden Jubilee in 2008, he was honoured with the Prime Award
for Remarkable Contribution to the Growth of Engineering Profession and
Society.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
On the consultancy side he was involved in the execution
of several World Bank assisted projects and ADB/ADF assisted projects in
virtually every part of Nigeria. Chisore Engineering Ltd was also involved in
the Execution of many projects for Blue Chip Companies, Banks, Embassies,
Shipping Companies; just to mention but a few. He was very successful in his
professional endeavour, he diversified and today has interest in several areas
of the Economy. He was in the process of taking Chrisore Engineering to be
listed on the stock Exchange before the duties of elective political office
beckoned on him. Omisore went ahead to establish Chrisore Engineering Plc in
1989 as well as Mechelec Consultants Ltd. Between the time of its establishment
and 1999, Chrisore Engineering of which he was the Chairman and CEO had
executed many projects.
These include the UACN Commercial Complex, Apapa; the
Central Bank of Nigeria Governor’s residence including the residences of its 5
Deputies; Afribank Headquarters; Eko International Bank Headquarters; UACN
Abuja Complex in addition to the Union Bank of Nigeria Headquarters.
Nineteen Nigerian Airfields including NAF base in Makurdi
Sokoto Rice Mills
Makurdi Rice Mills,
Taraku Oil Mills
Onitsha Flour Mills,
Eternit, Sapele
Bank of the North Headquarters, Kano
NTA/NTI, Kaduna
Federal Mortgage Bank, Lagos,
Sokoto Teaching Hospital,
Podium Secretariat, Port Harcourt
Immirungi Rural Electrification, Bayelsa,
Okpella Cement Factory
World Bank Assisted Projects
Enugu State Multi-State Road Project;
Ondo State Multi-State Road Project;
Kano/Jigawa Multi-State Road Project;
Ondo/Enugu IDF
Sokoto/Zamfara Multi-State Health Project;
Ondo/Bauchi Multi-State Health Project;
Ogun/Kaduna Multi-State Health Project;
ADB/ADF Assisted Projects:
Kwara Water Supply;
Bauchi Water Supply;
Delta Water Supply;
Lagos Fishing Terminal;
Nkalagu Cement Factory
NSPMC Proposed Factory in Jos;
Ondo State Afforestation Project
Procurement and Infrastructure Finance
Also, in its ten years of existence, Mechelec Consultants
where he was the Principal Partner had firmly registered itself in the
construction industry. Projects executed successfully within this period
included: African Development Bank financed projects across the states; World
Bank financed projects in Enugu, Kaduna, Niger, Sokoto, Bauchi, Kwara and Imo
States; World Bank Health System Fund II in Lagos State; World Bank Assisted
Lagos Urban Transportation Project and the Pakistani Suppliers’ Credit on Rural
Electrification in Ondo and Niger States.
POLITICAL VIEWS AND POLICIES
Omisore’s involvement in politics started early in life
as his family has always been involved in politics both at sub-national and
national levels. He has also been active in international relations,
representing Nigeria’s interest and position at various global processes and
conferences. In the transition years of the Babangida Administration, he was
involved in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and later became a member of the
Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM), UNCP in the Abacha years, under the Gen.
Abubakar transition years he got involved with the Pan Yoruba group Afenifere
(a pre-democratic activist group largely in south west Nigeria), where he was
caucus leader for Osun State and the south west region of Nigeria. It was
natural for him to have been involved in the formation of People's Democratic
Party (PDP), All People’s Party (APP) and finally Alliance for Democracy (AD)
where he was a top financial backer.
DEPUTY GOVERNOR, OSUN STATE (1999 – 2003)
Iyiola Omisore served as Deputy Governor of Osun State
from 1999 -2002. Being highly focused and single minded in pursuing whatever
goal he sets for himself. Omisore helped built up and funded an elaborate
political machine to support his bid for Osun state Governorship as a candidate
for the Alliance for Democracy AD in the 1999 election. However, the AD
leadership preferred Chief Adebisi Akande as Governor, leaving Omisore as
candidate for the deputy Governor position. The two men won, but their alliance
fell apart when it became apparent that Akande would seek a second term rather
than step aside in favour of Omisore, as initially agreed.
Several attempts were made to get rid of Omisore either
through impeachment or otherwise; as some elements in the Government felt
threatened by his emergence as the natural successor to the Governor, The
impeachment of Iyiola Omisore was frustrated by Hon. Odunayo Olagbaju and some
other legislators in Osun state House of Assembly.
