Business
UNVEILING THE MAN, OTUNBA ROTIMI PASEDA , his Agenda for Good Governance in Ogun State +His love for Garri and many more
They called him Pasewonda; others called him Omo – Iya teacher, while in political clime he is best known as ORP, but his real name is Olatunde Rotimi Paseda.
Sometimes, he is described as ‘Arole Awolowo’ (the heir apparent of the late Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo) because of his belief in Awo’s political ideologies of free education, free and Qualitative healthcare, job opportunities and rural /urban integration, but today Otunba (Prince) Rotimi Paseda is the only man sustaining the political legacy of Pa. Obafemi Awolowo which is the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).
At the sound of his name exudes humility. He is a mentor, philanthropist, father and grand father.
Prince Olatunde Rotimi Paseda hails from Omu-Ijebu in Ogun State, he is a UK/Mexico based business tycoon. He came from a family of five, his mother was a retired teacher in public service and his dad was a store keeper at PZ, Paterzon Zokalis Nigeria Limited in the 60s. He started his career in PZ and ended his career in PZ. He was the longest service staff at that point. Today, he is well-known as Omo Iya Teacher.
Paseda attended Baptist Academy for his O’level at Ikorodu, Lagos state. He thereafter travelled abroad for his University education. He attended the University of London, UK where he studied Transport Management and later got his Masters Degree in Tourism and Recreation Management from University of Cardiff, Wales.
He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Transport, United Kingdom, and worked briefly as European Air Tour Operator with Euro Skylup International before establishing Skylink Travels and Tours over twenty-five years ago. This was his commencement of his self-employment venture in the United Kingdom and World wide.
Afterwards, he established his own company in UK which is currently being managed by his wife.
Along the line, he stumbled into a company in Mexico that manufactures heavy duty equipments. He recognizes the opportunity, bought into it and it became one of his main businesses. It is a big firm in Mexico and he is one of the three partners in the company. He is also into fire engines construction, which sells mostly in Eastern Europe, and Asia and Latin America. He has successfully established two engineering firms that are into fabrication and building of heavy machinery; they manufacture water tankers, fire engines, garbage /compacting trucks and the likes and they are doing very well.
Otunba Paseda owns four major companies across the world (UK, US, and Latin America). In Nigeria, he owns a couple of hotels spread across different parts of the country, little wonder, he was recently awarded alongside President Olusegun Obasanjo and Chief Olusegun Osoba as Most Influential Industrialist among 100 Most Influential Ogun Indigenes Still Leaving.
One important principle that had helped him in life and which is always with him is MODESTY. He was not at anytime, right from his youthful days been swayed by peer pressure. The Yoruba adage “Ranti Omo Eniti Iwo Nse” interpreted as “Know The Son of Whom You Are” as been the guiding principle in the life of Otunba Rotimi Paseda.
God has given this man a special grace in life, so he knows his onions, he knows his place and where cap fits him. He has set a limit for himself and what the Yoruba called “OMOLUABI” could be found in him. His recent introduction into Yoruba Patriots Movement, a Pan-Yoruba freedom group was not incidental. For him, moderation is the key. But in the real sense of things, it has a lot to do with upbringing. Growing under the roof of parents who were strict disciplinarians to the core, waywardness was a taboo at home so Prince Rotimi Paseda was made to see and live life in the right perspective.
Paseda’s mother would always weep on his neck, most times to remind him of where he is coming from. She pitiably emphasized this and would always remind him of what she went through in life in an attempt to consciously inject virtues and values in her dear son.
This made the young Otunba Rotimi Paseda vowed never to put his dear mother to shame, but to make her proud. When Otunba Rotimi Paseda was given birth to and being the son, he became everything to his dear parents who loved him with passion. This is an inspiration to all parents.
Prince Olatunde Rotimi Paseda is the legend behind Paseda Legacy Foundation, an NGO he established as a way of helping the needy and also to give back to the society.
