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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Olayide Owolabi Adelami was born over 60 years ago in Owo, Ondo state.
Adelami attended the prestigious Imade College, Owo, before proceeding to The Polytechnic, Ibadan for his GCE A Level. He attended the University of Lagos for his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, and obtained a MBA degree from Ogun State University.
After completing his mandatory one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme in June 1983, Adelami got appointment in the Federal Civil Service as Accountant II in December, 1983. He was posted to the Treasury Department in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation. In 1988, he was posted to the National Assembly Provisional Office, Abuja, as one of the pioneer staff of the Constituent Assembly, which later metamorphosed into the National Assembly.
Adelami had the singular privilege of setting up the Finance and Accounts Department of the National Assembly. In 1996, he was invited to assist in setting up the Accounts Department of the Petroleum Special Trust Fund. After completing this task, he served at the Family Support Trust Fund, where, again, he assisted in setting up the Finance and Accounts Department. He was the head this department between 1996 and 2000.
Adelami was recalled to the National Assembly in 2000 to strengthen the Finance and Accounts Department. In 2003, he was made the Head of Finance and Accounts Department of the National Assembly, a position he held until 2007 when he was confirmed as a Director. Adelami was nominated for a one year senior management course at the prestigious National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos.
After the completing the course in 2008, he was named the pioneer Director of the newly created Department of Procurement and Supplies.
In 2014, he was promoted to the position of Permanent Secretary, Directorate of Procurement, Estate and Works, a position he held until he was appointed as the Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly.
He remained the Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly until his retirement in April 2018.
Adelami’s political journey started shortly after his retirement following his appointment as the Coordinator, Presidential Support Committee for Ondo State. The mandate of the committee was to reconcile aggrieved APC members, as well as coordinate the activities of the various support groups across the state for President Muhammadu Buhari’s reelection in 2019.
Adelami contested the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket in 2020, but later stepped down for late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
He was nominated as deputy governor by Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Wednesday, January 24, 2024.
The new deputy governor is a Fellow, Certified National Accountants of Nigeria; Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Management (FNIM); Fellow, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) and Fellow, Institute of Cost and Management Accountant (FCMA).