Being the more outgoing between the Governor and his
deputy, Iyiola Omisore had his loyalists and supporters in the then ruling
party in Osun state (AD).Seeing the turn of events and the maltreatment of the
Deputy Governor, the supporters of Iyiola Omisore in a highly strategic move
decided to shift their allegiance to the PDP, while the Deputy Governor was
still in the AD. The weeks preceding the Christmas of year 2001, were very
tragic for Osun state. Hon. Odunayo Olagbaju was murdered in broad day light on
19 December while Chief Bola Ige, the federal Attorney General was killed in
his house in Ibadan on 23 December 2001.
The events of the aftermath of Otunba Omisore’s
impeachment and movement to the PDP resulted in his being wrongfully accused of
involvement in the unfortunate murder of Chief Bola Ige (former Attorney
General and Minister of Justice). Otunba Omisore was subsequently detained in
prison from December, 2002 to .June 2004, when he was discharged and acquitted
of the charges by the courts. It was during this period of Otunba Omisore’s
detention in prison that he contested and won a senatorial seat to represent
Osun East senatorial district in the Nigerian senate.
Between 1999 and 2003, Omisore was a Deputy Governor in
Osun State, and afterwards, contested and won a seat in the Senate. At the
Upper Chamber where he was between 2003 and 2011, he served meritoriously. He
was Chairman, Senate Committee on Industries between 2004 and 2005, Chairman,
Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs between 2005 and 2007, then served as
Chairman, Committee On Culture and Tourism and later as Chairman, Committee On
Appropriations. Besides, he was Chairman, UNDP/NASS Support Implementation
Committee.
LEGISLATIVE CAREER
Dr. Iyiola Omisore was elected to the senate representing
Osun East district in April 2003, a position he held for two terms until the
June 2011.
First Senate term: 2003 – 2007
Outstandingly, his 2003 campaign for the seat in the
Nigerian Senate was organized while he was in detention for the purported
murder of the Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige. The campaign
was intricately organized by his supporters, who were fiercely loyal to him
supported by widespread general population from the citizens of the state who
believed that his detention was illegal and that he, Omisore, was being
persecuted for standing with the people of the state to protect their voices
and an open democratic process that must reflect all perspective and ages,
especially the young, vulnerable and socially marginalized. This was the
situation the period before the PDP leaders decided to field Omisore and he won
in all the local governments of the senatorial district. Dr. Iyiola Omisore was
subsequently acquitted of any involvement or complicity in the murder of the
Attorney General by the High court. Iyiola Omisore was elected to the Senate
for the Osun East constituency in April 2003 running for the PDP, while still
on trial.
In August 2006, his father Oba Olajide Omisore, was
crowned as the first Olu of Olode Town in Ife South Local Government Area of
Osun State. In September 2006, Senator Iyiola Omisore of the Senate Committee
on Commerce was among the Nigerian officials at the Madrid International
Fashion Week.
Senate second term 2007-2011
In 2007, in spite of many attempt by opposition parties
to use this against his political strengthen and people engagement, Dr. Omisore
contested for the seat in 2007 and retained his seat in the Senate until 2011. Iyiola
Omisore was reelected for Osun East in 2007. He was appointed to committees for
Police Affairs, Housing, Culture & Tourism, Aviation and Appropriation. In
May 2008, Iyiola Omisore was named as a member of the National Assembly Joint
Committee on Constitution Review (JCCR).
In September 2008, as Chairman of the Implementation
Committee for the UNDP/National Assembly Support Program, Omisore said that
everyone must be involved in deciding what forms part of the appropriation
estimate for Niger Delta development. In December 2008, Senator Omisore spoke
in favor of using the nation’s accumulated external reserve to finance any
revenue shortfall rather than borrowing from abroad.
In October 2008, Omisore was one of the Nigerian
delegates to the 5th Consultative Assembly of Parliamentarians in Santo
Domingo, Dominican Republic. In March 2009, Omisore attended the 24th
International Conference on Solid Waste Technology and Management in
Philadelphia, US, where he discussed Constitutional Policy Frameworks and Solid
Waste Management in Nigeria.
In August 2009, Omisore expressed grave concern about
abandoned projects in the country, and said the National Assembly had decided
to include the list of abandoned projects in the budget. In September 2009, as
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Iyiola Omisore denied that
the committee diverted N1.7 billion meant for the rehabilitation of Calabar-Itu
and Calabar-Ikom roads in Cross River State in the 2009 budget. In an interview
that month, talking on failure of the Federal government to implement projects,
he said that the problem of carrying over budgets from one year to another
causes confusion and enlarges corruption. There was also a shortage of
qualified engineers for the projects. He blamed some problems on the military
government that ruled until 1999, saying "You cannot correct errors of
yesteryears in less than 30 years." In another interview, he said that the
new revenue formula that was in the works would give more money to the states,
and not the federal government.
KEY LEGISLATIVE CONTRIBUTIONS
During his tenure in the upper legislative chamber in
Nigeria, Senator Omisore distinguished himself not only in name but also by the
key positions he held and the achievements recorded during this period at all
levels of governance.
