On July 21, 2024, I will have the honour of delivering a commencement speech at Adeleke University in Ede, Osun State. It is a privilege to write about the university’s founder, Dr Adedeji Adeleke, a man of many accomplishments . “ Adeleke ” is a revered name in Nigeria and beyond , exerting notable influence across diverse facets of Nigerian daily life , including politics , education, business, religion, and entertainment .
If you are un familiar with Adeleke as a household name, you are probably missing out on insights into these vital aspects of Nigerian society. Dr Adeleke was born in 1957 in Enugu, Nigeria, to a Muslim father, Senator Ayoola Adeleke and a Christian mother, Esther Adeleke , as the fourth among the six children of the couple . H is father was a Nigerian senator, while his mother was a nurse.
Dr Adeleke attended Ansar- ud -Deen P rimary S chool in Lagos from 1965-1970 , after which he gained admission in to Seventh-Day Adventist Grammar School, Ede, Western Region , now Osun State , where he obtained his West African School Certificate in 1975 . After briefly working at the Federal Ministry of Education , Dr Adeleke enrolled at Western Kentucky University (WKU) in 1976 . He earned his MBA from WKU in 1981 and went on to complete a doctoral degree at Pacific Columbia University in 1983.
The visionary billionaire from Osun State, by virtue of his family ’ s legacy of unwavering brightness and prestige, brings smiles to the faces of people who know hi.