Governor Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, the Executive Governor of Osun State and the new Asiwaju of Edeland is a pan Nigerian by birth, philosophy, and worldview.

Born at Enugu on 13th May, 1960, the new Ede frontliner widely acknowledged as the Olosun of Osun is a tactical politician, businessman, and philanthropist. The ever lively and bubbling son of the Adeleke family of Ede North Local Government is an innovative entrepreneur, a grassroot political figure and a strong advocate of good governance who was a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 2017 to 2019, and now, the incumbent Governor of Osun State.

From his childhood, Asiwaju of Edeland was a man of impeccable character with multiplicity of talents. From his secondary education at Ede Muslim Grammar School to his sojourn in the United States and tertiary education at the Jacksonville State University, Alabama, USA, where he majored in criminal justice, the Ede frontliner demonstrated deep business interest, unconventional approach and a rare mastery of intricacies of politics, business and social life.

Despite hailing from a well to do family, the Asiwaju of Ede was in the United States and Nigeria in search of opportunities for self growth and advancement. His passion for self development and business prosperity occasioned his joining the Quicksilver Courier Company in Atlanta, Georgia, US as a service contractor between 1985 and 1989. He progressed to Origin International LLC, Atlanta, Georgia, US, a flavour and fragrance manufacturing company where he served as Vice President from 1990 to 1994.

A suave businessman and administrator, he served as a Director at Guinness Nigeria Limited between 1992 and 1999 where he contributed immensely to the expansion of the multinational company. He was later appointed Group Executive Director of Pacific Holdings Limited from 2001 to 2016. Senator Adeleke is also an acclaimed creative industry entrepreneur and mentor. As a talented creative figure, he mentored world rated ace musicians while his family members and children are leading stars in the global music industry.

As a man ever restless in pursuit of self growth and opportunities, the Asiwaju of Ede again opted to restart his educational sojourn which he suspended because of business and entrepreneur preoccupations. In 2019 after he was rigged out of a governorship election he clearly won, Governor Adeleke, in a can do spirit, re-enrolled at Atlanta Metropolitan State College in the United States and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice in 2021.

All along and considering his family background, the frontliner was for years both a political servant and leader, learning the rope from his father, late Senator Ayoola Adeleke, a second republic progressive Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and his brother, late Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, the First Executive Governor of Osun State. His business teeth were sharpened by his brother, the global business mogul, Dr. Adedeji Adeleke while his political potency was strengthened by his sister, the Yeyeluwa of Edeland, Chief (Mrs.) Dupe Adeleke Sanni. The man, who is the sixth democratically elected governor of Osun State today, is currently the President of the Adeleke dynasty, representing the sons and daughters of the great Adeleke family at home and abroad.

Having been thus fortified by his innate personality, his family background and his multifaceted experience, his political participation predated 1991 but he took the front seat in 2017 when he was elected with a landslide victory as a Senator for Osun West Senatorial District in 2017. His popularity reached a peak when he won the Osun 2018 governorship election before the open rigging and manipulation that was globally condemned.

As a man of steel character, the frontliner took the gauntlet again in 2022 and…

…beat the incumbent to reclaim the stolen mandate of 2018. ‘Imole’ as the Governor is popularly known has since been delivering on good governance, winning applause and praises from far and near.

In December 2023, he was honoured with a doctorate degree by the Valley View University, Accra, Ghana. The vice Chancellor lauded the Governor’s multi-million naira education scholarship as a Senator; his sterling records on workers welfare as a Governor; his performance on infrastructure upgrades and his commitment to due process, rule of law and fear of God.

He has received several awards including the Governor of the Year Award by Champion newspaper in 2023, Sahel Standard Man of the Year in 2022, Vanguard Newspaper Governor of the Year on Infrastructure in 2024, and a host of other recognitions. The frontliner serves on several national governmental committees including being the representative of the South West on the National Minimum Wage Committee.

The new Asiwaju of Edeland is a strong family man, an avid sport lover, a man of God and a David of our time with incessant passion for praise singing and adulation of God Almighty.

He is happily married with children.