By Goodluck Ikiebe
Award winning Veteran Journalist, Mr OluSegun Abduljabaar Adeleke, celebrated his 70th birthday anniversary on Friday, 21st July, 2023, with pomp and ceremony.
Mr Adeleke, who is a native of Orolu Local Government Area in Osun State, was born in Ilorin on Tuesday (Ojo Isegun in Yoruba, hence his name, Olusegun), on July 21st, 1953, to the humble family of Mr and Mrs Paul Adebayo Adeleke both of blessed memory.
After graduating from his parents’ school, Olubuse Memorial High School, Ile-Ife in 1974, Mr Adeleke proceeded to Ibadan Polytechnic for Basic Studies in the Department of Arts, where he was admitted in 1975.
“After a year stint at the Polytechnic, to read Education at the University of Ife though I eventually graduated from University of Ibadan obtaining Bachelor of Science in Political Science. I also obtained a Diploma in Financial Reporting in 1995 after participating in a course of study organized by Financial Times of London in collaboration with Ghana Journalist Association, GJA, Accra Ghana”, Adeleke stated.
Mr OluSegun Adeleke is a veteran journalist with vast working experience with Punch Newspaper, Quality, Newswatch, and Tell Magazines from 1984 to 1992.
“My foray into politics in 1992 under the SDP interegnum got me a political appointment as Director, Sketch Press Ltd, Ibadan owned by the South West States of Osun, Ogun, Ondo and Ekiti”.
“At the wake of the NADECO crisis occasioned by the annulment of the June 12 presidential election that the late MKO Abiola won, I left for Ghana in I994 and worked for Accra-based Independent Newspaper as Deputy Editor, and New Era Newspaper as Editor”, he added.
Adeleke returned to Lagos, Nigeria December 1985, and worked briefly at the Diet Newspaper owned by Chief James Ibori, and as Head of the Media department of Tanus Communication, a media and public relations company owned by Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi, from 2001 to 2002.
He moved to Abuja in 2003 to set up Bedrock Global Communications Ltd, a media outfit involved in documentary and magazine productions.
In 2015, Mr Adeleke joined hand with Dr Albert Olajide Akinyemi, a renowned industrialist, to establish what is known today as MSME FORUM, an umbrella organization for MSMEs in Nigeria.
Mr OluSegun Adeleke is also a poet and writer, “My collection of poems, A Dance of Nothingness won VALCO Literary Award in Ghana in 1995. Copies of my Songs of Oreke, sold out online. I am currently writing a personal perspective on the late musical activist, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, with whom I had close interactions. Other works are Triumph of the Will, and Pastors Talk”.
Adeleke won Newswatch Best Journalist Award in 1991.
Our Correspondent reports that captivating birthday greetings were sent to Mr OluSegun Adeleke by associates, friends and relatives, to mark his 70th birthday anniversary.
Some of the eminent dignitaries, who sent messages to wish him good health and prosperity plus increased wisdom include, Dr Albert Akinyemi, who described him as his Boy, very intelligent and a committed journalist, who helped to promote and champion MSME’s activities in Nigeria.
Others are Barrister Vera Ndanusa, Mrs Rose Gyar, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau Garba, Mr Atta, Dr Linus Obinna, Elder Taiwo Shobajo, Dr Francis Alaneme and others too numerous to mention.
