Business – Page 68 – Sahara Weekly Magazine

Insurance Operators Seek Review of 2024 NNPC Insurance Application, Outcomes

*Insurance Operators Seek Review of 2024 NNPC Insurance Application, Outcomes Insurance operators who participated in the bid for the 2024 insurance programme of the...

Correcting the Lies in Dr. Olisa Agbakoba’s Assertions By Kingsley Ariamaodo

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Correcting the Lies in Dr. Olisa Agbakoba’s Assertions By Kingsley Ariamaodo

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Adron Is The Biggest: A Growing Initiative In Nigeria’s Real Estate Market

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Adron Is The Biggest: A Growing Initiative In Nigeria’s Real Estate Market

Adron Is The Biggest: A Growing Initiative In Nigeria’s Real Estate Market Pioneering affordable housing solutions in Nigeria, Adron Homes and Properties remains a leading...

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Empowering Philanthropic Youth: Making a Difference in the World

Introduction: Dear Tijani Olumide, In a world full of challenges, your commitment to making a positive impact is truly inspiring. Your desire to create...

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Title: The Inspiring Journey of a Youth Philanthropist: Spreading Joy and Making a Difference By Solanke Ayomideji Taiwo

Title: The Inspiring Journey of a Youth Philanthropist: Spreading Joy and Making a Difference By Solanke Ayomideji Taiwo Introduction: In a world that often seems filled...

Picture shows (L-R) Dr. David K. Wilson, President (Vice Chancellor) of Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, TETFUND Executive Secretary Arc. Sonny Echono and the University’s Provost of Science, Prof. Hongtao Yu, when Ochono visited TETFUND scholars in the University on Monday.

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Photos News: Dr David Wilson, Arc. Sunny Echono, pro Hongtao Present When Ochono visits TETFUND

Picture shows Dr. David K. Wilson, President (Vice Chancellor) of Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, TETFUND Executive Secretary Arc. Sonny Echono and the...

Sterling One Foundation, United Nations Nigeria Announce Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS 3.0) 2024

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Sterling One Foundation, United Nations Nigeria Announce Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS 3.0) 2024

Sterling One Foundation, United Nations Nigeria Announce Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS 3.0) 2024 The official press conference for the Africa Social Impact...

