Early Life: Senator Iyiola Ajani Omisore was born in Ile Ife, Osun state, on 15 September 1957 into a royal family line of the people of Ile-Ife, the cradle of the Yoruba race. He is the grandson of Lowa Omisore and his father is Oba David Olajide Omisore of Ayepe, Olode, Ile-Ife.
Senator Omisore is also the grandson of the Late Olufewara Kabiyesi Oba Titus Adetoba of the Oseganderuku ruling house in Ifewara where his mother, Princess Emila Adejola ruled as Regent until her death in 2006. Iyiola grew up in Ile-Ife, in a very large and extended family where diligence, integrity and community service were part of both his heritage and leadership responsibility as royalty.
His parents were devout Christians and members of the SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church Lagere Ile Ife. Iyiola grew up and served as an altar boy to the priests, learning both the value of giving as well as tolerance for all religions and people. It was at this point that Iyiola started demonstrating the qualities of forthrightness; keen intellect and uprightness which not only set him apart from his peers but prepared him for community leadership and service.
Education
He had his primary education at the SS Peter and Paul Roman Catholic School in Ile-Ife and his secondary education at St. John Grammar School Ile Ife Osun State from 1972 – 1977, where he excelled. He later attended Federal Polytechnic Owo in Ondo State Nigeria. He later sat for and passed his Full Technological Certificate Examinations at the Technology College, Reading UK, and obtained a diploma Certificate in Electrical/Electronics Engineering. He also holds a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Power and Machines from Brunnel University Uxbridge, United Kingdom, a postgraduate Certificate in Building service and Engineering Management and a Master of Science Degree in Building Services from the same University. Later, he went to Brunel University, Uxbridge, UK where he earned a Post Graduate Certificate in Mechanical Engineering and an M.Sc degree in Building Services Engineering.
At present, the senator holds a Ph.D in Infrastructure Finance from the International School of Management, Paris, France and he is currently undergoing his DBA programme at the same institution. In his pursuit of excellence, the Senator who is equally a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, England and Wales underwent several courses in different high profile institutions. He did the Advanced Budgeting Course at the George Town University, Washington DC, USA; the Appropriations and Public Finance Course at the ABS Academy, Athens, Greece; the Advanced Leadership Course at the University of Carolina; The Innovation and Leadership Course at the West London College; the Public Finance Course at the Harvard University and the Aid Effectiveness and Donour Harmonization Course at the Internationale Weiterbildung und Entwicklung gGmbH, Germany.
In January 2013, he completed and was awarded a Doctorate Degree by the International School of Management in Paris. He majored in Procurement, Taxation, Corporate Governance, Infrastructure finance and Public Private Partnerships. The concept of Public Private Partnerships is a key part of the strategy that has been successfully used to provide affordable infrastructure that meets public needs. The concept combines the best capabilities of the Public and Private sectors for mutual benefit.
Professional Career
He is an embodiment of intelligence who has made the pursuit of excellence his trademark. Senator Iyiola Omisore is an engineer and politician of note, and an astute manager of resources whose attention to detail, calmness, and ability to simplify, and proffer solutions to complex issues is uncommon. In fact, his patriotic zeal and engineering acumen was brought to play tremendously when he was in the Senate between 2003 and 2011 and the country benefitted tremendously from this.
Engineering
He started his early professional life with the firm of Drake and Gordham while in the UK, in the early Eighties where he received on the job training and rose to top Management positions. The same firm Drake and Scull (Nig) Ltd took him back home to Nigeria where he worked on major Engineering projects, it was while working at Drake and Scull that his project management skills were horned. He later established his own Engineering firms; Mechelec Consultants –an Engineering Consultancy outfit and Chrisore Eng Ltd – an Electrical Engineering firm.
Omisore, a Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers started his engineering career as project manager with Drake Gordham UK, Plc, in 1983 and was there up to 1985 before returning to Nigeria to join Drake and Scull Nig. Ltd. also as Project Manager. Here, he supervised the construction of 19 airfields including the Makurdi Air Force Base. Apart from these, he supervised other projects like the Sokoto and Makurdi Rice Mills, Taraku Oil Mill and the Sokoto University Teaching Hospital. He was elevated to the post of a General Manager in 1987 and as a General Manager there up till 1999, he handled such projects like the Federal Mortgage Bank Headquarters Building, Onitsha Flour Mills, Bank of The North (Now Unity Bank) Building, Podium Secretariat, Port Harcourt; Eternit, Sapele; World Bank Assisted Health Projects for Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa States and the Imiringi Rural Electrification project now in Bayelsa State.
