ILLUSTRIOUS SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF ILOBU, (VOLUME TWO) 24TH EDITION
I
present to you a man who is a silent achiever, a guru in the field of
Economics, a banker of the first class and a source of inspiration to
the generations after him. He rose from grass to grace, greasing his
actions with determination, stubbornness, supports and encouragement
from some illustrious son of Ilobu Asake and divine guidance. He is one man who has quietly projected and placed Ilobu Asake at a vantage position for a positive overview.
Alhaji Najeem Gbadebo (Abdul) Salam was born on 4 December, 1965 at Arinkinkin, Irewole Local Government Area of Osun State. He hails from Alagbaa Isale’s Compound, Ilobu, and was born to late Alhaji Folorunso Dakanlukan Ojo AbdulSalam and Madam Seliat Ejide AbdulSalam. He attended African Church Primary School, Arinkinkin from 1973 to 1979 after which he was admitted into the Ilobu Secondary Commercial Grammar School, Ilobu (1979-1984). His set was the pioneer beneficiaries of the late Bola Ige’s free education programme , Bola Ige’s government was inaugurated just few weeks after their resumption. His set at Ilobu Secondary Commercial Grammar School (1979-1984) is believed to be a golden set, considering the large number of students who proceeded to higher institutions from the set.
In 1986, his academic pursuit took him to Baptist High School, Ede, where he wrote his WASC A Level examinations in 1987. It should be noted here that he was assisted into the Ede A Level class by Mr. Sulaiman Olatunji, the brother of his close friend, Late Muniru Olatunji of Oba Araoye lineage. His interest to study Economics as a course in the University was developed when he was doing his A Level program as he was exposed to the valuable and wide areas that Economics covers. With his A Level, he was very much determined for a university education. He could not secure admission through direct entry, thus in 1989, he sat and passed JAMB after an unsuccessful effort in 1988. He gained admission to study Economics at the University of Ibadan (the premier university), resumed for academic activities in January, 1990 and graduated as one of the very best in the class with a second class upper in 1994. He did his mandatory NYSC primary assignment at the Salvation School of Commerce, Nkwelle Ezunaka, near Onitsha, Anambra State between 1994 and 1995.
His Msc. In Economics programme at the same University of Ibadan was made possible with divine intervention from God Almighty who used his friend, Dr. Olabisi Suleiman Ajala and Jelili Niyi Olawale who traveled down to Lagos to persuade him to take the admission offered him by UI. He was reluctant to run the Msc. programme then as he longed for a job rather than running from pillar to pole to source for money to run the program. He sailed through with the financial assistance obtained from Alhaji Babatunde and Alhaji Dauda Adebisi-Balogun. He had also secured admission twice for his Phd. program but time had consistently been his greatest enemy, owing to his busy schedule of work. He had worked at several media houses as a business reporter and as a marketing officer at IGI from 1999 until 2002 when he joined the Central Bank of Nigeria as a Senior Supervisor. He has since risen to the position of a Senior Manager in 2016, a position he occupies till date. He was the Secretary of the Reformers Movement, Ilobu in the 90s and the Chairman, Ilobu Concerned Citizens till date. With these two Clubs, he has served Ilobu meritoriously with other members who belong to the elite class.
He is one of the founding fathers of Ilobu National Students’ Union. He contested for the position of the President when the first Executive cabinet of the Union was to be constituted in 1991 after the Coordinating period of Alhaji Ishaq Awotunde but lost to his friend; Mikahil Olaniran. He then settled for the position of an Organizing Secretary. He was always at the forefront of INSU programs in those good old days; taught at INSU organized extra-mural classes and took part in various career talks for students of High Schools.
Thus, considering his silent contributions to the uplift of people in Ilobu cum being a source of inspiration to the youths who are coming behind and with his commitment and interest in Ilobu agenda, I therefore present Alhaji Najeem Gbadebo (Abdul) Salam to the whole world for recognition and appreciation as an Illustrious son of Ilobu Asake.
Dare Alabi,
Project Director.
Alhaji Najeem Gbadebo (Abdul) Salam was born on 4 December, 1965 at Arinkinkin, Irewole Local Government Area of Osun State. He hails from Alagbaa Isale’s Compound, Ilobu, and was born to late Alhaji Folorunso Dakanlukan Ojo AbdulSalam and Madam Seliat Ejide AbdulSalam. He attended African Church Primary School, Arinkinkin from 1973 to 1979 after which he was admitted into the Ilobu Secondary Commercial Grammar School, Ilobu (1979-1984). His set was the pioneer beneficiaries of the late Bola Ige’s free education programme , Bola Ige’s government was inaugurated just few weeks after their resumption. His set at Ilobu Secondary Commercial Grammar School (1979-1984) is believed to be a golden set, considering the large number of students who proceeded to higher institutions from the set.
In 1986, his academic pursuit took him to Baptist High School, Ede, where he wrote his WASC A Level examinations in 1987. It should be noted here that he was assisted into the Ede A Level class by Mr. Sulaiman Olatunji, the brother of his close friend, Late Muniru Olatunji of Oba Araoye lineage. His interest to study Economics as a course in the University was developed when he was doing his A Level program as he was exposed to the valuable and wide areas that Economics covers. With his A Level, he was very much determined for a university education. He could not secure admission through direct entry, thus in 1989, he sat and passed JAMB after an unsuccessful effort in 1988. He gained admission to study Economics at the University of Ibadan (the premier university), resumed for academic activities in January, 1990 and graduated as one of the very best in the class with a second class upper in 1994. He did his mandatory NYSC primary assignment at the Salvation School of Commerce, Nkwelle Ezunaka, near Onitsha, Anambra State between 1994 and 1995.
His Msc. In Economics programme at the same University of Ibadan was made possible with divine intervention from God Almighty who used his friend, Dr. Olabisi Suleiman Ajala and Jelili Niyi Olawale who traveled down to Lagos to persuade him to take the admission offered him by UI. He was reluctant to run the Msc. programme then as he longed for a job rather than running from pillar to pole to source for money to run the program. He sailed through with the financial assistance obtained from Alhaji Babatunde and Alhaji Dauda Adebisi-Balogun. He had also secured admission twice for his Phd. program but time had consistently been his greatest enemy, owing to his busy schedule of work. He had worked at several media houses as a business reporter and as a marketing officer at IGI from 1999 until 2002 when he joined the Central Bank of Nigeria as a Senior Supervisor. He has since risen to the position of a Senior Manager in 2016, a position he occupies till date. He was the Secretary of the Reformers Movement, Ilobu in the 90s and the Chairman, Ilobu Concerned Citizens till date. With these two Clubs, he has served Ilobu meritoriously with other members who belong to the elite class.
He is one of the founding fathers of Ilobu National Students’ Union. He contested for the position of the President when the first Executive cabinet of the Union was to be constituted in 1991 after the Coordinating period of Alhaji Ishaq Awotunde but lost to his friend; Mikahil Olaniran. He then settled for the position of an Organizing Secretary. He was always at the forefront of INSU programs in those good old days; taught at INSU organized extra-mural classes and took part in various career talks for students of High Schools.
Thus, considering his silent contributions to the uplift of people in Ilobu cum being a source of inspiration to the youths who are coming behind and with his commitment and interest in Ilobu agenda, I therefore present Alhaji Najeem Gbadebo (Abdul) Salam to the whole world for recognition and appreciation as an Illustrious son of Ilobu Asake.
Dare Alabi,
Project Director.
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