The governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Adelabu has disclosed his life journey from being a hawker to Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, where he served at the age of forty-three.
He shared his sojourn through life while addressing youths in Ibadan at the Youths Enterprise Conference organized by the chief executive officer of NairaBet and House of Representatives aspirant, Otunba Akin Alabi.
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Adelabu, who is one of the grandchildren of the late nationalist politician, Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu, said he was favoured through the legacy of his grandfather.
“My grandfather stood against any form of mess in politics and that is why he was named ‘Peculiar Mess’.
“Politicians of those days were only interested in getting rich and building names for themselves, Adelabu wasn’t rich, he died early, but his name remains relevant and this shows a good name is better than gold.”
The governorship aspirant shared with youths how he reached stardom; from hawking pepper into a first class graduate of Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU.
“I never had three square meal while growing up, I only read it in books. I hawked pepper, onions and dried okro for my mother before having breakfast. It was really tough and I struggled throughout my education. As God will have it, I graduated with first class in accounting from OAU because I believed in God, dreamt big and was hardworking.
“Before I finished my NYSC in 1992, I had eight different job offers. At the age of 28, I was already Financial Controller of the Nigerian Bank. We all know Femi Pedro, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, he was my MD then, Jide Sanwo-Olu was the treasurer and both of us by God’s grace will be governors of Lagos and Oyo States.
“At the age of 37, I became an Executive Director/Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of First Bank of Nigeria Plc. In 2007, I was given N20 million as sign off fee.
“On a faithful Sunday, I was monitoring the construction of one of my hotels in Ibadan, when I got a call from President Goodluck Jonathan. And after necessary meetings, I was made Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at the age of 43.
“I have been the youngest to occupy any position I did in my life. CBN never appointed anyone younger than 50 years and I was 43.
“Go and check my records, I excelled in all assignments,” he added.
Adelabu, however, advised youths to believe in themselves, in God, dream big and be hardworking.