Senator Adedayo Clement Adeyeye
BACKGROUND
Senator Adedayo Clement Adeyeye was born on April 4, 1957, in Ise-Ekiti, into the royal family of Oba David Opeyemi Adeyeye, Agunsoye II, the Arinjale of Ise Ekiti, who reigned from 1932 to 1976, and Olori Mary Ojulege Adeyeye, a princess of Are, Ikere-Ekiti. His grandfather was Oba Aweloye I, the Arinjale of Ise Ekiti, who reigned from 1887 to 1919.
EDUCATION
Between 1964 and 1968, Clement Adedayo attended St. John’s Primary School in Ikere-Ekiti for his primary education. He then attended Annunciation School from 1969 to 1973, followed by Christ’s School Ado Ekiti from 1973 to 1975. Adeyeye earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Ibadan between 1975 and 1978, and a master’s degree in political science (international relations) from the University of Lagos in 1981. Continuing his pursuit of knowledge, he obtained a law degree from the University of Lagos between 1983 and 1986 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER
Adedayo Adeyeye is the current Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) on July 13, 2024.
Prior to this appointment, he held several notable positions. He served as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from June 2019 to November 2019 and was the Minister of State in the Federal Ministry of Works from 2014 to 2015.
From the year 2015 to 2017, the distinguished senator was the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Ekiti State University in Ado-Ekiti.
Furthermore, between the period of 2008 and 2010, he was the Executive Chairman of the Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), and was honoured with the award of the “Most Innovative SUBEB Chairman in Nigeria” in 2009 by the Presidential Committee on Schools’ Debate. He also won the prize for the best performing SUBEB Chairman in the South West in 2008 and 2009.
Adeyeye has been the Principal Partner at the Law Office of Dayo Adeyeye and Company since 1990. Earlier in his career, he held the position of Senior Sales Executive at Rank Xerox Nig. Ltd. in 1983 and had senior editorial roles at Punch Newspaper from 1983 to 1987. He also served as Deputy General Manager and Company Secretary at Sahel Printing and Publishing Company Ltd., the publishers of the Nigerian Economist Magazine, from 1988 to 1990. Additionally, he was the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Lagos State Fact Book and Editor II at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria in Ikoyi, Lagos from 1981 to 1982.
Furthermore, Adeyeye has experience in education, having taught at Mary Immaculate Grammar School in Ado-Ekiti from 1979 to 1980 and at Isuikwuato High School in Isuikwuato, Imo State during his NYSC service from 1978 to 1979.
POLITICAL CAREER
Senator Adedayo Adeyeye has significantly contributed to national development through various roles at the local, state, national, and international levels.
He is the National Chairman of the South-West Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA), the first and most prominent support group for the election of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President of Nigeria. Adeyeye has also served as the National Publicity Secretary for several organizations, including Afenifere (2001-2004), the Alliance for Democracy (2004-2006), and the People’s Democratic Party (May 2016 – December 2017).
Senator Adedayo Adeyeye has been actively involved in political campaigns for several years serving as the Deputy Director of Publicity for the Falae Presidential Campaign Committee (1990-1992) and as an Adviser on Policy and Press Matters for the MKO Abiola Presidential Campaign Organization (1993). Adeyeye was a former governorship aspirant in Ekiti State and has been a member of various political and developmental organizations such as the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), and the Odua Development Council (ODC).
In addition, Senator Adeyeye’s notable contributions include membership in the Afenifere 50th Anniversary Council (2001) and the South West Delegation to the Nigeria Leaders of Thought Conference in Abuja (2001).
Adeyeye played a key role in organizing the International Conference on Nigeria’s Political Future sponsored by The Punch Newspaper in August 1986, as well as all the Pan-Yoruba Conferences from 1998 to 2004 and the All Politicians Summit in Lagos in 1995. He also helped organize the Odua Development Council (ODC) Summit in 2000.
