Osun guber 2019: Ogunbiyi gives it a shot

As the race for Osun State governorship election gathers steam, more players are beginning to unveil themselves. Some hare known faces, while there are also new entrants. Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi is one man who wants to test the waters of politics for the first time, having spent all the time since graduation in 1986 in the corporate world. He graduated at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, where he specialised in Agricultural Insurance. He later gave up a promising career at the National Insurance Corporation of Nigeria, NICON, for Insurance Consultancy.

From wealth creation he branched into philanthropy many. Having founded and nurtured enterprises, he launched the Arubiewe Educational Foundation, through which he offered secondary, tertiary and professional education to the indigent.

As the Group Chairman of Mutual Benefits Group – a conglomerate with nine subsidiaries, Ogunbiyi is the Chairman of the USIG, a real estate investment firm and Charles Enterprises LLC; both in the USA, and CIL (Inc) UK.He was the Chief Promoter/Founding Managing Director and Chief Executive of VTL Insurance Brokers Ltd from January 1993 to September 1995.

From January 1992 to December of the same year, he held the position of the Managing Partner/Chief Executive of Finance & Insurance Experts Limited, Lagos.At NICON he held the positions of the Research and Planning Officer as well as Head of the Economic and Business Development Unit at different times.

But politics out in the street is not the same as that of the corporate boardroom. With this robust corporate profile, seeking to govern Osun State will task his intellect and resources.

He will meet on ground far more experienced players like the Chief of Staff to Osun State governor, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola; Secretary to the State Government SSG, Mr. Moshood Adeojo, an ex-Chief of Staff, Mr. Peter Babalola and Ademola Adeleke, who have indicated interest to lead from the front, where Gov. Rauf Aregbesola currently serves.One thing Ogunbiyi will have going for him is his business acumen, which Osun urgently needs to move forward.