When many of us were still sailing through the academy's halls at the end of the 1980s, trying to understand the essence of public relations and forging our place in the profession, Wole Adamolekun had already emerged as a lighthouse of excellence. By 1989, he was honored with the community of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), a testimony of his early domain of the countryside, since he has been a member since 1982.
It was in 1992 that the late Sabo Mohammed, then president of the Kano chapter of Nipr, presented us, a group of university students of mass communication, Adamolekun, a man whose intellectual depth and professional insight would deeply give our understanding and passion for public relations.
As a firm defender of professionalism and ethical excellence, Adamolekun has always believed that communication is not simply about transmitting messages, but about spreading goodness and promoting positive change. Concerned about what he rightly calls the “AIDS”, the acquired integrity deficiency syndrome, a discomfort that sees segments of the profession and the nation in general, has tirelessly defended moral rearmament and ethical rebirth as essential steps to restore justice and responsibility.
Born on March 12, 1955, in the serene city of Iju, Akure North, Ondo, Wole Adamolekun never lost contact with his humble beginnings. His educational trip led him from Ibadan to Lagos and, ultimately, to the zenith of academic and professional achievement.
A professional, scholarly and technocrat consummated, Adamolekun, has made indelible contributions to both the public sector and the intricate oil and gas industry. His work in these spheres was promoted by the vision of taking advantage of Nigeria's vast natural resources for the greater good, ensuring transparent communication between government agencies, labor groups and host communities, promoting peace and economic prosperity.
His pioneering role as head of communications, information and public relations in Mamser (Mass mobilization for self -sufficiency, social justice and economic recovery), which was restructured to the National Orientation Agency (NOA), marked a defining chapter in his career. In this capacity, he played a fundamental role in the configuration of public perception and galvanizing national support for social justice and economic transformation.
Dr. Wole Adamolekun is an intellectual colossus and an insatiable reader. He obtained his first English degree at the University of Lagos, followed by a diploma in journalism and a master's degree in communication from the prestigious University of Ibadan. His academic trip culminated in a PH.D. In media arts at the University of Abuja.
With more than four decades of professional experience that cover corporate communications, the posterior oil sector, the micro credit administration (community banking), the youth and social mobilization, the management of human resources and entrepreneurship, Adamolekun built a formidable career, which begins as an independent journalist with Daily Sketch. Recognized for his exceptional performance during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program, he was recruited as information officer under the tutoring of Mr. Soji Oni, the then Chief Inspector of Nysc in the state of Ogun, an Adamolekun man accredits as one of his best mentors.
His professional career saw him in Mamser's transition to the Board of Community Banks, before increasing prominence in the Nigeria oil and gas sector, where he served as deputy executive secretary of the Petroleum Product Product Products Regulatory Agency (PPPRA). His mastery of strategic communication and industry dynamics earned him reputation as a key architect of policies within the sector. In particular, he directed a high -level delegation to India to study the use of gas as an alternative fuel, a project aimed at revolutionizing Nigeria's energy panorama.
Beyond his professional achievements, Adamolekun is a tireless defender of integrity and ethical leadership. He has constantly denounced the erosion of values ​​in public relations and governance, pressing for reforms that prioritize transparency, responsibility and professionalism. A prolific scholar, its extensive body, including academic magazines and publications, has significantly influenced public relations discourse in Nigeria and beyond.
In his four decades of service, Dr. Adamolekun has been honored with numerous awards and praise in public and professional spheres. It has memberships in some of the most prestigious communication and public relations agencies, including the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) in London, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and the International Public Relations Association (IPRA).
Adamolekun is also a member of the African Council of Communication Education (ACCE) and a member of the Board of the Public Relations Education (CPRE) Board in Washington, DC, a member of the Nigerian Institute of Administration (NIM) and the African Public Relations Association (APRA), currently serves as president of the Academic Council and Research of the Global Alliance of the Public Alliance and Communication Management.
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While many retire and fade in the dark, Dr. Wole Adamolekun belongs to a rare race, those who withdraw only to refer. Since 2014, he has continued to inspire and shape Young Minds as an associated professor in the Mass Department of Communication of the University of Elizade, Iilla-Mokin.
Beyond his professional and academic activities, Dr. Adamolekun is a devoted family man. He is happily married to Olabisi, his lifelong partner and support pillar, whose strength and unwavering sacrifices have kept the family punished during their dedicated service years. His union is blessed with four notable children, each standing out in their fields chosen with the same passion and dedication that define their father's legacy.
Dr. Oluwole Adamolekun is undoubtedly a man for all stations, a pioneer whose contributions to public relations, communication and ethical leadership have left an indelible brand in Nigeria and beyond. In a vibrant and shocking 70, it is still a force to take into account, a mentor for many and a brilliant example of integrity and excellence.
A standing ovation is really deserved by this scholar of public relations par excellence, an ethical purist, a nations builder and a lighthouse of inspiration. Happy Birthday, Dr. Wole Adamolekun!
Yushau Shuaib is the author of “a dozen advice for media relations.”
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