Other Projects
CBN Governor’s/Deputy Governor’s Lodges
UACN Commercial Complex, Abuja;
Union Bank (Stallion Plaza);
UBA Headquarters;
EIB Headquarters;
Afribank Headquarters;
British High Commission, Abuja;
Brawal Shipping Lines Office Complex (10 – Story)
As someone that has made his mark in the engineering profession, he has some awards to show for this. He was conferred with the Nigerian Society of Engineers Presidential Merit Award for Support and Contribution to the Development of the Society in 2007. Also, when the NSE was celebrating its Golden Jubilee in 2008, he was honoured with the Prime Award for Remarkable Contribution to the Growth of Engineering Profession and Society.
Project Management
On the consultancy side he was involved in the execution of several World Bank assisted projects and ADB/ADF assisted projects in virtually every part of Nigeria. Chisore Engineering Ltd was also involved in the Execution of many projects for Blue Chip Companies, Banks, Embassies, Shipping Companies; just to mention but a few. He was very successful in his professional endeavour, he diversified and today has interest in several areas of the Economy. He was in the process of taking Chrisore Engineering to be listed on the stock Exchange before the duties of elective political office beckoned on him. Omisore went ahead to establish Chrisore Engineering Plc in 1989 as well as Mechelec Consultants Ltd. Between the time of its establishment and 1999, Chrisore Engineering of which he was the Chairman and CEO had executed many projects.
These include the UACN Commercial Complex, Apapa; the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor’s residence including the residences of its 5 Deputies; Afribank Headquarters; Eko International Bank Headquarters; UACN Abuja Complex in addition to the Union Bank of Nigeria Headquarters.
Nineteen Nigerian Airfields including NAF base in Makurdi
Sokoto Rice Mills
Makurdi Rice Mills,
Taraku Oil Mills
Onitsha Flour Mills,
Eternit, Sapele
Bank of the North Headquarters, Kano
NTA/NTI, Kaduna
Federal Mortgage Bank, Lagos,
Sokoto Teaching Hospital,
Podium Secretariat, Port Harcourt
Immirungi Rural Electrification, Bayelsa,
Okpella Cement Factory
World Bank Assisted Projects
Enugu State Multi-State Road Project;
Ondo State Multi-State Road Project;
Kano/Jigawa Multi-State Road Project;
Ondo/Enugu IDF
Sokoto/Zamfara Multi-State Health Project;
Ondo/Bauchi Multi-State Health Project;
Ogun/Kaduna Multi-State Health Project;
ADB/ADF Assisted Projects:
Kwara Water Supply;
Bauchi Water Supply;
Delta Water Supply;
Lagos Fishing Terminal;
Nkalagu Cement Factory
NSPMC Proposed Factory in Jos;
Ondo State Afforestation Project
Procurement and Infrastructure Finance
Also, in its ten years of existence, Mechelec Consultants where he was the Principal Partner had firmly registered itself in the construction industry. Projects executed successfully within this period included: African Development Bank financed projects across the states; World Bank financed projects in Enugu, Kaduna, Niger, Sokoto, Bauchi, Kwara and Imo States; World Bank Health System Fund II in Lagos State; World Bank Assisted Lagos Urban Transportation Project and the Pakistani Suppliers’ Credit on Rural Electrification in Ondo and Niger States.
Public Private Partnership
Power deregulation in Nigeria
Airports Development
Political Views and Policies
Omisore’s involvement in politics started early in life as his family has always been involved in politics both at sub-national and national levels. He has also been active in international relations, representing Nigeria’s interest and position at various global processes and conferences. In the transition years of the Babangida Administration, he was involved in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and later became a member of the Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM), UNCP in the Abacha years, under the Gen. Abubakar transition years he got involved with the Pan Yoruba group Afenifere (a pre-democratic activist group largely in south west Nigeria), where he was caucus leader for Osun State and the south west region of Nigeria. It was natural for him to have been involved in the formation of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), All People’s Party (APP) and finally Alliance for Democracy (AD) where he was a top financial backer.
