Emily Dickinson, one of America’s most unique poets, wrote, “We do not grow older with each passing year, but we grow new each day.” That timeless reflection perfectly captures the spirit surrounding the birthday of the Ogun State Treasurer and Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Mr. Oladapo Abdulrahman Okubadejo, who marks a new milestone on Saturday, February 28th.
Birthdays are a moment of celebration, but they are also an opportunity for reflection, gratitude to the Almighty, and bonding with family and friends. This year’s celebrations, held during the holy month of Ramadan, provide even more reason to be thankful for life, faith, and God’s blessings.
The proud son of Ogun State, who was born in Ijebu Ode, Okbadejo and is affectionately called Dapo by his friends and colleagues, is now in public service as one of Nigeria’s most accomplished technocrats. With his deep faith in Allah, deep intellect, and unblemished track record of service, he embodies a commitment to excellence in governance and social change.
His academic journey began at Luba Comprehensive High School and Ijebu Muslim University, Ijebu Ode, where he recorded six distinctions and one credit in the WAEC Ordinary Level Examination. He went to the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University and obtained a Bachelor of Agriculture (Advanced Second Division) in 1990. His quest for knowledge then led him to the University of Glasgow, where he was awarded a Master’s degree (Honours) in International Finance in 2003 as a British Chevening Scholar. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Development Finance at Babcock University, Nigeria.
With a distinguished professional career of 31 years, Mr. Okubadejo’s footprint in the global financial world is remarkable. During his early career, he rose steadily through Arthur Andersen LLP, holding a variety of positions from 1992 to 2002, from accountant to senior manager.
He then joined KPMG Professional Services, one of the world’s “big four” accounting firms, where he rose through the ranks. From 2003 to 2019, he served as Associate Director, Partner, Head of Corporate Finance Advisory for West Africa, and ultimately became Partner and Head of Africa, Deal Advisory and Private Equity Group. He also served as a member of the KPMG Policy Committee before transitioning fully into public service in 2019.
Since July 2019, he has been serving Ogun State as Chief Economic Advisor to the Governor of Ogun State. Since December 2019, he has combined that responsibility with his role as Treasurer. In these capacities, he has spearheaded transformative initiatives such as the Economic Transformation Project and the Revenue Mobilization and Harmonization Commission to promote fiscal discipline, revenue optimization, and sustainable economic reform.
Throughout his career, he has advised governments, corporations, and development institutions such as the World Bank and the African Finance Corporation. His expertise has earned him international recognition, including the Global Financial Advisor of the Year Award for Africa (2017 and 2018) by the Private Equity Africa Association in London.
A fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Accountants (FCA) and the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Accountants (FCTI), Mr. Okubadejo has also contributed to global policy discussions at the World Economic Forum and other international platforms.
But beyond the accolades and titles, Dapo remains a cheerful good guy, an agent of change, a voice of courage and conviction, and a commitment to excellence in public service. He measures success not simply by the milestones achieved, but by the changes made in people’s lives.
As he celebrates this milestone birthday, his friends, colleagues and colleagues rejoice in a life defined by service, dedication and impact.
Happy birthday, dapo. May your vision, wisdom and leadership continue to shape the economic landscape of Ogun State and Nigeria for generations to come.
*Mr. Akinmade is the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the Governor of Ogun State.
