By Jeremiah Aminu
New Daily Prime nominee Kayode Adaramodu, along with Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior; Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC); and Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, the wife of the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, has been nominated for the Best Personality and Leadership Excellence Award 2025 in recognition of their distinguished service and outstanding contributions to public service and community development.
Commenting on the essence of leadership, John Maxwell once said: “Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another.” This quote exemplifies the character of Kayode Adaramodu, popularly known as Odundun, who has achieved remarkable feats across banking, politics, and public service.
It is therefore unsurprising that City People Magazine recognised him as one of the emerging influential Yoruba figures poised to succeed the older generation of notable Yoruba leaders. Even in politics, his credibility has earned him recognition and visibility. A supporter remarked in ThisDayLive: “Kayode Adaramodu is not your regular run-of-the-mill politician, and he has the will and action to back up his word.” These observations underscore the reputation and integrity he has built over the years.
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Born in Ilawe-Ekiti, Adaramodu boasts an impressive academic record spanning multiple disciplines. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Economics from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Nigeria, followed by a Master’s degree in Business Administration, specialising in Finance, from the same institution. Internationally, he was awarded the prestigious British Chevening Scholarship in recognition of his outstanding academic and leadership potential. He also holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom.
Adaramodu built a distinguished career in banking across Nigeria, West Africa, and the United Kingdom. He served as Head of Strategy and Business Process Reengineering at GTBank Group, contributing to the bank’s growth and competitive strategies in Sierra Leone. He also acted as General Manager and Deputy Managing Director of a GTBank branch in the same region, while overseeing operations in Abuja and Northern Nigeria as Regional Operations Manager. Additionally, he worked with Barclays Bank PLC in the United Kingdom and contributed to the establishment of GTCONNECT, Nigeria’s first contact centre in the financial sector. Collectively, these achievements cement his status as a trailblazer in banking.
Beyond banking, Adaramodu’s commitment to public service is equally remarkable. He has supported youths through scholarship awards, employment placements, business mentorship, and entrepreneurship fundraising. Notably, he promoted Ojoko FC, the first local football club in Ekiti to participate in international tournaments, with three of its players scouted and now pursuing professional football careers in Europe.
These contributions have earned Mr. Kayode Adaramodu several accolades, including the NTA Awards of Excellence for Youth Development in Ekiti and the Achievers Award from the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Ekiti Chapter.
His concern for community welfare has been consistently evident. In 2020, when floods devastated Ilawe-Ekiti, displacing residents and destroying farmlands, he urged the state government and citizens to find sustainable solutions, stating:
“It is imperative that, as sons and daughters of this great town, we stand up to the challenge and ask ourselves what we can do for our community to alleviate the impact of this natural disaster. I enjoin my fellow brothers and sisters to reach out to the community at this time to alleviate the conditions of the people.”
Adaramodu later ventured into politics, making significant contributions at both grassroots and national levels. In 2022, he declared his intention to contest the Ekiti State governorship election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), aiming to liberate the people from poverty, insecurity, unemployment, and under-development, while improving education and healthcare access across urban and rural areas. His bid for the PDP governorship ticket ended following the then governor’s imposition of the party’s candidate.
He subsequently became a pioneer member of the current African Democratic Congress (ADC) following his defection. In a statement explaining his departure, he described it as a “painful goodbye,” citing the unsavoury conditions that had come to define the party’s political structure and operations:
“We allowed leadership failures to erode our credibility. Instead of rebuilding from our mistakes, we embraced internal divisions and selfish ambitions as virtues, even in opposition. Today, I can no longer, in good conscience, remain part of a structure that is no longer aligned with the values that brought me into politics. The party, once full of promise, lost its way, first in government and now in opposition. I now look ahead to a new movement of Nigerians committed to change.”
For better governance and real development in Ekiti State and beyond, all eyes are on Kayode Adaramodu, whose next political moves will be closely watched. One fact is clear: he remains a figure to watch in the Ekiti political landscape.
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