The first time I came across Barr. Akeem Adedeji Agbaje, a complete gentleman was 2019, during the APC primaries in Oyo State. I did a meet and greet with him. The young and vibrant Akeem was born on 1st April, 1968, into the noble family of Chief Salami Agbaje of Ayeye Compound, Ibadan, Oyo State. The family boasts of hundreds of people who have distinguished themselves in both private and public service. His parents, Alhaji Yekini Aderibigbe Agbaje SAN and Airat Adebukola Odeleye of blessed memory, have also distinguished themselves.
Late Chief Salami Agbaje, his grandfather, was a renowned businessman, a notable community leader, a chieftain in the Ibadan Royal lineage, and one of the early Nigerian merchant class who devoted time and money to the socio-economic development of Ibadan land specifically and Nigeria in general, especially in the area of spreading Western Education. Chief Salami Agbaje was a man of many firsts. His children include Late Dr. Anthony Saka Agbaje, the first medical doctor of Ibadan origin, Late Chief Abdul Mojeed Folarin Agbaje, the first lawyer of Ibadan Origin; and Late Hon. Justice Abdul Ganiyu Agbaje JSC, the first Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria of Ibadan origin.
When one talks of Education, Akeem Agbaje is someone to reckon with. He began his elementary Education at the Alafia Nursery and Primary School, Mokola, Ibadan between 1972 and 1977. He left the School to complete his elementary education in 1979 at Ebenezer Nursery and Primary School, G.R.A., Benin City. He was in the famous Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan between 1979 and 1984 for his secondary education.
After he bagged his General Certificate in Education (GCE) in 1984, he left for the Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo for his Higher School Certificate. Right there in Secondary School, vibrant Akeem Agbaje displayed special skills in administration, resolution of disputes between his classmates, and generally ensured that there was cordiality in relationship between students, and also with teachers. I discovered He has facilitated the training of over 5,000 persons and he is personally acquainted and has traversed the length and breadth of each local government area in Oyo State.
His hunger for knowledge and seeking solution to National and Local issues led to his participation in the research team on “External Reserve Composition for Debt Management” funded by Nairobi based African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) global research and capacity building organization. Barrister Akeem Agbaje is a silent achiever we should look out for in the political atmosphere of Oyo State.