Ogun Visionaries for Yayi DG, Hon. Leye Odunjo, Marks Diamond Jubilee with Thanksgiving

The Director General of Ogun Visionaries for Yayi, Hon. Leye Odunjo, has celebrated his Diamond Jubilee, marking his 60th birthday with thanksgiving to Almighty God for the gift of life and divine preservation.

Speaking in an interview to commemorate the milestone, the respected politician reflected on his humble beginnings, early struggles, and the long, demanding journey that shaped his political career. He noted that the road to success was never smooth but rather rough, tough, and at times discouraging—almost forcing him to give up. However, he emphasized that when God stands with a person, no obstacle is insurmountable.

Hon. Odunjo traced his political awakening to 1983, when his uncle, Chief Soji, contested the Ogun State governorship election. At the time, he served as a mobilizer, supporting the campaign by providing refreshments for the political entourage. He also actively supported another uncle, Prince Remi Akande, popularly known as Omo Oba, who contested for the chairmanship of Ifo Local Government Area in 1987 but lost to the late Nasiru Dehinde.

In 1993, community elders led by Alhaji Jimoh Obajana encouraged him to contest for the councillorship seat in Ota 2, as it was the turn of his area to produce a candidate. Although he contested and performed well, the election was annulled following the declaration of a zero-party system by the Abacha administration.

Undeterred, the elders returned in 1995, urging him to continue from where he stopped. Their persistence paid off in 1996 when Hon. Odunjo won the councillorship seat of Ota 2 under the Social Democratic Party (SDP), at a time when the SDP and NRC were the two recognized political parties in the country.

After completing his tenure as councillor, he was later nominated to contest for the chairmanship position under the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP). Although he lost the election to a more popular party candidate, the experience further strengthened his political resolve.

In 1998, Hon. Odunjo was among the founding members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State. The party, however, lost its first governorship election to the Alliance for Democracy (AD) candidate, Chief Olusegun Osoba.

He later traveled to Abuja, where he worked as a personal assistant to a legislator at the National Assembly. Once again, his people called him back home—a move he described as divinely orchestrated. In 2003, he was selected to represent his constituency in the Ogun State House of Assembly, an election he won convincingly.

Reflecting on his journey, Hon. Odunjo noted that he has experienced both victory and defeat, gaining invaluable lessons that shaped his character and leadership.

As he celebrates his Diamond Jubilee on December 18, 2025, Hon. Leye Odunjo attributes his sustained success to the grace of God, to whom he returns all glory, honor, and adoration.

In gratitude for the gift of life and the privilege of attaining 60 years, he has rededicated the remainder of his life to the selfless service of humanity.

Ajadi meets Oyo councillors in Iseyin, says he represents ‘Omituntun 3.0’

Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Oyo State, on Tuesday declared his intention to build on the developmental strides of Governor Seyi Makinde, describing himself as the embodiment of “Omituntun 3.0” — continuity without compromise — as he met with elected local government councillors from across the state in Iseyin.

Speaking at the Iseyin City Hall, where members of the Oyo State Councillors Forum converged, Ajadi said his aspiration was driven by a commitment to protect and deepen Makinde’s governance reforms while strengthening grassroots participation in decision-making.

“I am here because you are the closest leaders to the people,” Ajadi told the councillors. “Governor Seyi Makinde has done exceptionally well, and Oyo State cannot afford to hand over this progress to the wrong hands. That is why I say I represent Omituntun 3.0 — continuity of good governance.”

The gathering, held on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, brought together councillors from the state’s 33 local government areas, marking the first time, according to participants, that a governorship aspirant officially engaged the council forum at such a scale.

Ajadi, who identified himself as “a son of the soil, and the son of Chief Bode Amoo, hails from Ward 8, Osengere, Egbeda Local Government,” said his presence at the meeting was rooted in party loyalty and respect for grassroots leadership.

We are gathered here today because we are bona fide members of the PDP,” he said, before observing a minute’s silence for departed party members and offering prayers for party leaders and councillors.

The PDP aspirant also highlighted his private-sector background, referencing Bullion Go-Neat Global Limited and its subsidiaries, including Bullion Records, BullionMonie, Bullion Propertie, Bullion Automobiles, and Bullion Sports, as proof of his capacity for economic and organisational leadership.
Ajadi announced that councillors would serve as ward-level coordinators for his political movement, urging them to reconcile party grievances at the grassroots.

“You are my coordinators in every ward. I urge you to unite leaders at the grassroots because that is where elections are won,” he said.
Earlier, Hon. Ayodeji Oladepo-Ala, Leader of the Oyo State Councillors Forum, clarified that the meeting was not an endorsement but an opportunity for dialogue.

“We have not endorsed any aspirant,” Oladepo-Ala said. “This forum organised this meeting to listen and understand what Ambassador Ajadi’s aspiration represents. However, it is no secret that his political engagements across Oyo State are widely known, even among non-politicians.”
Oladepo-Ala praised Governor Makinde’s performance, stressing that his successor must possess the vision and energy to sustain existing achievements.

Wema Bank Empowers Tech Innovators at Akure, Zaria, Ibadan, and Lagos with Hackaholics 6.0

Wema Bank, Nigeria’s most innovative bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has continued to deepen its commitment to youth innovation and entrepreneurship with Hackaholics 6.0, its flagship campus ideathon. This year, the Hackaholics train has toured four Nigeria cities from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, to the University of Ibadan (UI) and Purple Academy, Lagos, bringing together some of the brightest young minds in Sub-Saharan Africa to create transformative solutions to real-world problems.

With over 3,000 entries submitted so far, at each location, hundreds of students and young entrepreneurs gathered to receive industry-led masterclasses, and develop ideas aimed at solving challenges in the ecosystem. For four days in each location, participants were immersed in the full Hackaholics experience, from ideation to mentorship to pitch readiness, culminating in high-energy final pitches where the best ideas emerged. In every location, three Ideathon winning teams; including one women-led group and two Hackathon teams walked away with invitations to compete at the Hackaholics 6.0 Grand Finale. These teams now stand a chance to scale their solutions with the backing of Wema Bank’s innovation ecosystem.

Speaking on the initiative, MD/CEO Wema Bank, Plc, Moruf Oseni, said, “Hackaholics has always been about more than technology. It is about empowering young people to think differently, create boldly, and contribute solutions that can move our industry and nation forward. The level of talent and creativity we have witnessed so far further reinforces why we continue to invest in this programme. The innovative ideas and solutions coming out of the participants have the power to shape the future of financial services and beyond, and we are excited to see them come to life.”

Since its launch in 2019, Hackaholics has grown into a cornerstone of youth engagement and innovation in Nigeria. With over 12,000 applicants from 15 schools, and a total of over $300,000 disbursed in funding, including ₦75 million awarded to women-led teams between 2023 and 2024, the program has consistently delivered on its mission to create a vibrant ecosystem where students, innovators, and early-stage founders can collaborate, learn, and grow while building long-term relationships with Wema Bank.

As the Hackaholics 6.0 train continues its journey to more cities before the Grand Finale, Wema Bank remains committed to empowering the next generation of Nigerian innovators. Students and young entrepreneurs are encouraged to visit https://hackaholics.wemabank.com/ for more information on how to participate and submit their entries.