It is, indeed, Sunday Adepoju versus Sunday Adepoju. The recent appointment of a former lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Sunday Adepoju Omo–yin, drained my phone battery as phone calls and messages kept coming in for days. They had thought that I, Sunday Adepoju of Ogbomoso origin, was the beneficiary of the federal appointment. He was appointed to serve on the governing board of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
This is not the first time that such mistake of identity would occur. There was a similar occurrence when President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him as PostMaster General of the Nigerian Postal Service. That one, I received calls and clarified the issues raised by my former classmates, colleagues, friends and, even, from politicians. That time, I went to an Ayo Olopon Game Centre around The Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso. An elderly man who had listened to the broadcast of the news on Parrot FM, 101.1 confidently said, “Sunday Adepoju, congratulations on your appointment. Is that why you have run away from us? It is bad of you to run away from this centre.” Other people, including artisans and civil servants there echoed the statements in unison.”
By this time, I explained to them that I share the name with a federal former legislator of Ibarapa origin, Oyo State. They seemed unconvinced, though.
In all, I had told my well wishers that the appointment was for a very distinguished politician from Ibarapa zone of Oyo State. This recent one is no exception.
Honestly, each of the times this happens, I feel very elated to share name with a great man of his caliber.
To you, my well wishers, Hon. Sunday Adepoju, of great integrity and good reputation, was born in a village called Idi-Ata Okolo Eruwa in Ibarapa East Local Governmnent Area of Oyo State. He attended Islamic Primary School, Ogunleke and Obaseeku High School Eruwa. He proceeded to The Polytechnic Ibadan and Yaba College of Technology for his National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Accountancy respectively. He obtained a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA Finance) from Federal University of Akure. He has worked in various private organizations as an accountant and also with Lagos State Government as Senior Special Assistant on Account to the former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), where he has handled sensitive and special assignments with a track record of excellent performance.
He has equally attended many courses and seminars at both national and international levels. The Rt. Hon. Sunday Adepoju is a member of professional transnational and social bodies, notably Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria, Chartered Institute of Taxation, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria and many more. Hence he has received several awards in various categories. He is a pathfinder, pace setter, philanthropist, human right activist, dogged fighter, community leader, an entrepreneur, a role model and cheerful giver. He is an active member of National Assembly since year 2011–2019 and he sponsored bills, motions and contributed effectively both at plenaries and at committee levels.
However, the mistaken Sunday Adepoju hails from Ogbomoso and attended, among others, Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara State where he studied Mass Communication and the Nigeria’s Premier University, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria where he studied Communication and Language Arts.
He work(ed) as a teacher; journalist with “The Insight” and “Nigerian Tribune” newspapers; lecturer at University of Calabar’s Mass Communication Department; Federal Polytechnic Ayede, Oyo State as lecturer as well as Protocols and Public Relations Officer. He also contributes articles to national dailies , including “Nigerian Tribune”, “The Punch”, “The Nation”, Ogbomoso Insight, “The Insight”, “National Insight”, Oyo Insight, “Mega Icon Magazine”, “The People’s Magazine”, “Solid State News”, among others. Apart from being a public relations strategist, Sunday Adepoju also co-publishes and co-edits Pa Nigerian News (pannigerianews.com).
I hereby humbly congratulate Hon. Sunday Adepoju Omoyin of Ibarapa zone, Oyo State. I pray for you more Solomonic wisdom, knowledge and understanding as you continue in the capacity as Honourable Governing Board Member of TETFund, under the distinguished chairmanship of Alhaji Amoni Masari, former Governor of Sokoto State, alongside other members.
…Sunday Adepoju ([email protected]; 08030578107), PR strategist and journalist, co-publishes and edits pannigeriannews.com.