My Response to Idris Animasaun’s Question about Saheed Oladele’s Antecedent/Achievements* _By Aishat Adedeji, Eruwa_

On What Antecedents/Achievements Should We Root For Chief Saheed Oladele To Be The Governor of Oyo State?

Recently, Idris Animashaun has been asking a simple but important question about Oyo State governorship aspirants. What are their antecedents? What have they done that proves capacity? It is a fair question. Leadership should be examined before it is entrusted.

However, many of the answers presented for other governorship aspirants like Oriyomi, Adelabu and Ajadi have not been compelling at all. That reality can leave thoughtful citizens concerned about the direction of our state. But, when the same question is asked about Chief Saheed Oladele, the response is different.

Having worked closely with him, I can confidently outline five clear antecedents that make him the best man Oyo State needs as its Governor in 2027.

1. *A Proven Private Sector Performer*
Chief Oladele built Erudite Millennium Ltd from a modest tutorial platform in the busy area of Agbowó into a globally recognised foreign examination preparatory institution. At a time when many of his peers were seeking employment, he was already building an enterprise.

Today, Erudite attracts students from across Nigeria and beyond. The institution even boasts students who travel into Nigeria from various countries abroad specifically to receive training there. That level of international confidence speaks volumes. It reflects leadership that inspires trust beyond borders.

In May/June 2023, the institution achieved a 100 percent pass rate in Cambridge A Level examinations within four to six months of preparation, reportedly the only school across 137 countries to record such a feat within that timeframe. That level of efficiency and structure does not happen by chance. It reflects leadership that understands systems, timelines, and measurable outcomes.

If he could build that from scratch in Ibadan and attract global attention to Oyo State, it shows capacity. Governance, at its core, is also about building systems that inspire confidence.

2. *An Excellent Talent Hunter*
One of the least discussed but most powerful strengths of Chief Oladele is his eye for talent. The results at Erudite are rooted in careful recruitment. He does not hire out of sentiment. He searches for competence.

I have seen him travel across states to secure the best tutors. If the right Head of Department is in Lekki, he will bring that person to Ibadan. Standards are non negotiable.

That culture is evident in the results of Erudite Model High School, where students complete the IGCSE curriculum in one year instead of the usual two and still excel. Recently, one of the students recorded all As in her IGCSE results, with outstanding scores across subjects. That kind of performance does not happen in an environment of mediocrity. It reflects leadership that insists on excellence at every level.

A leader who prioritises merit in his private institution is more likely to prioritise merit in public office. Oyo State deserves appointments based on competence, not connection.

3. *A Man of Unblemished Integrity*
Integrity is not an occasional act in his life. It is consistent.

Since 2012, his schools have operated without examination malpractice scandals. In a country where shortcuts are common, he has refused to compromise standards.

In 2021, he returned 118,000 naira to Mosuro Booksellers in Ibadan after a reversed POS transaction credited his account. That story made headlines because such gestures are rare. Those who know him understand that it was simply in character.

Long before that, as a toll collector, he refused bribes despite financial pressure. These are not political era decisions. They are lifelong habits. State resources would be safer in the hands of someone who has shown restraint even when nobody was watching.

4. *A Young Innovator with 4th Industrial Revolution in Focus*
Chief Oladele does not think in yesterday’s terms. Through Erudite Tech Academy, he positioned young Nigerians for digital relevance long before many schools embraced the Fourth Industrial Revolution conversation.

He is also laying a solid foundation for Nigeria’s first international knowledge village in Akinyele Local Government Area. That kind of forward thinking suggests a leader who studies the future and prepares his environment for it.

What takes many institutions years to implement, his team executes in record time without sacrificing quality. That ability to move with speed while maintaining standards is crucial in governance.

5. *An Unbeatable Lover of Oyo State*
Chief Oladele’s success is deeply rooted in Ibadan. He has refused to relocate his enterprise to Abuja or Lagos in search of prestige. He expanded in Oyo State. His institutions attract international attention, foreign students, and global recognition into this state.

His installation as Baàmẹ̀kọ́ of Ibadanland under the late Ọba Senator Lekan Ishola Balogun reflects his connection to the land and its people. Beyond titles, his former students are studying in universities across the United States, Canada, the UK, Europe, and Asia on scholarships, yet their foundation was laid in Ibadan.

He believes Oyo can compete globally because he has already demonstrated that it can.

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Therefore, when we speak of antecedents, we are speaking of patterns. Chief Saheed Oladele has built institutions from scratch, attracted international confidence, recruited excellence without bias, maintained integrity in moments that tested character, invested in innovation, and remained rooted in Oyo State while thinking globally.

These are not abstract claims. They are verifiable achievements.