By Jeremiah Aminu
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 is emblematic of the character of Kayode Adaramodu, popularly referred to as Odundun, who has achieved notable exploits within the terrains of banking, politics, and public service.
As such, it is hardly surprising that City People Magazine identified him as one of the emerging influential Yoruba figures, among others, to succeed the older generation of notable Yoruba leaders.
Even within the field of politics, his credibility has earned him recognition and visibility. It is for this reason that a supporter once remarked in a ThisDayLive report, stating that: “Kayode Adaramodu is not your regular run-of-the-mill politician and he has the will and action to back up his word”.
All of these, therefore, are testament to the credibility of character and reputation that Adaramodu has garnered over the years in his professional and political career.
Regarding his educational qualifications, the Ilawe-Ekiti-born politician boasts an impressive academic record with degrees that encompass several fields of study.
He secured a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and Economics from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Still at OAU, he obtained a Master’s degree in Business Administration, specialising in Finance. Internationally, he is also a member of the prestigious British Chevening Scholars’ Community and holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom.
Furthermore, Adaramodu also built a distinguished career in the banking sector across Nigeria, West Africa, and the United Kingdom.
He once served as the Head of Strategy and Business Process Reengineering for GTBank Group where he contributed to the bank’s growth and competitive strategies in Sierra Leone.
He also acted as the General Manager and Deputy Managing Director of a branch of Guaranty Trust (GT) Bank PLC in the same West African region. To add, he also managed the operations in Abuja and Northern Nigeria as a Regional Operations Manager.
Asides this, he also worked in Barclays Bank PLC in the United Kingdom and contributed to the establishment of GTCONNECT (Nigeria’s first contact centre in the financial industry). Collectively, these accomplishments underscore his status as a trailblazer within the banking sector.
Proceeding further, Adaramodu’s commitment to service extends beyond the realm of banking.
Within the terrain of public service, his impact is equally evident. In this regard, he operated as the Policy and Institutional Development Consultant to UKFID while rendering assistance to areas such as Public Debt Management, Private Sector Development Strategy, Financial Management, Infrastructure Advisory, and Monitoring and Evaluation of development projects in Nigeria.
Commendably, he also served as an Economic Adviser to the UK Office for National Statistics by conducting reports and analyses for the Bank of England and HM Treasury to monitor the economy of the United Kingdom.
Equally notable, Adaramodu’s concern for community welfare at critical moments cannot be underemphasised.
In 2020, for instance, when the flood in Ilawe-Ekiti left many displaced and farmlands damaged, he voiced his displeasure concerning the situation and urged the state government and residents to find sustainable solutions to the town’s environmental challenges haunting the town as a result of its topography:
“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”, he said.
Despite his notable accomplishments, Adaramodu did not stop there. Instead, he ventured into politics where he made significant and recognisable contributions both at the grassroots and national levels.
In 2022, he declared his intention to participate in the Ekiti State governorship election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with the aim of bringing a new dawn of liberation to the people of the state.
According to him, his intent rested, not on fattening his pocket, but in liberating his people (the people of Ekiti State) “from the shackles of poverty, insecurity, unemployment, and under-development” so as to “make life more abundant for the masses”.
He, as well, promised to transform the educational sector and improve the quality of healthcare administered in the state’s healthcare sector in such a way that medical care will be made accessible to both urban and rural communities.
Unfortunately, he lost to Olabisi Kolapo who had 671 votes at the Ekiti State PDP governorship primary election, thus bringing his governorship aspiration to a halt within the party.
In 2023, he defected to the African Democratic Congress party (ADC). In his statement which details his reason for leaving PDP, he described his exit from the party as a “painful goodbye” and commented on the unsavoury conditions that defined the political structure and operations of the party:
“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.
Unfortunately, the foundational ideals were replaced with division, distrust, and an inability to evolve. I raised my voice for unity, warned against the baseless divisions, and called for renewal. Sadly, those efforts were often ignored.
“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”.
As Nigeria’s incoming general election saunters forward with each step, all eyes are keenly observing the next line of action that Kayode Adaramodu will execute in the course of his political journey.
As regards the next political step that he will take, only time will tell. However, there is one undeniable fact—Kayode Adaramodu remains a figure that is worth watching within the Ekiti political space.
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