His immense contributions to the development of Omu earned him the chieftaincy title of the Otunba Adeneye 1 of Omu-Ijebu, he was also installed as the Garkuwan Hausawan (the man of the masses) of Ogun State by the Hausa communities in Ogun State and the friend of the Igbos in the state, (Ezi Onyi Ndigbo). Would you now agree with me, Paseda is a man of all tribes?
The determination to succeed against so many odds encouraged Prince Paseda to forge ahead. He believes that if he can succeed out there in the UK, he should be responsible to his people at home by contributing his quota to the development of his home state, Ogun state and Nigeria at large.
ORP has fondly called is a strong advocate of job creation for millions of Nigerians, who need a means of survival. He believes that with the kind of manpower Nigeria has, it’s quite disheartening to realize that we are yet to unleash the potentials of our zealous youthful generation.
This made him contest, although unsuccessful for the Governor of Ogun state in the 2015 general elections alongside Senator Ibikunle Amosun of APC and Gboyega Nasir Isiaka of the Peoples Democratic Party. He is the major financier of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in Nigeria and he personally believes in Awolowo’s ideology of free education, free health care, cheap housing scheme and rural integration, etc.
Otunba Rotimi Paseda is married to Chief (Mrs.) Yeye Vivian Oritsejamene and the union is blessed with children who are doing well in their respective field of endeavors.
However, there is one astonishing fact about this Ijebu-born politician that is unknown to many. What many people do not know about Rotimi Paseda is that, he loves drinking cassava flakes “garri” as you called it in local parlance with smoke fish (eja yiyan) .
Not only does he likes garri, but he has made it part of his life wherever he goes. At any point Paseda travels out of the country, Garri is number one item Madam Vivian packaged in his suitcase.
Otunba Paseda finds it unstable to eat outside the country without taking garri as his breakfast before any other food item. Garri mixed with iced block and roasted Guinea fowl, sauce with fresh tomato and dry pepper are sure combination of what makes delicious food for this Ijebu man.
To many, Paseda only dress sense is white, but unknown to them, he wears Polo T-shirt and other casual clothes whenever he wants to unwind.
Another exciting fact that will shock many is that, Paseda is sportmania. He owns an amateur football club named Paseda Legacy Football Club, registered under Paseda Legacy Foundation. Though, the launching process is still underway.
Although, he is a socialite per excellence, but his best alcoholic drink is Water, while he also detaste smoking.
Not known to many about Otunba Paseda is that, he embraces all religions. Despite being a Prophet in the Celestial grapevine, he has special passion for Islam and its faithful, little wonder, he named himself Muhammodu Taofeek.
His love for Muslim Duah remain uncouched as no fewer than 50 people have benefited from his self sponsorship programme to Mecca for their Holy Pilgrimage, while the Christian faithful have also drank from his olive branch.
Paseda’s kind of politics is unmatched, as he remain among many, the only politician that walk his talk. He preaches youths involvement in governance and has demonstrated that in his little capacity as the Executive Chairman of Paseda Legacy Foundation.
In fulfillment of his plans for the youths, Otunba Paseda donated the sum of N10 million Naira to some youths who trained under his skill acquisition programme, powered by Ultimate Achievers Initiatives to start their business.
Also, no fewer than 50 indigent students benefited from his free scholarship scheme across higher institutions in the state.
On his Agenda for Good Governance, Otunba Paseda who addressed a mammoth crowd at Ibafo area of Ogun State recently averred that, “As a seasoned entrepreneur, I have at different fora established a platform for the youths to exhibit their God-given potentials. I have taken it upon myself and an act of oath with Nigerian youths to absorb them with a mission to transform Ogun State into Eldorado of sort.
“My highly esteemed and ever dynamic youths, I salute your perseverance and doggedness, but don’t worry, your future is here and secured with me in our agenda for good governance come 2019.
“I referred to Ogun State as an enterprise not for any metaphorical analogy but to paint the picture that the fortunes or God forbid it, misfortunes of a state can be defined or determined by the type of government or people who are voted into government to paddle the state’s canoe. I can assure you that, God willing, with your support and the people’s vote come 2019, we shall together steer the ship of this state to a safe harbor.”
