Otunba Stephen Abiodun Ojo is the Executive Director NICON Insurance Limited. He is also the Chairman, Stephen Abiodun Ojo & Co (Chartered Accountants). He also owns Dam Oil Limited and Trendy Hotels Limited. This Ilupeju Ekiti big boy who has in the last 3 decades, carved a niche for himself in the corporate world has won many awards the most prestigeous, one of which is the 2016. Ekiti Man Of the Year Award conferred on him by Hero Magazine International. There is also the Distinguished Corporate Achievers Gold Award. Otunba SAO as he is fondly called, is the Otunba Tayese of Ijelu –Ekiti, the Babalaje-Ijo of Catholic Church, Ilupeju Ekiti, the Mayegun of Ipole-Iloro-Ekiti, and the Majekobaje of Akure Kingdom. Recently, City People’s Adeola Shittu was his guest during which he spoke about about political career and his relationship with Barr. Jimoh Ibrahim.
Who is Otunba Ojo?
Otunba Stephen Abiodun Ojo is an indigene of Ilupeju Ekiti. I was born on the 30th December, 1962 to the famous Ojo family. I attended St. John’s Catholic Primary School First School Leaving Certificate in 1975 and WASC at Obalatan Commercial secondary School in 1981. I proceeded to the Oyo State College of Arts & Science for my ‘A’ Levels between 1986 – 1989 I was at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife where I bagged my B.sc in Accounting.
As an Accountant you are not complete without ICAN, so I put in for my ICAN and in 1992, I became Associate Member, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and same year I became Associate member, Nigeria Institute of Management and in 1996 I became Associate Member, Nigeria Institute of Taxation. And in 2006 I became a Fellow, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and same year, I became Associate Member, Institute of Directors.
I have also attended various courses and conferences between 1992 till date, some of which include Chief Executives & Directors Programme, the Management School, London, The National Insurance Commission IFRS Awareness Seminars for Audit Committee Chairmen/Directors of Insurance Companies (Lagos), IATA Aviation Workshop Sheraton Hotels & Towers Lagos, World Conference of Accountants (Kuala Lumpur Malaysia), World Conference of Accountants (Istanbul, Turkey), Workshop for Directors of Community Bank in Nigeria (Ibadan), World Conference of Accountants (Hong Kong), First Annual Conference of Directors in the Public Service in Nigeria (Abuja) among others. And here we are today.
How was growing up days at Ilupeju?
Hmmm! Despite growing up in a village, it was fun. Though, I was not born with a silverspoon in the mouth and we had to pass through much stress, it was not easy, but we thank for where we are. I could recall in those days during my primary/secondary school days when we returned from school, I used to help Mummy to sell pap (Ogi) and at the same time, I would go to the farm with my father and mostly we used to go for early morning farming as a labourer to earn extra money aside what our parents would give us for mid-day meal at school. On the other hand, I will say growing up was a bit tough, but I was able to survive it. I appreciate God for where he has brought me today.
Can your share with us your 20 years journey in the corporate world?
After my secondary school education, I started as a class teacher at Bishop Akinyele Independent Primary School as an Auxillary Teacher. From there, I moved to Abimbola Chemist & Supermarket as an Account Clerk and Account Officer for two years after my secondary school before I went for my ‘A’ levels and I returned to Abimbola Chemist/Supermarket as the Store Keeper for a year, owing to my performances in my first 2 years then. So, after my university education, I started my professional career with Babalola Akinsegun & Co., an Accounting firm as an Accountant. It was there, I started sitting for my professional examinations and eventually I got a higher appointment with Mojibola Oluwa & Co. as Audit trainee. So, when I qualified as a Chartered Accountant, I was promoted to audit manager and I later left Mojibola Oluwa & Co and moved to Nigeria Aviation Handling Company Ltd (NAHCOL) in 1992 as the Management Accountant and from there I rose to Deputy Account Manager to become the Account Manager and head of the department of finance. I left NAHCOL as Chief Finance Manager in december 1999. It was after the place that I established my accounting firm called Stephen Abiodun Ojo & Co Chartered Accountant as the principal partner. I was running my auditing firm until I got an appointment with Great Insurance Plc in 2005 as Executive Director of Finance & Accounting. I was there when I had another offer from NICON Insurance as the Chief Finance Officer when it was privitalised in 2006, I left NICON in 2007 and returned to my personal business and that gave me time to participate in politics fully. I was a member of ANPP ( All Nigerian people’s party) and I was elected the National Auditor of the party. I combined my practice in my firm with politics until 2010 when I got another appointment as Excutive Director Finance & Account of Air Nigeria Limited, former Virgin Nigeria, I was part of the team that turned the company round. After working for sometime, I left to go back to my auditing firm, which is always on standby for me. Until 2015 when I got a fresh appointment from the NICON Insurance as the Executive Director Finances & Accounting. My profession as an Accountant makes me function well in the Insurance sector anytime I find myself in the financial sub-sector. Aside from my auditing firm, I am also the Chairman of Dam Oil Limited, an independent oil marketer and to the glory of God we have 3 filling stations, I am into Cattle rearing and livestock and don’t forget that I grew up on the farm, so I am a farmer and I run a dry cleaning firm. We also deal in wine and herbal drinks in Ekiti. Aside that, we are also into hospitality business as I owned popular Trendy Hotels Limited in Ogun State.
Ekiti election is around the corner, as a successful accountant and auditor, what motivated you into politics and are you contesting 2018 election?
You see, my going into politics is another story on its own. My going into politics started when I looked at the level of those who usually contest elections. When you see some of them who we want to vote for, they are people with little or no education and it is unfortunate that we even regard them as having electoral value despite their school certificate. So, I felt if we continue to vote for them and some of us are not coming out, how do we want to change the system. You see, we can only have Sound goverance if people like us are into the system. So, that was what prompted me into joining politics in 2002. I joined ANPP in my state and within 6 months I was appointed a member board of trustee of the party, representing Ekiti State. I held the position for 8 years. In 2003, I was the Deputy Governor to ANPP governorship candidate, but unfortunately we lost it and don’t forget that in politics, you win today and lose tomorrow. So, after that, the party elected me National Auditor, a post I held for 4 years. Now, I have given politics a break because I have a job on my hands, but I might consider giving it a trial after my retirement.
On the issue of 2018 Ekiti governorship election, I don’t have interest in the race because as I said, the job at hand is very tasking and I need to be more diligent with it. So, for me to say I am going into politics now means I am not loyal to my work and to be loyal to my job means I don’t have to divide my attention. You see, my passion is for me to take the company to a higher place before my exit.
As one of the industrious sons of Ilupeju Ekiti whom God has blessed, how have you been able to give back to the society or your community?
Anytime, anyday I am proud to be an indigene of Ilupeju Ekiti being one of the sons of the soil. You see, in the last couple of years, 15 years precisely, I floated a foundation which gives scholarship to pupils in primary and secondary schools in the town and 2 years ago, the scholarship programme was extended to all primary and secondary school pupils in the Local Government area. The procedure is very simple; we pick the 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions in each of the classes and we give them scholarships to motivate them. We also sponsor indigent students to various universities. Aside that, I played a major role in the development of my community, we have just constructed a modern market through the Ilupeju community association, which I am a member. So, we have been trying our best to touch lives and we pray that thy Lord we serve should help us.
