As the body of Chief Samuel Kunle Adedoyin, a consummate businessman and a motivator is interred on April 21st, 2023, his absence will no doubt be felt by many of his admirers, colleagues, family members, and above all, his community, Ayetoro-Gbede, where for many years, he was at the forefront of community development activities.
He was actively involved in a series of community development projects that have put Ayetoro-Gbede in a vantage position today. He was alsos liked by his people.
Born in 1946 into a humble family of Chief Abraham Alaremu Adedoyin and Mrs. Ruth Ipinmiro Adedoyin of Aiyetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, like a giant, he bestrode the business and Academic sectors of the Nigerian economy and left his footprints that could not be erased easily.
He had his primary education at the Local Education Authority, Ayetoro Gbede between 1956 and 1962 and later proceeded to Ochaja Teachers College between 1966 and 1970 where he obtained his Teachers Grade II Certificate. After passing his Ordinary and Advanced level Cambridge General Certificate Education, he proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University and graduated with in 1976 with a Second Class (Hons) Upper Division in Economics.
On completion of his National Youth Service in 1977, S. K as he is fondly called by friends and admirers joined the Kwara State College of Technology (now Kwara State Polytechnic) as a lecturer in Economics Department, a position that also offered him the opportunity as an External Examiner to the University of Cambridge on Advance level Economics between 1977 and 1980. From there Chief Adedoyin left as a lecturer II on transfer of services to Kwara Investment Corporation (KINCO) in 1987, from where he rose progressively to the position of Managing Director/CEO of the organization between 1989 -1992.
A seasoned administrator and manager of human and other resources with proven leadership skills, S K Adedoyin as the Chief Executive of Kwara Investment Corporation transformed the corporation into a limited liability outfit and from dependence on Government subvention to a profit-making and self-sustaining Development Finance Institution as well as an active development bank.
Upon the creation of Kogi State from the Old Kwara state, Adedoyin was deployed to Kogi State to use his wealth of experience in the new Kogi state-owned Investment Company where he served as the pioneer Chief Executive of the company up till July 1992.
A certificate holder in Development Banking from the University of Bradford, United Kingdom (1998) and a Master Degree holder in business Administration from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (1980), Chief Adedoyin moved to Nigerian Industrial Development Bank (now Bank of Industry) as Zonal Controller/Administrator between 1992 and December 2003.
Beyond his experiences in the development banking sector which spans over 20 years, Chief Adedoyin had held at various times board appointments at the local, state and Federal levels. Some of the appointments include member, board of Governors, Community High School (1984-1990), Director, Community Bank both at Aiyetoro Gbede his home town and Ilorin; Director Steyr Nigeria Limited Bauchi (1996 – 2000), Chairman NIYAMCO Plc (1990-1992), Chairman Wellcrete Roofing Products (Nig) Ltd, Aiyetoro Gbede (1989-1992), Director Taraba state Investment Company, Jalingo, 1995-1996, Director, Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria, Director, Arewe Textile (1988-1990), Director, Kwara Hotels Ltd; Director, Jakura Marble Industry; Director, Kogi State Savings and Loans Ltd. He is currently the Chairman, Belron Ventures (Nig) Ltd and Principal Partner, Progress Ventures (Nig) Ltd. He has also participated in various National and International seminars and workshops including the presentation of papers. He served as the Secretary to President Obasanjo’s peace committee in Kogi State in 2005.
Equally to his credit, Chief Adedoyin participated in various community, state and National assignments. Apart from his meritorious service to his community and the entire Okunland in Kogi State. He was in 1996 appointed by the Bauchi State Government as Chairman of Investigating Committee on the Financial Malpractices in the Management of Yankari Insurance Company. He equally served on the committee for the industrialization of Ondo state in 1997.
He was a member of the Bank of Industry Industrial Promotion Team to Abidjan, Austria and Britain. At the community level, he has for over five (5) decades relentlessly and spiritedly contributed to the development of not just his local community (Aiyetoro Gbede) but towards the development of the entire Okunland ( the Yoruba speaking people of Kogi State).
He was an active member of Oyi (Okun) indigenes Association, a socio-political organization in the early eighties, and subsequently Okun leaders Forum.
He is a community leader who always identifies himself with the socio-political struggle of his people; he embraces transparency and has an untainted public service record as an Economist, retired Development Banker and politician.
As a student in Ochaja Teacher’s College, He influenced the siting of an examination centre in Ayetoro Gbede which ended the need for candidates to travel out of the community to write the exam; he influenced the installation of NEPA power line infrastructure to the community, bought and distributed electricity meters to many homes. It was also by his influence that the Globacom Mast was installed in Aiyetoo Gbede, as well as location of the Wellcrete Company in the community and he was instrumental, along with Chief S.O. Ologe to the building of the Community High school among his other numerous contributions to the town.
He is an accomplished Kogite, a man of peace, a thoroughbred bureaucrat, resource manager and administrator per excellence who has served meritoriously at local, state and Federal levels of Nigeria.
He is a patriot and a lover of youth and youth development activities. He is God-fearing, humble and peace-loving. He is happily married to Dr (Mrs.) Grace Adedoyin and blessed with children and grandchildren.