So, Ogun State people, I present to you, the man of many tribes. The man of the people and a grassrooter. Someone who is ready to serve but not to rule. Paseda encompasses the vision, mission and objectives of the late Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo.
Let us support Otunba Rotimi Paseda, ORP to be the next Governor of Ogun State, together we can achieve the dreams of the founding fathers.
Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji is my name, but they call me D-PRESS, I just want to make common sense #dassol
NNPCL and Corruption’s Final Throes
By Pius Olasanmi
In the twilight of the Obasanjo administration, when Nigerians were still capable of being outraged, when Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of refineries was a buzzword that still held some mysticism to bamboozle citizens, during a conversation, a certain man said something profound. The man said, “As a businessman, if I were the owner of these refineries, knowing that they are three decades old, I would take the last money I have, hire bulldozers, raze them to the ground, and obtain loans to build new ones.”
When we pressed him further on why he would engage in such waste, he explained that repairing the refineries is the real waste. He explained that even if the TAM were honestly carried out, a thirty-year-old refinery would never compete favourably with a new one that would integrate contemporary technology. Operating at its best, such a refinery would never be comparatively more efficient. It is therefore pointless to have spent another one naira on the refineries at that point.
A few months later, I had a conversation with a then-lawmaker on an entirely different matter. I mentioned that the National Assembly has failed by not crafting legislation that would criminalise and punish public office holders who foist wrong decisions on the country. The logic: a public office holder need not steal to be punished, wrong decisions should attract penalties for an office holder who opts for the worst of all options when there are less injurious ones.
These established premises speak to the ongoing nauseating efforts at revisionism by those who wrecked the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its previous iteration, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Notably, this campaign to rewrite history is traceable to Engineer Mele Kolo Kyari, the disgraced immediate past Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL and his hirelings. They have suffocated the news and the public opinion space with even more lies than they spun while in office.
The Saint Kyari campaign is anchored on convincing Nigerians that the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna Refineries were fully functional when he was booted out of office. So brazen is the campaign that one of its talking heads challenged the group chief executive officer (GCEO), Engr. Bayo Ojulari, to “inform Nigerians categorically what happened to the functioning refineries he inherited from his predecessor, Engr. Mele Kyari.” The effrontery.
We have not forgotten so soon the charade that followed the baffling claim that Nigeria has spent $2.8 billion on the repair of the refineries, while they are not churning out even a single litre of refined product among them. Saint Kyari and his goons played all manner of tricks, all of which embarrassed President Bola Tinubu, who had counted on ticking off the return to productivity of the refineries as part of his achievements, only to realise that he was deceived into celebrating phantoms. Tragic.
Lest we forget, 200 trucks were arranged as props in a well-directed video clip to celebrate the re-streaming of the Port Harcourt Refinery. The disappointment. Nigerians were to learn from several reports that the Port Harcourt refinery was not producing and was instead using old, stored petroleum products to load trucks. Worse still, the Kyari crew was passing off sanction-tainted Russian-sourced crude oil refined in Malta as locally refined products. More insult was piled on the assault on our collective sensibility with the lies that the Port Harcourt Refinery exported semi-finished products. Brazen.
Meanwhile, Kyari and his hirelings called those who pointed out or protested these glaring scams all manner of names. They hid behind industry technicalities and jargon to create the impression that those of us who knew Nigerians were being robbed did not understand what we were saying. The point remains that a $2.8 billion investment can potentially build a refinery with a capacity of around 100,000 barrels per day (bpd). Of course, the actual capacity of such a refinery will depend on various factors, including the complexity of the refinery, the technology used, and the location. That is the amount that Kyari’s regime at the NNPCL took and did not give Nigerians refined products.
Fast forward to Kyari’s sack and the appointment of Engineer Bayo Ojulari, who has demonstrated that things can indeed be done differently. Kyari’s exit was expectedly followed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) going after him and his associates. The extent of the theft is better understood against the backdrop of N80 billion being found in the bank account of one of his associates. They went on the run.