In 2010, Adeyeye attended the World Bank Summit on Strategies for Education Reform in Washington DC, where he was the only SUBEB Chairman in the country nominated by the World Bank.
Professionally, he is the Principal Partner at the Law Office of Dayo Adeyeye and Company since 1990 and has experience as a Senior Sales Executive at Rank Xerox Nigeria Ltd.
Senator Adeyeye has over 400 Publications in Nigerian Newspapers and Magazines and also an author of the Forty Glorious years: The biography of Oba Adetunla Adeleye, the Elekole of Ikole-Ekiti in 1998.
He is a happily married with Children.
Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho
Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho is an alumnus of the prestigious University of Maiduguri, Nigeria where he bagged a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc. Hons) degree in Public Administration in 1992.
He proceeded to the University of Wales based in Cardiff, United Kingdom where he bagged a Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree in International Transport in 1999.
As an avid researcher, he proceeded further to John Moores University in Liverpool, United Kingdom where he earned a Doctorate degree (Ph. D Hons) in Maritime Technology in 2015.
Abubakar Dantsoho’s career trajectory in the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) dates back to the year 1992 where he started as National Youth Service Corps trainee and subsequently as a Marketing Officer in the Headquarters.
Dantsoho’s managerial acumen was spotted very early and his career has since 1995 been characterized by distinguishing appointments as Special Assistant to various levels of Middle and Executive Management culminating in his appointment as Technical Assistant to the Managing Director from 2016 to 2017, after which he functioned as Principal Manager in the Tariff and Billing Division.
In the year 2020, he was appointed as Port Manager for Onne Port Complex where he pioneered the investor-friendly initiatives responsible for the year-on-year growth being recorded at Onne Port Complex.
His sterling performance as Port Manager led to his redeployment to the Headquarters as Special Assistant Result Delivery to the Management Director and subsequent promotion as Assistant General Manager.
To validate the truism that excellence cannot be hidden, Abubakar Dantsoho was named as the Chief of Staff to the Honourable Minister of Transportation from 2022 to 2023.
He has chaired several external and in-house Technical Committees such as the Committee for the Establishment of Cargo Tracking Notes in Nigeria, the Establishment of Port Community System (PCS), Debt Recovery amongst others and was a frontline member of the Management Committee on the Berthing of the Largest Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (Egina FPSO) as well as member of the 2023 Ministerial Committee on Presidential Transition.
Abubakar Dantsoho who is recipient of the NPA 25 Years Long Service & Merit Award, has completed several Consultancy Studies and Projects for the Nigerian Ports Authority such as the Consultancy Study by Crown Agents UK on NPA Concessions and Joint Venture Agreements, Single Window and on 25-Year Ports Development Masterplan, The World Bank Study on Private Sector Participation in Integrated Transport Systems and the Boston Consulting Group Study on Western & Eastern Ports Comparative Studies.
He attended the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly UNGA 77 in NewYork USA in October, 2022 and has been a part of several National Delegations to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Association for Ports and Harbours (IAPH).
Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho who is happily married with children, is an avid reader and loves to travel.
Engr. Ibrahim Abba Umar
Engr. Ibrahim Abba Umar (Executive Director, Engineering & Technical Services)
Engr. Ibrahim Abba Umar is a highly accomplished individual born on January 1, 1981. He is an engineer and philanthropist with an impressive educational background. He attended El-kanemi College of Islamic Theology where he completed his primary and secondary school education in 2000. Later, he pursued his academic ambitions and earned a BEng (Hons) in Electronic and Communication Engineering from London Metropolitan University, United Kingdom. He went on to earn a Master of Science in Computing from Birmingham City University.
Engr. Ibrahim has gained extensive experience in the field of engineering, particularly in testing various online banking applications and services. He has worked as a Test Analyst for various organizations, including Bamford Trust Plc, AIS Accounts Ltd, Quant Marketing and Ikano to improve their systems. In 2020, he shifted his focus to consultancy and worked with UNODC on several projects related to water improvement solutions and renewable energy. He also served as a consultant to the Ministry of Justice, where he contributed to various projects.