Legislative Career
During his tenure in the upper legislative chamber in Nigeria, Senator Omisore distinguished himself not only in name but also by the key positions he held and the achievements recorded during this period at all levels of governance.
Key positions held include
Chairman, Senate Committee on Industries, 2004 – 2005
Chairman, Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs, 2005 – 2007
Chairman, Joint Finance Committee
Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, 2007 – Date
Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations (2007 -2011)
Chairman, UNDP/NASS Support Implementation Committee (2007 – 2011)
Chairman, Board of Fellows, Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria.
While he was the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, he worked with other members of the committee over 4 rounds of national budget reviews and allocation, increasing national investments in infrastructure, economic and social development as well as championing civic engagement in what has become nationally recognized as the ‘Inclusive national budgeting initiative’. Using this platform he transformed the appropriations processes into an evidence and people responsive process, taking on publicly solicited citizens and institutional perspectives to guide allocations and appropriations. While this often meant that long and challenging negotiations were required with the executive and implementing ministries departments and agencies, Dr. Omisore’s leadership and people skills kept all views and thoughts included until a shared budgetary consensus was achieved.
Dr. Omsiore further worked with global institutions and national civil society organizations to ensure that there is alignment between overseas development assistance and national budgeting and appropriation process, proposing for legislative action to support improved research evidence support alignment while focusing on improved budgeting performance and results. The overarching objective was to ensure of his work over the 4 year period as Chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the Upper Legislative Chamber of the Nigerian Assembly was to transform budgeting and appropriation into Socially Desirable Projects with sustained impact on national development. His work development assistance and performance with effective engagement of civil society is recognized by the International Health Partnership Plus and other international agencies
Omisore used his office to improve the level of infrastructural development of the nation, especially road and water supply infrastructures network. He used his office to facilitate bold and transformative investments of the national budget in infrastructure, health and human capital development (education, youth development and economic empowerment). Many of these projects reflect the deployment of his professional capacity and a commitment to bridge the infrastructure gaps in national development and economic growth.
Some of his key achievements include
Infrastructure
(a) Dualization of Ilorin-Ogbomosho-Ibadan road
(b) Repair of Ibadan road
(c) Dualisation of Ijebu Ode-Ibadan road, Ondo-Akure, Ore-Ondo, Ore-Ipele-Lokoja, Abuja-Lokoja-Okene, Akure-Ado Ekiti, Ado-Ifaki, Aramoko-Ado-Ijero and Gbongan-Sekona-Osogbo roads.
(d) Reconstruction of Oja-Ife market and expansion of the stall to 24, with further provision of fund for electrification of the market, sinking of boreholes, Provision of burglary proof e.t.c. and rehabilitation of the stall owners
(e) Rural Electrification @villages in Osun east
(f) UNESCO Cultural Centre (also a tourism)
(g) Multipurpose dams in Ife-Ijesha, Oyan, Yemoji, Ijebu Ode, Ogbese
(h) Dredging of erosion channels from Oke-Eso to Alapata to Ondo Road and from Ilode to Mokuro to Esinmirin
(i) Rehabilitation of Ife-Ipetu-Ilesa-Akure road
(j) Oora stream channelization
(k) Facilitated Projects in OAU
(l) Rehabilitation of Ife Ondo Road
(m) Solar powered boreholeds at various locations in Ile-Ife, Osun East
(n) Solar powered streed lighting at vaious locationsin Ife, Ilesha and Osun Estate
(o) Injection sub-station 132/33kv at Imo in Ilesha
(p) Dualization of Mayfair-Lagere-Enuwa-Moore-
(q) Rehabilitation of Ife-Ibadan Road
(r) Secondary pipe distribution to Iwo water works
Health
(a) Facilitated Projects in OAUTH
Human Capital Development (Education, Youth Development and Economic Empowerment)
(a) Living Spring Free Trade Zone, Oshogbo
(b) NAPEP
(c) SMEDAN
Although he lost his seat to the senate in the national elections of 2011, Dr. Iyiola Omisore remains undaunted in his commitment to the development of Osun State, as well as the overall stability and economic progress of Nigeria. He retained his extensive ties with the legislative and executive process to ensure sustained investments in all the projects above, and contribute to national directions adopting concessional and the public private financing approach for sustained impact.