Perhaps because the EFCC was biding its time on securing international warrants for the arrests of these characters on the lam, they have become emboldened. They have decided to fight back and rewrite the story of their participation in the greatest fraud against Nigerians. Engineer Ojulari’s renewed mindset, which is entrenching a semblance of the transparency Nigerians demand, became their natural target. The demons that once roamed around the corporation came out with malevolence. They started spinning stories of corruption to tarnish the incumbent who refused to hide their crimes. The objective: bring Ojulari down. But alas, he is winning the war as it stands.
His innocence is proven, and it is glaring that those who want him out are mere charlatans who can no longer ply their corrupt wares because of the impact of the new reforms. Corruption in the NNPCL is in its final throes. The fake news being unleashed against the incumbent leadership is akin to corruption’s last kicks as reforms in the sector strangulate it and its practitioners. The reforms must take place in the NNPCL, whether the industry demons like it or not.
As a parting shot, Kyari and his associates would do well to prepare their defence. In addition to accounting for the $2.8 billion they laundered in the name of repairing the moribund refineries, they must also answer for the poor decision to fix that which is irretrievably broken. Awarding contracts for Turn Around Maintenance of 59-year-old refineries that a right-thinking person had suggested should be demolished almost twenty years ago, when they were only 30 years old, is criminal. Trying to deceive Nigerians that the fake repairs worked is treason.
Olasanmi is a public affairs analyst writing from Lagos.
GRANDIS 5STAR LUXURY APARTMENT & SUITES SET TO REDEFINE LIVING IN VICTORIA ISLAND
Set to Rise elegantly against the Lagos skyline, is the Grandis 5Star Luxury Apartment & Suites. According to Adejuwon Ademola, The General Manager of the Development company, it is more than just a residential building
“it’s a lifestyle statement. Standing 17 floors high in the heart of Victoria Island, this revolutionary masterpiece of modern architecture will offer a panoramic 360° view of Eko Atlantic, Victoria Island, and Ikoyi, transforming every apartment into an exclusive penthouse experience for the world’s most discerning elite.”
Developed by Dumarco Construction Limited, a globally acclaimed company with decades of delivering complex, high-value projects in the highly regulated petroleum, oil, and gas industries, Grandis 5Star brings unmatched international safety standards, uncompromising quality, and timeless elegance into Nigeria’s luxury property market.
> “When you live in Grandis, you’re not just buying a home—you’re investing in peace of mind, world-class safety, and an effortless luxury experience that will remain pristine for decades,” says Adejuwon A. Ademola, General Manager of Dumarco Construction Limited.
The Gold Standard in Safety and Quality
Dumarco’s roots in the oil and gas sector mean the company operates to some of the strictest safety protocols in the world. Every stage—from conceptualization, design, construction, to long-term maintenance—follows internationally accepted procedures and quality assurance measures. Cutting corners is simply not in Dumarco’s vocabulary.
> “In the oil and gas industry, there’s no room for compromise. We’ve brought that same discipline and zero-tolerance for mediocrity into property development,” says Ademola. “That’s why Grandis will be one of the safest and most enduring residential developments in Nigeria.”
To ensure transparency and prevent (project complacency), Dumarco deliberately separates the developer, contractor, and consultant roles, engaging only the most competent professionals in each respective field. Dumarco’s project team includes globally recognized contractors such as Julius Berger, Cappa & D’Alberto, and Elalan, Migliore Construczione & Tecniche (MC&T) and their partners VENCO IMTIAZ CONTRACTING COMPANY (VICC) based in Dubai, UAE, Business Contracting Limited, alongside leading consultants like Morgan Omanitan & Abe, LAMBERT, and James Cubitt.
