BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER: PRINCE ABAYOMI AKINRUNTAN, STILL BLAZING THE TRAIL AFTER MANY YEARS OF MERITORIAL SERVICE TO HIS COMMUNITY AND THE STATE AT LARGE.
Patriotism flows through the blood-stream of Prince Abayomi Akinruntan that everywhere he goes, he has been impacting lives.
By all standards and in all sense of it, this accomplished human resources Manager, a Politician and an Entrepreneur though was born with silver spoon in his mouth, rather, he earned every atom of greatness by sheer hardwork and strong determination to succeed and his effort was blessed by God. He believes that success could only be achieved through the dint of hardwork, efficiency and God’s favour have remained the guiding principle that lined his noble and successful path.
His simplistic nature not withstanding, he is reputed for his strong philanthropic disposition and passion drive with great acumen and this is responsible for the remarkable growth of his life touch even in the face of stiff competition in the competing world. A serious minded Politician,and business Man his fore-sightedness has led to the tremendous success recorded by his business concerns in the last few years of handling his Father’s establishment.
Prince Abayomi Akinrutan is a self-made personality who had from birth shown budding traits of greatness and displayed a rare sense of diligence and dedication to life and business drive when he started as a share holder in Obat Oil and Petroleum Limited ventured into the upon the completion of his Ist degree .
. He is a very determined person, who has a dream and mission and through his diverse contributions to humanity, has become a leading light amongst men of his generation and creed.
Prince Abayomi Babatunde Akinruntan , otherwise known as “ABA, THE INITIATOR”was born to the Royal family of Akinruntan Obateru of Ugboland in Ondo State in the year 1973. He has his primary and secondary Education in Ibadan Oyo State.
Conscious of his humble background, couples with his strong determination to have a breakthrough ,he knew quite well that he needed to overcome many challenges on his way to the top and decided to equip himself with a higher education with which he will pilot the affairs of his life . This prompted him to obtain a bachelor degree .
Beside other educational and technical qualifications obtained from home and abroad, he holds an LL.B {Hons} in Law from former Ogun State University (Now Olabisi Onabanjo University), besides having a BL in view at the Council of Legal Studies.
He had also equipped himsef with a lots of academic training having known in his life the need to pursue excellence at all cost.
Prince Akinruntan is artistically inclined and this interest earned him a Diploma in Arts and Design from the Polytechnic of Ibadan. Having successfully completed the one-year mandatory NYSC service, he was given a Discharge Certificate in 2008.
This Honourable who is a Prince from Ugbo land, though may have come from a very wealthy family; he is not in short of quality virtues he inherited from the family. His religious and disciplined family background must have contributed immeasurably to his successful and dignified adult life which has earned him respect and adoration among his peers and in the community.
He is a Pioneer Management Officer of Obat Ultra-modern storage facility, the largest in Nigeria and third largest in Africa situated in Apapa, Lagos State.
Since 1992, Prince Akinruntan has been actively involved in the private sector. As an Industrial Trainee at Heinemann Educational Books Limited, Ibadan in 1992, he has been actively involved in the day-to-day operations of Obat Oil and Petroleum Limited, one of Nigeria’s major indigenous Oil Companies. Nine years after his apprenticeship as a trainee, 2001 precisely, he became the Operations Manager of Obat Oil, overseeing the operations and logistics at the company’s Head Office and Service Outlets in Ibadan. By February 2003, Prince Akinruntan rose to the post of Obat Oil and Petroleum Limited’s Director of Operations, as a result of hard work, having successfully brought the company’s operations in the oil sector to Olympian heights.
As a Director and one of the Shareholders of Obat Oil and Petroleum Limited including its subsidiaries and sister companies such as Eko Oil Ltd., Theo Oil Ltd, Obat Refinery and Febson Hotels Nigeria Ltd. Prince Akinruntan has vast experience in the Nigerian Oil industry. He has since not rested on his oars. He has participated in a number of training and professional courses both within and outside the country. Chiefly amongst are the Port Facility Security Officers’ (PFSO) Course and ISPS Code Compliance Training Course in United Kingdom, seminars and conferences for managers and administrators as well as executives in Nigeria. He is currently the PFSO overseeing Obat port facilities. He is a member of youth Ambassador for Peace Award Peace Ambassador in 2009.