Key positions held include
Chairman, Senate Committee on Industries, 2004 – 2005
Chairman, Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs,
2005 – 2007
Chairman, Joint Finance Committee
Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, 2007 -
Date
Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations (2007 -2011)
Chairman, UNDP/NASS Support Implementation Committee
(2007 - 2011)
Chairman, Board of Fellows, Institute of Public
Administration of Nigeria.
While he was the Chairman, Senate Committee on
Appropriation, he worked with other members of the committee over 4 rounds of
national budget reviews and allocation, increasing national investments in
infrastructure, economic and social development as well as championing civic
engagement in what has become nationally recognized as the ‘Inclusive national
budgeting initiative’. Using this platform he transformed the appropriations
processes into an evidence and people responsive process, taking on publicly
solicited citizens and institutional perspectives to guide allocations and
appropriations. While this often meant that long and challenging negotiations
were required with the executive and implementing ministries departments and
agencies, Dr. Omisore’s leadership and people skills kept all views and
thoughts included until a shared budgetary consensus was achieved.
Dr. Omsiore further worked with global institutions and
national civil society organizations to ensure that there is alignment between
overseas development assistance and national budgeting and appropriation
process, proposing for legislative action to support improved research evidence
support alignment while focusing on improved budgeting performance and results.
The overarching objective was to ensure of his work over the 4 year period as
Chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the Upper Legislative Chamber of
the Nigerian Assembly was to transform budgeting and appropriation into
Socially Desirable Projects with sustained impact on national development. His
work development assistance and performance with effective engagement of civil
society is recognized by the International Health Partnership Plus and other
international agencies
Omisore used his office to improve the level of
infrastructural development of the nation, especially road and water supply
infrastructures network. He used his office to facilitate bold and
transformative investments of the national budget in infrastructure, health and
human capital development (education, youth development and economic
empowerment). Many of these projects reflect the deployment of his professional
capacity and a commitment to bridge the infrastructure gaps in national
development and economic growth.
Some of his key achievements include
Infrastructure
(a) Dualization of Ilorin-Ogbomosho-Ibadan road
(b) Repair of Ibadan road
(c) Dualisation of Ijebu Ode-Ibadan road, Ondo-Akure,
Ore-Ondo, Ore-Ipele-Lokoja, Abuja-Lokoja-Okene, Akure-Ado Ekiti, Ado-Ifaki,
Aramoko-Ado-Ijero and Gbongan-Sekona-Osogbo roads.
(d) Reconstruction of Oja-Ife market and expansion of the
stall to 24, with further provision of fund for electrification of the market,
sinking of boreholes, Provision of burglary proof etc and rehabilitation of the
stall owners
(e) Rural Electrification @villages in Osun east
(f) UNESCO Cultural Centre (also tourism)
(g) Multipurpose dams in Ife-Ijesha, Oyan, Yemoji, Ijebu
Ode, Ogbese
(h) Dredging of erosion channels from Oke-Eso to Alapata
to Ondo Road and from Ilode to Mokuro to Esinmirin
(i) Rehabilitation of Ife-Ipetu-Ilesa-Akure road
(j) Oora stream channelization
(k) Facilitated Projects in OAU
(l) Rehabilitation of Ife Ondo Road
(m) Solar powered boreholes at various locations in
Ile-Ife, Osun East
(n) Solar powered street lighting at various locations in
Ife, Ilesha and Osun Estate
(o) Injection sub-station 132/33kv at Imo in Ilesha
(p) Dualization of Mayfair-Lagere-Enuwa-Moore-Ilesha Bye
pass-Akure
(q) Rehabilitation of Ife-Ibadan Road
(r) Secondary pipe distribution to Iwo water works
Health
(a) Facilitated Projects in OAUTH
Human Capital Development (Education, Youth Development
and Economic Empowerment)
(a) Living Spring Free Trade Zone, Oshogbo
(b) NAPEP
(c) SMEDAN
Although he lost his seat to the senate in the national
elections of 2011, Dr. Iyiola Omisore remains undaunted in his commitment to
the development of Osun State, as well as the overall stability and economic
progress of Nigeria. He retained his extensive ties with the legislative and
executive process to ensure sustained investments in all the projects above,
and contribute to national directions adopting concessional and the public
private financing approach for sustained impact.
RELIGIOUS VIEW
Dr. Iyiola Omisore is a devout Christian of the catholic
faith. He was nurtured in a God fearing Christian family and has ingrained into
his royal birth the responsibility to acknowledge the needs of others and to
remain at all times his brother’s keeper, accountable not only to man but also
to God. . This faith drives his commitment to community service and to
philanthropy. He is very humane, a firm believer in enabling and empowering
Christian values, promoting the rights of individuals, respect for people of
all faith and how these contribute to building resilient young persons and
forthright adults who can contribute to community and national development.