Engr. Ibrahim is a member of the Council for the Regulation in Engineering (COREN) and the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE). He has also attended several leadership courses to enhance his professional skills and stay current with emerging trends in the industry.
Besides his engineering career, Engr. Ibrahim is also a passionate philanthropist. In 2010, he established a charity foundation in Borno State with an endowment of hundreds of millions of naira. The foundation has been at the forefront of improving the nutrition, health, and education of Nigerians, with a focus on empowering vulnerable people to lift them out of poverty. Although the foundation has a local focus, Engr. Ibrahim has a national perspective and is committed to contributing to the betterment of Nigeria.
Engr. Olalekan Badmus
Engr. Olalekan Abdul-rahaman Badmus
Executive Director, Marine and Operations
Olalekan Abdul-Rahaman Badmus, a seasoned administrator, development enthusiast, technology expert and a successful boardroom personae with vast experience in both private and public sectors was born to the family of Osogbo Business Mogul and Magnate, Chief Khamis Olatunde Badmus (Tuns) on July 9,1978. He had his Primary and Post-Primary Education in Chrisland Primary School, Lagos and Navy Secondary School, Abeokuta in Ogun state, respectively. He proceeded to Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso where he obtained his Bachelor of Technology Degree in Computer Engineering in the year 2001.
Being a reader, lover of education and passionate learner, Engr. Abdul-Rahaman Badmus proceeded to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, for his Post Graduate study where he obtained a Masters’ Degree in Business Administration in 2005. He also holds an additional Masters in Managerial Psychology from the same institution in 2009.
Engr. Olalekan Badmus is a certified Project Manager and a Project Management Institute’s Agile Certified Practitioner with specialization in Agile Principles and Mindset; Mindset Value-driven Delivery; Stakeholder Engagement; Team Performance; Adaptive Planning; Problem Detection and Resolution; Continuous Improvement on Product, Process, People and among others.
Imbued with the quest for professionalism, he went further to join the Nigerian Institute of Management, Nigerian Society of Engineers with a registered license from COREN to mention but a few.
Engr. Olalekan Badmus began his decade-long career as a Personal Assistant to the Chairman on International Affairs at Tuns, and rose to be the Acting Managing Director of TUNS Holdings Nigeria Limited, Osogbo. He is the immediate past Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties in Osun State, where he led the State Steering Committee of Osun Food Support Scheme, a programme initiated by the state government to support 30,000 vulnerable persons with food items on monthly basis and other laudable initiatives. His efforts gave him further responsibilities like the Honourable Commissioner supervising the ministries of Culture and Tourism as well as Ministry of Home Affairs between June, 2022 and November, 2022.
Over the years, he has engaged in Policy Formulation, Business Analysis and Evaluation, Project and Management Experience, Budgeting and Forecasting, resolution strategies in private organization as well as Corporate Experience locally and internationally. He is a passionate entrepreneur and has participated in several national and international conferences and seminars on managerial and sustainable development among several others. At leisure, he loves swimming, traveling and playing golf. He is happily married with kids.
Dr. Mercy Ilori
Dr. (Mrs.) Mercy Olanike Ilori, assumed office as the Director, Maritime Services in February, 2025. She has successfully handled roles and responsibilities in the areas of Policy Formulation and Analysis (she was a member of the Technical Committee that developed the newly approved National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy) development and operation of Sea, Rivers, Inland Dry Ports and maritime related activities, Development and Implementation of Federal Government Programmes and Projects, Budgeting Processes, Bilateral and Multilateral Engagement and Negotiations, Ports administration, among others.
In her pursuit for knowledge, she obtained a PhD Degree in Security and Strategic Studies from Nasarawa State University in 2021; bagged her MBA from National Open University in 2019, acquired her M.Sc. and BSc Degrees in Economics from University of Jos and Ahmadu Bello University, Zariarespectively.