In 2006, Prince Abayomi Babatunde Akinruntan was appointed as the Director, Operations for Febson Hotel Nigeria Ltd, an Ultra-Modern Facility in Abuja showcasing a Hospitality Industry, Shopping Mall with State -of –the- Art Gym and Obat Filling Outlets. He is a multitalented young entrepreneur with craves for systematic innovations. What enders him most to his admirer is his divested experience in hospitality and tourism.
Prince Abayomi Babatunde Akinruntan has represented the company in many fores, including the supervision of the company’s expansion programme in different parts of Nigeria, involved in business negotiations and acquiring of tankers of various tonnage to enhance speedy distribution of petroleum products in and outside the country. This singular task made him to visit the following countries Dubai, Greece. He has also been fully involved in the realization of the Obat Refinery project. As a result of demand pull, he visited Tunisia (African Development Bank) and met with IFC and AFC members respectively.
Prince Abayomi apart from being an employee of Obat groups of Companies, he interests for business led to his investment into other business which he is their Chairman, those firms includes; Princeaando Nigeria Limited (Oil and Gas), Bellefull Intergrated Resources Limited, Aando Apartments (Hotels and Towers), De Ark Entertainment and Records and 2110 Oil and Gas. In 2011, he was appointed Group Executive Director Operation Obat Group before he retired for active politics in Ondo State.
Prince Akinruntan is one of the few Nigerians whose believes in assisting the public and the less privilege in particular, should be voluntary and an excitement obligation. His love for the society gave birth to the establishment of a Foundation: ABA Foundation.
ABA Foundation is a Non-Governmental and Charitable Organization incorporated with the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria. It is a pet project of Prince (Amb) Abayomi Babatunde Akinruntan and his friends geared towards tangible amelioration of the economic, social and cultural burdens of the people of Ondo State in particular and Nigeria in general. The Foundation seeks to get appreciably involved in the capital and human resource development of the less privileged in our society through the provisions of Educational, Credit and Social facilities.
Prince Abayomi Akinruntan is the Founder and Chairman, Board of Trustees of Abayomi Babatunde Akinruntan Foundation. A National Philanthropic Organization that is making waves across Nigeria.
OBJECTIVE OF ABA FOUNDATION
• To make Education Accessible Capacity Building
• To raise awareness on Girl Child and Women issues
• To inculcate values of Honesty, Hard work, Integrity, Discipline and Patriotism in the Youths.
• To provide avenues for Self Actualization of the under privileged.
• To Educate the Community on Health related issues.
• To mentor Youths on personal and skills development so as to improve their quality of life.
• To assist in curbing vices such as Human Trafficking and Prostitution amongst Women.
• To develop and administer enlightenment mediums on the activities of the Foundation and other humanitarian relief and other efforts.
•To affiliate or co-operate with any other Foundation(s) within or outside the country Nigeria, having similar aims and objectives with the Foundation.
Through the foundation, Prince Abayomi had impacted positively to his Federal Constituency (Ilaje/Ese-Odo Local Government) and Nigeria with the following programmes;
1. SENSITIZATION of Okada Riders and NURTW for Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency
– The event witnessed by representatives of FRSC and the distribution of Helmets and C-caution to Okada riders 500 beneficiaries and NURTW 200 beneficiaries.
2. EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT
– Primary and Secondary schools in Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency were given textbooks, Note Books, School Bags, Mathematical Set etc
3. SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME FOR STUDENTS
– In 2012 till date over 500 students have benefited from this scheme and their WASSCE through ABA Foundation in Ilaje/Ese-odo Federal Constituency were paid for.
4. ABA FOUNDATION MICRO FINANCE SCHEME
– 200 Women in Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency benefited from the foundation Micro finance support individually and in various trade groups .
5. SKILLS ACQUISITION PROGRAMME 2013/2014
– In 2013, the foundation trained and certified 100 youths across Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency in Tailoring, Hair dressing, Welding and Fabrication, Alumaco work etc
6. ARTISIAN SUPPORT SCHEME
– The foundation purchased fishing nets and bows for Coastal Fishermen and Traders in Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency
7. FOUNDATION YEARLY ANNIVERSARY
– Children Christmas Party and Graduation of ABA Foundation Trainees for skills acquisition across Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency comes up every December.
