By Musbau Rasak
Prince Abdullahi Adeyanju Binuyo has always been a man of peace, a man of ideas, and a man that possess and combine the two qualities of being an idealist and a realist which is rare among humans.
Right from his primary and secondary school days, Adeyanju has always display the knack to sit down, think deeply about an idea and work out modalities for its execution, a brilliant mind and one of the very best ever to have come out of the Community Grammar School, Akowonjo in Alimoso Local Government Area of Lagos State.
As an undergraduate of the prestigious University of Lagos, Binuyo, the idealist and realist, deviced ways he can be financially independent: don’t get me wrong, Sheikh and Alhaja Binuyo are more than capable of taking care of his and his siblings education and other needs, but trust Abdullahi, he is always ready to carve a niche for himself. He developed an home-tutorial scheme, went in search of clients who want their wards to be taught at home, selected brilliant student-teachers among his mates. Suffice to add that the scheme was a win-win one for all involved: the parents, the students, the undergraduate teachers and of course, the Initiator of the programme.
As a youth Corps member serving in Kogi State about 27 years ago, Binuyo was an active member of the Muslim Corpers Association of Nigeria (MCAN). The members of the association always sought for financial assistance to execute its programmes from prominent indigenes in the state in which level of response fluctuated. Binuyo deviced a way of raising money for the association with a close friend. They developed the idea of filling potholes on the ever busy Lokoja-Abuja Road as their weekly community service. Of course, passers-by, motorists, passengers and other Nigerians are always moved by this gesture by Corpers in their uniform filling potholes on the road. They are usually appreciated.
What did Binuyo and his friend do with their share? They donate it to the MCAN to execute their programmes.
He has always been a driving force for ideas and realism and when he got into politics with his appointment as the Senior Special Assistant on MDGs to the former Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, the sky was just the beginning for the charming Prince from Inisa, a town in Odo Otin Local Government Area of Osun State.
Having been a consultant to the Office of the Senior Special Assistant on MDGs to the President, Adeyanju indeed re-invigorated, re-invented and re-directed the Osun MDGs’ Office. Today, he ranked as arguably the best man to have occupied the Office.
Prince Abdullahi Adeyanju Binuyo is the current Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor of Osun State, Alhaji Isiak Adegboyega Oyetola and his contributions to the development and growth of the state via the administration cannot be swept under the carpet.
He is the arrow head of the state determination to diversify its economy, turn it from a civil service state depending largely on federal allocation to a self sufficient state through revenue from the commercialisation of its natural resources.
Today, Binuyo is at the head of the mining revolution in the state, bringing into reality, the state solid mineral policies aimed at making the state one of the financially buoyant ones in the next few years.
Binuyo is an asset to anywhere he finds himself, a man of words, soft spoken, handsome, languid in approach sometimes but very firm and decisive, a man who does not and will not suffer fool gladly.
Adeyanju is humane, humble, very friendly and his smiling face and soft voice will always melt the heart of even the stone-hearted people. But be warned, beneath that soft mien, sonorous voice and friendly smile, is a man who does not suffer fool gladly. He is a decisive man who is firm with his decision and in any field of argument and debate, he can more than hold his own.
Happy birthday my dear brother, my In-law and of course my ‘student’, student to ju teacher lo.
Happy birthday to the Prince Charming of Osun State.