She has attended numerous Conferences, Workshops, Seminars in Public Policy Analysis, Public Financial Management, Performance Management Systems, Enterprise Content Management, International Relations and Trade Negotiation, Corporate Social Responsibility etc. She has constantly developed capacity for improved productivity in the discharge of her duties.
Dr. (Mrs.) Mercy Olanike Ilori being an excellent team playerhas served in the Governing Boards of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Federal University of Transportation, Daura, Katsina State, Chartered Institute of Transport Administration (CIoTA) and currently serves on the Board of the Nigerian Ports Authority.
She aligned with like minds as a member of the Nigeria Economic Society (NES), Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Economics, Fellow of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Nigeria, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Human Resources among others.
She is an exceptional communicator, an excellent team player, an apostle of Service-above-self and a core enthusiast of the Ethics of the Civil Service. These virtues have earned her awards in the Servicewide Public Service and the various Ministries she has served.
Dr. (Mrs.) Mercy Ilori sphere of influence did not only radiate in the Public Service, she is a core philanthropist who have championed various community development projects and participated in environmental sustainability and climate change programmes at both local and international platforms.
Till this present moment, Dr. Mercy Ilori is very passionate about grooming and mentoring the younger generation to attain their potentials and actualize their dreams.
Barr. Kelechi Igwe
The summary of Dr Kelechi’s life is predicated on his desire to touch the lives of people using the practice of Law. This propelling factor has heralded his numerous accomplishments bothin public and private practice.
He has held many leadership and patriotic positions even before attaining the position of a Deputy Governor. Right from 1998 when he served as the Personal Assistant to the INEC National Commissioner, his commitment to national development has been palpable. He
worked with his Principal in midwiving Nigerian’s democracy after many years of military interregnum. After successfully delivering on the earlier assignment, he became the Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of State for Industry, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He has also served as a Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Education, Federal Republic of Nigeria, from 2008 to 2010. In this position, he ensured that government policies were carefully formulated according to the needs of the public and specification of his regulating authorities. As a Member of the Governing Council, University of Jos, Dr. Kelechi performed concrete advisory and supervisory roles that took the University to greater heights.
In 2002, he set up Kelly Chambers and became the Principal Partner. While engaged in all these positions, he attended many local and international engagements including but not limited to 5th China Investment and Trade Conference, Xiamen, in September, 2001 and as a Member, Federal Government Delegation to Nigerian People’s Forum Washington D.C, in March 2000 among others.
Being a very development-conscious person, he also found time to return to the classroom to intellectually equip himself and prepare for the challenges of the future, as evidenced by his robust academic portfolio.
Dr. Kelechi is a well known and celebrated Philanthropist who has touched the lives of many through quality assistance. Through his uncommon philanthropic gesture, the fatherless have been to school, widows have been blessed and the physically challenged have found succor. He carried out numerous Pro-bono Briefs while engaged in the busy law firm of Enechi Onyia (SAN) as Partner-in-Chambers from 1996 to 1998. Later, he developed social programmes that assisted the indigent. He has been a vocal canvasser for the All Progressives Congress as can be evidenced in his role in the success of APC candidates in the just concluded elections.
He has in-depth experience in legal matters, governance and administration, policy formulation and execution, having served as the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State for eight consecutive years. While in office, he executed all state directives with prompt diligence, integrity, and speed. He has an unquestionable character and is given to activities that promote national unity. As a Vendor, Advocate and Practitioner of ADR Processes, especially Negotiation, Mediation / Conciliation and Arbitration, Dr. Kelechi Igwe has negotiated and drafted various contract agreements on behalf of government agencies and other clients. He has been involved in drafting legislative bills and domesticating State Acts such as the Criminal Justice Act of 2015, an Act which gave birth to the Ebonyi State Administration of Criminal Justice Law of 2019.
He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), International Bar Association (IBA), Member, Institute of Credit and Risks Management of Nigeria; Fellow, Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators.
