Oba Kazeem Adeshina Salami: Monarch with a magic wand
By Otunba Gbenga Onayiga
God has plans and purposes for everyone. He directs our steps such that His will ultimately prevails.
This assertion aptly captures the life of an ebullient and highly favoured monarch, a great philanthropist and foremost entrepreneur, HRM Oba Kazeem Adeshina Salami (Ilufemiloba I), the Osobia of Makun-Omi Kingdom in Ogun Waterside Local Government of Ogun State.
The indisputable fact about his enthronement is that the people of Makun-Omi approached and implored him to be the traditionell ruler of the kingdom, culminating in the royal moniker “Ilufemiloba 1” that goes with his official title “the Osobia of Makun-Omi.”
Oba Adeshina Salami attended primary and secondary schools in Lagos. He has also attended series of courses, seminars and workshops in business, rural and urban development, entrepreneurship and leadership, within and outside Nigeria.
A brilliant and visionary entrepreneur, Oba Adeshina Salami founded and managed very successful companies including KAZ Oil & Energy Services Nigeria Limited and Kaz-Salam Nigeria Limited, a property development concern.
Since his coronation as the traditional ruler of Makun Omi, the community has been peaceful and has witnessed monumental progress. The perception in the community is that Oba Kazeem Adeshola Salami is indeed a Monarch with a Magic Wand and someone who is highly favoured with divine blessings.
Upon receiving his staff of office on 21st May, 2019, Oba Salami implored all the indigenes as well as friends of Makun Omi to join him in “transforming the community into a dynamic, progressive and an economically viable place.”
The Osobia of Makun-Omi has effectively mobilised and deployed human and material resources at his disposal for positive development with legacy and people-oriented projects executed. They include:
– The installation of 155 solar-powered street lights.
– Facilitation of the construction of high quality drainages and asphalt tarring of major roads through the multi-million naira Makun-Omi Erosion Control Project.
– Building of open and lockup stalls at the century-old Ajebo Trade by Barter Market.
– The expansion and remodeling of the Maternity Centre and Ajebo “Trade by Barter” Market through a World Bank assisted programme.
– Building additional blocks of classrooms at Makun-Omi Comprehensive High School and the provision of 150 desks and chairs for the school.
• Repairing 50 lap top computers in the Computer Laboratory of the school.
– Paying the WASCE and the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations fees of all qualified students of the High School.
– During COVID period, he gave cash gifts to all elderly residents and facilitated the donation of food items to indigenes of the community.
– Building one of the most modern and state-of-the-art palaces in Ogun State.
– Establishing a modern housing estate in the community with more than 200 plots of land.
– Repositioning the famous annual Okosi festival. The last edition attracted over 4,000 visitors to Makun-Omi, thereby placing the community in the tourism calender of Ogun State.
Working towards making Makun Omi an oil producing community with the recent discovery of crude oil in Eba Island which is within Makun Omi Kingdom.
Apparently, Governor Dapo Abiodun must have considered these and other giant strides in elevating the stool of Osobia of Makun Omi to a first class status.
Kabiyesi Osobia exhibits great interpersonal skills and enjoys a very wide social network. Alaiyeluwa Oba Kazeem Adesina Salami is happily married with children and grandchildren.
Gbenga Onayiga is a renowned Nigerian veteran journalist and member Penpushing Media aanniversary planning committe
FOOTNOTE: You want to share story with us? You want to advertise with us? You need publicity for product, or service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348073463653 or email [email protected]