Grandis – Investments, appreciation, returns and profitability
Our selection process for the location of the project alone was pains-taking and completely thorough scientific process. Top professional companies were employed to conduct a scientific data acquisition and analytical survey of the entire Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lekki and Eko Atlantic before a project site is selected. Analyzing and acquiring areas developmental charts and trends, studying and gathering historical and present sale prices, rental charge and occupancy rates over a 50 year period from every individual street before the selection of the location of any of our developments especially true for the Grandis Project
He adds,
“Our clients and residents can be rest assured that the location of Grandis has been scientifically proven through all existing data to provide our clients with a 100% occupancy rate, highest developmental location, highest rental income and investment returns. ”
The Grandis Experience
Located minutes away from international corporate headquarters, embassies, and landmarks such as Eko Hotel, Radisson Blu, and the Radisson Red, Grandis offers unmatched convenience for professionals, diplomats, and high-net-worth individuals. Every residence is designed for both indulgence and efficiency, with high-grade finishes, smart-home systems, and private amenities that ensure seamless living.
From sunrise over the Atlantic to the glittering Lagos night skyline, residents will enjoy uninterrupted luxury, supported by discreet and highly trained staff, advanced security systems, and a design that prioritizes comfort and privacy.
> “We designed Grandis for people who want everything—security, elegance, convenience, and the assurance that their home will look as spectacular in 20 years as it does on day one,” Ademola notes.
A Legacy That Lasts
With its combination of visionary architecture, peerless safety, and meticulous maintenance planning, Grandis is built to remain iconic for generations. Thanks to Dumarco’s meticulous approach, the building’s service charges are expected to remain low while its value and appeal continue to appreciate over time.
In a market often marred by shortcuts and substandard practices, Mr Ademola says
Grandis stands as a beacon of what luxury living should be—safe, spectacular, and built to last.
“Grandis 5Star Luxury Apartment & Suites — Where safety meets sophistication, and every detail is designed for a life well-lived.”
He added
Website -www.dumarcoltd.com
Project website – www.26idowutaylor.com
Email [email protected]
Tel / WhatsApp +234 9077777883
GM – Adejuwon A. Ademola
celebrity radar - gossips
Nationwide Talent, One Broadcaster: Tinubu Picks Pedro, Bello, Din, Mohammed to Lead NTA
Tinubu Overhauls NTA Leadership: Media Powerhouse Rotimi Pedro Takes Helm as DG
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced a major shake-up at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), appointing renowned media executive Rotimi Richard Pedro as the new Director-General in a move widely seen as a bold step toward modernising the state broadcaster.
Pedro, a Lagos native, brings nearly 30 years of expertise in broadcasting, sports rights, and marketing communications across Africa, the UK, and the Middle East. A trained entertainment and intellectual property lawyer, he also holds an MSc in Investment Management and Finance from City University Business School, London.
In 1995, Pedro founded Optima Sports Management International (OSMI), which rose to become one of Africa’s leading sports content providers—distributing premium events such as the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FIFA World Cup, and CAF competitions to audiences in over 40 countries.
His career highlights include top roles at Bloomberg Television Africa and Rapid Blue Format, as well as advisory work for FIFA, UEFA, Fremantle Media, and the African Union of Broadcasters (AUB). At the AUB, he was instrumental in securing exclusive pan-African free-to-air media rights for all CAF competitions.
Alongside Pedro’s appointment, Tinubu named Karimah Bello from Katsina State as Executive Director of Marketing, Stella Din from Plateau State as Executive Director of News, and Sophia Issa Mohammed from Adamawa State as Managing Director of NTA Enterprises Limited.
Industry insiders credit Pedro with building commercially viable broadcast platforms, driving sponsorship growth, and delivering world-class content to African audiences. His appointment marks one of the most significant leadership changes at NTA in years—signalling the government’s intent to strengthen the broadcaster’s competitiveness in a fast-evolving media landscape.
-
society5 months agoRamadan Relief: Matawalle Distributes Over ₦1 Billion to Support 2.5 Million Zamfara Residents
-
Politics2 months agoNigeria Is Not His Estate: Wike’s 2,000‑Hectare Scandal Must Shake Us Awake
-
society4 months agoBroken Promises and Broken Backs: The ₦70,000 Minimum Wage Law and the Betrayal of Nigerian Workers
-
society3 months agoOGUN INVESTS OVER ₦2.25 BILLION TO BOOST AQUACULTURE
You must be logged in to post a comment Login