Dr. Omisore’s unparalled commitment to community service
and philanthropy remains cradled by this deep faith, religious convictions and
respect for all persons without prejudice to their social status, ethnicity or
race, a key attribute of the popular support he enjoys from citizens,
professional colleagues, friends and political associates.
PHILANTHROPY
Advising the youth, the Nigerian Institution of
Mechanical Engineers Fellow stated: "They should know the children of who
they are, they should know the houses from which they came from, they should
also know that good name is better than either silver or gold. They should go
back to the core values that make Yoruba race stand out from other
tribes."
Iyiola Omisore sprang to recognition and prominence with
his people as a result of his philanthropic activities over two decades ago. At
the last count he has personally funded or facilitated the funding of over two
hundred and fifty (250) projects widely spread all over his home state of osun
and in other states in Nigeria.
The philanthropist when asked about his contribution to
the development of the Yoruba youths responded by saying, "I organize
scholarship programmes, pay school fees of less privileged students, help the
needy ones. These are things which are part of the life people responsive
leadership, the heritage of my birth ‘bi bi ire’ that our forbearers often
charged us to always recall, and the duty I bear on account of my faith that
through one person God provides for us all. These principles are the pillars of
my commitment to philanthropy. The humanitarian, humble, friendly, and
hardworking engineer opined, "My basic philosophy is simple and it is: "love
your neighbour as yourself. When you love your neighbour, you will not hurt
him," and secondly, "do unto others what you would like them to do
unto you. These all are what the Holy books of all religions charge us to, but
of course I came about these philosophies from my parentage and the
responsibilities of my birth." These words show how much he values
loving-kindness and reciprocity.
COMMUNITY SERVICE AND CULTURAL IMAGE
Senator Iyiola Omisore is a grass root Politician, a
political mobiliser and a community man, who has always being involved in
development efforts in his place of birth, Ile Ife. He has been conferred with
over twenty (20) traditional titles by different communities, where he has won
the admiration of the people. He is a free mixer and could be found in the
circle of both high and the lowly throughout Nigeria. He is also very much at
home within the academia and has presented several academic papers at various
academic functions. Speaking about ways to improve development in Yorubaland, Omisore,
a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical Engineers, England and Wales said,
"All Yoruba indigenes should go back to the core values of the Yoruba
which emphasizes more on honesty, love, reputation and good names instead of
wealth and fame."
As a distinguished Yoruba man whose impact has been felt
in various towns in Yorubaland, Omisore has in his kitty different chieftaincy
titles, all conferred by the kings of these towns in appreciation of what he
has done to support community development and strengthen the contribution of
traditional systems to public governance and order. The prolific engineer and
politician amongst many other chieftaincy titles:
Apesin Oodua of the Source;
High Chief Lisa of Osogboland;
Bashorun of Ijeshaland;
Asiwaju Balogun of Ibadanland
Akinrogun of Edeland;
Maiyegun of Ijero Kingdom;
Seriki of Usi Ekiti;
Agbaakin of Ila Orangun;
Ashipa of Inisha Kingdom;
Otunba of Ipetu Modu;
Akinrogun of Ede;
Otunba of Odo-Eku.
The recognition of his community service, traditional actions
and philanthropy are not limited to Yoruba land. Dr. Iyiola Omisore has been
further honoured with the title "Zege Huror u Kwande man ishan na" a
title gotten from Kwande, Benue State in the Northern part of the country.
The College of Education, Ila Orangun, Osun State has
equally honoured him with the "Fellowship for Good Human Relationship With
People at the Grassroots" and "Invaluable Contribution Towards
Alleviating the Problems of the Society" just as Rufus Giwa Polytechnic,
his alma mater has also awarded him a fellowship of the polytechnic for
"Valuable Contribution Towards Technological Advancement and Courses
Accreditation."
FAMILY AND PERSONAL LIFE
Iyiola, is happily married to Mojisola Omisore (née
Fasuba), a native of …. In Ekiti State. Mojisola is a barrister and solicitor.
Iyiola is blessed with children, who are engaged in diverse academic pursuits.
In line with the social and leadership responsibilities of his royal linage,
Iyiola provides paternal support and parental guidance to a large number of
young persons in his primary family, members of his community and the wider
community. Senator Iyiola Omisore, the Apesin O’dua has an active social life.
He is member of notable social clubs including the Ikoyi Club, Lagos Island Clun,
Abuja Golf Clun and the Metropolitan Club. Senator Iyiola Omisore remains a
major political bridge builder in Nigeria and a leading pan Yoruba politician
whose views on national political issues shapes public opinion.
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