8. SKILLS ACQUISITION PROGRAMME 2015/2016
– In December 2015, the foundation engaged 250 youths across Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency for skills acquisitions 2015/2016 edition
9. VOCATIONAL TRAINING SCHEME (APRIL 2016)
– Over 60 residents in Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency were trained on how to produce Liquid Soap, Perfume, Deodorant, Insecticide, Dettol etc by ABA Foundation
10. WIDOWS EMPOWERMENT (JULY 2016)
– The Foundation gave out relieves materials and financial support to 105 widows in Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency
11. ORPHANAGE SUPPORT
– The Foundation visits Akure Motherless Baby Home and pledged her monthly support. This aside other support being made in the LAGOS Children Emergence and ORPHANAGE HOME across the Country.
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12. HEALTH PROGRAMME
– Recently, the Foundation has make moves to partner NHIS for Ilaje Community Mutual Health Scheme with over 3,000 beneficiaries.
THE TURNING POINT.
Inspite of the numerous inherent virtues that could be attributed to his success in life, this young Man is humble enough to ascribe his success story to a divine intervention from God, and his lovely Father, the king of Ugbo kingdom, His Imperial Majesty, ObaDr Fredrick Akinrutan Obaterun who in his infinite mercy prevailed upon his situation and lifted him from shackled of poverty.
His story changed finally when he was opportuned to contest for the position of being a Member, House of Assembly. This singular opportunity seems to be the missing link between him and greatness and he grabbed it with open hands in order to establish a clean break-away from poverty and to have more opportunity to empower his People. He deployed his reputed traits of hard work and dedication to duty in undertaking his assigned duties and this quickly endeared him to everybody including him numerous friends and the electorates.
Through his commitment to the virtue of legislature, he became the toast of her colleagues because of his excellent relationship with his colleagues and other acquaintances he met in the assembly.
The Mr Initiator, Prince Abayomi was at his best in discharging his duties to the admiration of everybody around him.
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His delights for political aspirations comes to limelight in 2011 during the General Elections which he was one of the strongest contesting aspirants under the platform of the then Labour Party (LP). Immediately after the election, Prince Akinruntan was appointed as the Director of Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB). He remains focus and enjoys supports from constituency for the House of Representative by-Election in 2014 which was ceded to the other constituency by the party Leadership.
Prince Abayomi constituency’s support later earned him the People Democratic Party (PDP) ticket as candidate for the State House of Assembly Election in 2015 which he won with wide margin, He currently a card carrying member of All Progressive Congress (APC).
Hon. (Prince) Abayomi B. Akinruntan as Member, Ondo State House of Assembly was Chairman, Ondo State House of Assembly Committee on Works Vice Chairman, and Ondo State House of Assembly Committee on OSOPADEC; Member, Ondo State House of Assembly Committee on SPORT/YOUTH AND INFORMATION; Member, Ondo State House of Assembly Committee on JUDICIARY AND PUBLIC PETITION; Member, Ondo State House of Assembly Committee on PETROLEUM AND ENVIRONMENT; Member, Ondo State House of Assembly Committee on TENDER; Member, Ondo State House of Assembly Committee on Finance & Appropriation; Member, Ondo State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government & Chieftaincy.
He brought to bear as legislator his warn disposition and robust inter personal skills and these much were attested to by his mates and colleagues. He deployed all know tricks in his arsenal to propel Ilaje constituency to enviable height using persuasive and humanity approach and this gave him political success and earned him the respect and adoration of the people.
Hon. Akinruntan is presently the Chairman, House Committee on Utility & Transportation and member of other House Committees. Being a participatory lawmaker, he contributed to deliberations and success passage of Bills listed below;
A law to provide for the establishment, operations and functions of the Orange FM station and for other matters incidental thereto or connected therewith.
A law to establish the Ondo State Agency for Road Maintenance and Construction and provide for its operation, structure and for other purposes connected therewith.
A law to provide appropriate punishment for the act of Kidnapping and Abduction in Ondo State matters related and incidental thereto.
He was ever willing to give his best in the discharge of his duties to the people and this accounted for the love and admiration advanced to him in the community. This Man helped to promote a culture of high performance particularly among his crew members and this rubbed off on the activities of his crew and the fortune of his political exploits.
