The Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba, Dr. Senator Mohood Olalekan Ishola Balogun-Aliiwo (Ali Okunmade II) has been named among the list of prominent and distinguished Nigerians nominated for this year’s national awards.
Oba Balogun will be bestowed with the award of Commander of the Federal Republic, CFR, in recognition of his contribution to nation-building in both the public and private sectors in the yearly event slated for Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The first class monarch, a renowned technocrat, scholar and author is also an astute and rare breed politician, businessman and philanthropist.
Born on October 18, 1942, Oba Balogun had his primary and secondary education in his hometown, Ibadan before leaving the shores of the country for Manchester University in the United Kingdom and later Brunel University where he bagged his first and second degrees in Economics and Public and Social Administration.
He had a stint at Lamberth Department as a worker from where he left in pursuit of his doctorate degree program.
He returned to Nigeria to take up one of two appointments at the then University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University and Ahmadu Bello University. He joined ABU’s Centre for Social and Economic Research as a research fellow.
He, afterwards, joined Shell British Petroleum Company and rose to become Administrator/ Head, Industrial Relations, Recruitment, Scholarships, Planning and Development Unit.
He was one-time director of Triumph Newspaper in Kano, Editor of Nigerian Pathfinder- monthly magazine, management consultant to some multinational companies which included Leyland Motors, Exide Battery and Nigerian Breweries.
He cut his teeth in politics when he joined late Aminu Kano’s Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and rose to become deputy national secretary.
He was gubernatorial candidate of the Nigerian People’s Party in Iyo State and later presidential aspirant of Social Democratic Party (SDP)
The royal father contested and won the seat for Oyo Central Senatorial District as distinguished senator between 1999 and 2003- Nigeria’s Fourth Republic when he served as Chairman, Senate Committee on National Planning and member, Senate committees on appropriation; security and intelligence; police affairs; defence and army.
The Oba was recently appointed as the Chancellor of Sa’adatu Rimi University of Education, Kumbotso by the government of Kano State.