Zacch Adedeji @ 47: Celebrating a Man of Exceptional Grace, Excellence By Dare Adekanmbi Ecclesiastical evidence abounds to affirm that God does not look at people or issues through the same prism from which human beings perceive matters. As mortals, we give primacy to mundane parameters as appearance or outward adornments, height or whether the person is oozing opulence or simply look at nobility of a person’s birth before ascribing value or judgment to such a person. The story of David’s ascension to the throne of Israel summarises how God make His choices. Prophet Samuel beheld the firstborn of Jesse named Eliab and, looking at his outward qualities, concluded “here comes the Lord’s anointed king who will govern over Israel.” But just before that thought could settle in the prophet’s mind, God told him that is not the man for the job. The story of Zacch Adedeji, executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) is the story of a young, wise and brilliant man who has enjoyed exceptional grace of God. His father (of blessed memory) was a cocoa farmer from the mainly agrarian Iwo Ate town, in Ogo Oluwa Local Government Area of Oyo State. His mother is a trader-cum-farmer. It was thanks to Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s matchless leadership and quality governance that the town at that time boasted some basic municipal amenities like school and a dispensary. I can imagine the joy on his father’s face when the news was broken to him that his wife was delivered of a bouncing bonny baby boy later christened Zacchaeus Adelabu Adedeji. While his father desired functional education for Zacch, the first child of the family, the greater joy for the cocoa farmer would be that the birth of Baby Zacch means an extra hand on the farm, heir apparent to the cocoa farming business. This perception perhaps prevented Zacch’s father from noticing the unique stars in the sky that heralded the arrival of a special child to the family, the humble background notwithstanding. The family did not realise they have been gifted a global talent whose brilliance and expertise will be acknowledged beyond the shores of Nigeria. While his father was looking at a child who will grow to become a helping hand on the farms, God was looking at a precious gift that will bring honour to the family name. Growing up for Zacch was not easy as there was no silver spoon in his mouth at birth. But with the grace of God upon his life, he was determined never to allow the circumstance of his birth dictate how far he could go in life. While going to school, he was also assisting his father in his cocoa farming. Zacch could not have chosen any other course in his post-secondary educational pursuit other than accountancy. He was his father’s book-keeper for the sale of cocoa produce. At the Federal Polytechnic in Ede, Osun State, where he studied Accountancy for his Ordinary National Diploma, Zacch came out flying with a distinction. Rather than return for his HND, he opted to further his studies at the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, where he read management and accounting and finished with First Class honours. He did not allow the death of his father at about the time he was starting at Ife to extinguish his hope of having functional university education. Zacch’s special talent as a brilliant accountant quickly singled out from the new recruits at P&G. He saved the company hundreds of millions of dollars in needless expenditure and deploys his financial wizardry to catapult the company’s profit to new heights. For this exceptional display, the company dispatched him to one of the best business schools in Switzerland to share his experience with them. This feat earned him a seat at the management cadre of the American goods company earlier than any young recruit by the firm. He rose to become the Corporate Finance Manager for West Africa. It was while making his mark at the firm that he met a great leader, Senator Abiola Ajimobi (of blessed memory), sometime in 2009. He was just attending to what he would ordinarily consider a routine payment query when they met. Ajimobi was happy to meet a young chap from Oyo State making waves at such a company. From that time, a journey of mentoring, love and support that would remain with Zacch for a lifetime started. It was a meeting that also changed his trajectory from the private sector to the public sector. Ajimobi appointed him Finance Commissioner for Oyo State at age 33. Notable among his achievements include: raising Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from about N600m monthly to about N2bn in a short period, blocking leakages by streamlining government bank accounts through which a lot of money was haemorrhaged from about 100 to about 10. As executive secretary of the National Sugar Development Council, Zacch left an indelible mark, raising standards and re-engineering processes to deliver better quality service and increased productivity. When tapped as Special Adviser on Revenue by President Bola Tinubu, a lot of people speculated he would ultimately head the country’s tax agency, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). As an evangelist in the Anglican Communion, Zacch believes in the scripture that the power of life and death is the tongue. As the one whose duty it was to interface with FIRS tax officers while at P&G, he had said during one of his frequent visits to the Agidingbi office of the agency that “someday, I would like to work in this organisation and contribute to its transformation.” Today, not only is Zacch the executive chairman of FIRS, he has brought unprecedented transformation to the agency within a short period. FIRS, under Zacch, surpassed tax revenue target in 2023, leading to a higher revenue benchmark of N19.4 trillion set by government for 2024. Later this month, Adedeji will announce to Nigerians what the agency was able to collect in the year just ended. The agency has done well again and has exceeded the target from available information. To all who know Zacch and have had interactions with him, one special attribute stands him out: his humility. He relates with the young and the old quite well and the big success that God has given him does not get into his head. Many people have spoken so glowingly about this character trait in Zacch. In 2017, he and I returned to Nigeria from a trip to the US. He had gone on holiday and I had gone to cover the annual meetings of the World Bank/IMF. We were to lodge at a popular hotel in Ikeja on arrival. After dinner, the receptionist said only one room was left. “Give it to us. Dare and I will share it,” said Zacch. That was how we slept on the same bed that night. If there are so many positive things to say about Zacch who is 47 years today, then the future holds even a brighter future for the number one tax man in the country today. Our boss believes in Simon Sinek’s submission that leadership is not just about being in charge, but also about taking care of those in your charge. I join admirers and well-wishers to wish ZA many more happy years of his trademark brilliance and wisdom. May God continue to strengthen him in good health. .Adekanmbi is the Special Adviser on Media to the chairman, FIRS, Zacch Adedeji.

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Zacch Adedeji wins public service award for fiscal innovation

Zacch Adedeji wins public service award for fiscal innovation Zacch Adedeji, the chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), has been honoured with the...

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Why you Should Patronize Jumaimma Touch

Why you Should Patronize Jumaimma Touch Arguably, Jumaimma Touch is one of the leading nail/lashes technicians in Lagos. Owned by delectable MS Jumaimma Danjuma, their services...

“Africa’s Biggest Giver”- Inside The Telling Video Celebrating BUA Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu’s Birthday

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BUA Denies Truck Involvement In Anambra Accident

BUA Denies Truck Involvement In Anambra Accident BUA cement has denied the ungodly report of its truck involvement in Anambra accident. The organization clarified the...

Sahara Weekly Magazine

Insurance Operators Seek Review of 2024 NNPC Insurance Application, Outcomes

Correcting the Lies in Dr. Olisa Agbakoba’s Assertions By Kingsley Ariamaodo

Adron Is The Biggest: A Growing Initiative In Nigeria’s Real Estate Market

Empowering Philanthropic Youth: Making a Difference in the World

Title: The Inspiring Journey of a Youth Philanthropist: Spreading Joy and Making a Difference By Solanke Ayomideji Taiwo

Photos News: Dr David Wilson, Arc. Sunny Echono, pro Hongtao Present When Ochono visits TETFUND

Sterling One Foundation, United Nations Nigeria Announce Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS 3.0) 2024

Zacch Adedeji wins public service award for fiscal innovation

Why you Should Patronize Jumaimma Touch

BUA Denies Truck Involvement In Anambra Accident

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