PRINCE ABAYOMI AKINRUTAN :AN ADVOCATE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
The story of Hon. Abayomi Akinrutan would be incomplete without touching on an attribute of this great Prince that made a most profound impact on the community and his people. His enthusiastic countenance at the mention of his area pointed to an individual who is more than willing to contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of his home community.
He has being gladly fulfilling this Godly assignment through his unquantifiable support for any cause that can yield positive development for the people. His communal and private activities gave credence to his innate desire to give back to the society particularly his community, a substantial part of his private resources and endowment as a member, house of Assembly and as a Prince and Man God really love
This much he revealed in an interview when he said “I am determined to give back to my community part of what God had blessed me with over the time”. It can be conveniently said that this philosophy has continued to guide his social responsibility activities.
The culture of giving back to the society which conditions her drive for community development is a product of interplay of certain factors in her life and these factors have continued to inspire her in his unique style of impacting on the lives of the people and the growth of the community.
Without mincing words, the most important factor that ignited hIs disposition towards, giving and unquenchable thirst for community development is the fact that Abayomi had seen and gone through live at its peak.
Having seen the need of people through there harrowing experience at early stage and survived it through providential guidance, he felt the need to assist those passing the phase and give back to the society that is in need. This, he has been doing over the years without attracting the kind of noise often associated with such kind gesture even before becoming a honourable member and after being in the assembly.
Secondly and very importantly too, Hon. Prince Abayomi Akinrutan have seen the unwavering hands of God in his solid personal accomplishments and attainments. He believed like the three Hebrews that were casted into the furnace by King Nebuchadnezzar that God was with him through his travails in life. He was like a diamond that has to pass through furnace to bring out its beauty as he went through ‘hell’ to become somebody in life and looking back . he can not but give thanks to God by giving back to the world that is in dire need.
These factors and many others combined effectively to pattern his orientation in life and his favourable disposition towards the cause of the les privileged in the society and communal contributions to community development. He believed that he was only showing appreciation to God through his numerous support to his community and his people especially his father for raising him from abject poverty and bring him to financial prominence in the country.
Apart from personal support and donations to individuals and communal efforts, he had established various empowerment projects in the city aimed at boosting the economy of the community and providing jobs for the unemployed.
It is to his credit that he had invested over N100 million to his land of birth in his attempt to promote the name of the town into the consciousness of the people of the country particularly the petty traders who daily need money to take care of their family and the underpriviledged in the society. Beyond promoting the name of the town, the quintessential politician is fond of going out of his ways to satisfy the needs of his people who see him as a wonderful gift of God to the community.
As a member in the House of Assembly, he has contributed in no little way to the growth of the Local Government through his generous donations both the private and the public schools in the Local Government, yearly widows empowernments and the granting of scholarships to some students with other numerous Health support facilities .
His activities is not limited to individuals as many clubs, societal and religious organizations benefited immensely from his gesture . He is known to have actively supported these organizations in their various developmental programmes which ultimately contributed to the growth and development of that community.
The philanthropic activities and unbridled commitment of this honourable to the growth of the constituency did not go unnoticed by the appreciative public who described her as a blessing to humanity particularly, the oshodi , isolo communities. This accounted for the numerous awards and honours bestowed on her by different organizations who cannot thank God enough for this precious gift to her generation.
Apart from being patrons to many clubs and organization he had also received several merit awards assembly listed ,
The propensity to continuously impact positively on the lives of his people and the community on a larger scale beyond personal contributions had always crossed his mind. This is as a result of the prevailing situation of poverty and infrastructural decay in the society. he could feel what they are passing through having been in the midst of his people at all times.
He was convinced within himself that the fault is not in their stars but in their attitude to the development of their land. His real home in Ilaje and ondo state at large bemoan him because he’s endowed with abundant human and natural resources that could be maximized to a great advantage by the community but only need the right attitude to combine these for the transformation of the state.
Though, coming from a business and Royal background, he is a rare breed politician who believes that the ultimate duty of elected public servants is service to the people. From the beginning of his participation in partisan politics, he set a clear mission of helping the people and uplifting his community as his target and this accounted for why he remained unshaken even when things are not going his way in initially in his political sojourn.