Philanthropy
Advising the youth, the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers Fellow stated: “They should know the children of who they are, they should know the houses from which they came from, they should also know that good name is better than either silver or gold. They should go back to the core values that make Yoruba race stand out from other tribes.”
Iyiola Omisore sprang to recognition and prominence with his people as a result of his philanthropic activities over two decades ago. At the last count he has personally funded or facilitated the funding of over two hundred and fifty (250) projects widely spread all over his home state of osun and in other states in Nigeria.
The philanthropist when asked about his contribution to the development of the Yoruba youths responded by saying, “I organize scholarship programmes, pay school fees of less privileged students, help the needy ones. These are things which are part of the life people responsive leadership, the heritage of my birth ‘bi bi ire’ that our forbearers often charged us to always recall, and the duty I bear on account of my faith that through one person God provides for us all. These principles are the pillars of my commitment to philanthropy. The humanitarian, humble, friendly, and hardworking engineer opined, “My basic philosophy is simple and it is: “love your neighbour as yourself. When you love your neighbour, you will not hurt him,” and secondly, “do unto others what you would like them to do unto you. These all are what the Holy books of all religions charge us to, but of course I came about these philosophies from my parentage and the responsibilities of my birth.” These words show how much he values loving-kindness and reciprocity.
Community Service and Cultural Image
Senator Iyiola Omisore is a grass root Politician, a political mobiliser and a community man, who has always being involved in development efforts in his place of birth, Ile Ife. He has been conferred with over twenty (20) traditional titles by different communities, where he has won the admiration of the people. He is a free mixer and could be found in the circle of both high and the lowly throughout Nigeria. He is also very much at home within the academia and has presented several academic papers at various academic functions. Speaking about ways to improve development in Yorubaland, Omisore, a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical Engineers, England and Wales said, “All Yoruba indigenes should go back to the core values of the Yoruba which emphasizes more on honesty, love, reputation and good names instead of wealth and fame.”
As a distinguished Yoruba man whose impact has been felt in various towns in Yorubaland, Omisore has in his kitty different chieftaincy titles, all conferred by the kings of these towns in appreciation of what he has done to support community development and strengthen the contribution of traditional systems to public governance and order. The prolific engineer and politician amongst many other chieftaincy titles:
Apesin Oodua of the Source
High Chief Lisa of Osogboland
Bashorun of Ijeshaland
Asiwaju Balogun of Ibadanland
Akinrogun of Edeland
Maiyegun of Ijero Kingdom
Seriki of Usi Ekiti
Agbaakin of Ila Orangun
Ashipa of Inisha Kingdom
Otunba of Ipetu Modu
Akinrogun of Ede
Otunba of Odo-Eku
The recognition of his community service, traditional actions and philanthropy are not limited to Yoruba land. Dr. Iyiola Omisore has been further honoured with the title “Zege Huror u Kwande man ishan na” a title gotten from Kwande, Benue State in the Northern part of the country.
The College of Education, Ila Orangun, Osun State has equally honoured him with the “Fellowship for Good Human Relationship With People at the Grassroots” and “Invaluable Contribution Towards Alleviating the Problems of the Society” just as Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, his alma mater has also awarded him a fellowship of the polytechnic for “Valuable Contribution Towards Technological Advancement and Courses Accreditation.”
Family and Personal Life
Iyiola is happily married to Mojisola Omisore (née Fasuba), from Ekiti State. Mojisola is a barrister and solicitor. Iyiola is blessed with children, who are engaged in diverse academic pursuits. In line with the social and leadership responsibilities of his royal linage, Iyiola provides paternal support and parental guidance to a large number of young persons in his primary family, members of his community and the wider community. Senator Iyiola Omisore, the Apesin O’dua has an active social life. He is member of notable social clubs including the Ikoyi Club, Lagos Island Clun, Abuja Golf Clun and the Metropolitan Club. Senator Iyiola Omisore remains a major political bridge builder in Nigeria and a leading pan Yoruba politician whose views on national political issues shapes public opinion.
PRINCE AJIBADE OLOWOPOROKU.