A POLITICIAN WITH A DIFFERENCE
As a successful human resources Manager, he does not see politics as a means to an end but rather an opportunity to contribute his own quota towards the development of his immediate community on a larger scale and this attitude has continued to define his political life and activities. This approach to politics made many conventional politicians to wonder ifshe is actually cut for the kind of politics in Nigeria.
He reasoned that if politics and public office is actually to serve the people they are representing, then; the attitude of do-or-die deployed by the politicians to achieve political gains has no place or basis in our polity hence his refined conduct and practice. Having traveled far and wide with exposure on how politics is played in other climes, he can not but have a different orientation and approach to politics.
He came to politics with a culture of dignity and passion for service which easily distinguished his from the pool. With his antecedent, it is easily predictable that he will one day offer himself for service to the people again on a higher level.
Hon ABA discharged his duties with a record of excellent performance and overtly exuded him known trait of hard work and integrity which endeared himto many people.
Thus this in appreciation of his kind gestures bagged awards from cooperate organizations and individuals which includes;
– Icons of Progress (ILAJE MERIT AWARD)
– Ondo State Movement For Development Merit Award As Youth Ambassador
– Award of Excellence a Role Model & Choir Patron (C.C.C) Akure Chapter
– Honorary Fellowship of the Institute of Internal Auditors of Nigeria
(FIIAN) (Hon.)
– National Award for Industrial and Business Development (NAIBD) Certificate of Honor for Accountability and Transparency (CHAT)
– Patron Institute of Internal Auditors of Nigeria
– Award of Excellence in Recognition of Support & Selfless Services toward Growth & Development of Humanity in Ilaje Nation.
– Merit Award on Social and Youth Development by Nigerian Sociology & Anthropology Student of Ekiti State University.
– Award of Excellence by National Association of Ilaje Student Adekunle Ajasin University.
– Member Order of (Ilaje) Nation (MOI) by National association of Ilaje Students (NAIS) FUTA Chapter.
– Award of Excellence in Recognition of Support and selfless Services towards Growth and Development of Humanity in the entire Ilaje Nation by (NAIS) OAU Chapter.
– Award of Excellence in leadership in recognition others by Rotary Club of Ilorin District 9125, Nigerian.
– Award of Excellence tagged Icon of Youth Empowerment by Niger Delta Youth Council (National Body)
– Merit Award as the Most Student Friendly Parliamentarian by Students’ Representative Council FUTA Chapter.
– Chairman, the Paradise Hospitality Group( PAHMA)
– Member IBB Golf Club, Maitama, Abuja.
– Founder and Chairman, Board of Trustees of Abayomi Babatunde Akinruntan Foundation- ABA (A National Philanthropic Organization that is making waves)
– Associate Member, Institute of Chartered Management Accountants (ICMA)
– Member Institute of Personnel Management
– Member, Civil Society Component of EFCC, Abuja.
– Youth Ambassador for Peace and Member of Universal Peace Federation and Youth Federation for World Peace.
– Member Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN)
– Alumnus, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State.
– Member, Ilaje Youth Peace Forum
– Electoral Officer of Law Students Association (LAWSA) OOU, 1994.
– Member of Law Students Association (LAWSA) OOU, Ogun State. 1992-1994
– Award of Integrity, 2010 by Anti-Corruption Awareness Organization of Nigeria. (ACAON)
– Member of Civil Society Component of EFCC, Abuja.
– Service of Humanity Award by Rotary Club of Akure District 9125, Nigerian.
– Award of Excellent Service in Humanity by International Association of Lions Club District 404A1, Nigeria Akure Sunshine Lions Club
– Platinum Member, Nigerian Red Cross Society Ondo State branch. 2016
– Humanitarian Service Excellence Award by Trace News Magazine 2016
– Award of Philanthropist Per Excellence by National Association of Ilaje Students 2016
– Award of Honour as the Best Representative at the level of Empowerment by CLO, Akure South LGA 2015/2016
– Award of most Hospitable Legislator of the year by Igbo Political Platform 2016
– Award as Ondo State Legislator of the Year 2016 by Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ondo State Council 2016
– Heart of Gold Award by Sola Opesan Brown & MBE Improver Award 2018
– Community Service Award (CSA) in Administration by Association of Nigerian University Professional Administrator (ANUPA), O.O.U, AGO-IWOYE 2018
He is widely travelled and married with Children.
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