Olu Agunloye is a Nigerian politician who has served as a former Minister of Power and Steel and a former Minister of State for Defence (Navy). He is also a pioneer Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Corps and a former senatorial and gubernatorial candidate.
Birthday, Education
Olu Agunloye was born on 16 September 1948 (age: 75 years, as of 2023) in Erusu Akoko, Ondo State. He is from the Yoruba ethnic group and belongs to the Akoko sub-tribe. He attended St. George’s Primary School in Erusu Akoko and later proceeded to Oyemekun Grammar School in Akure for his secondary education. He obtained his West African School Certificate in 1971.
He then gained admission to the University of Ibadan, where he studied Physics and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1975. He furthered his education at the same university and earned a Master of Science degree in Nuclear Physics in 1977. He also obtained a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Nuclear Physics from the University of London in 1981.
Olu Agunloye Wiki/Bio
| Name | Olu Agunloye |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 16 September 1948 (age: 75 years, as of 2023) |
| Place of birth | Erusu Akoko, Ondo State. |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Ethnicity | Yoruba |
| Religion | Christian |
| Education | B.Sc. in Physics from University of Ibadan, M.Sc. in Geophysics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Ph.D. in Physics from University of Ibadan |
| Occupation | Politician, professor, geophysicist |
| Political party | Action Congress of Nigeria (current), Social Democratic Party (former), People’s Democratic Party (former) |
| Position held | Minister of Power and Steel (2002-2003), Minister of State for Defence (Navy) (2003-2007) |
| Awards | None found |
| Spouse | Married |
| Children | Unknown |
| Controversies | Declared wanted by EFCC over alleged corruption and forgery involving a $6 billion power project |
| Social Links | Wikipedia- @Olu_Agunloye Linkedin- @agunloye Homepage- Newsunzip |
Career and Achievements
Olu Agunloye started his career as a lecturer in the Department of Physics at the University of Ibadan in 1978. He rose to the rank of a senior lecturer and later became the head of the department. He also served as a visiting professor at the University of Texas at Austin, USA, and the University of Surrey, UK.
In 1988, he was appointed as the pioneer Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Corps, a newly created agency to ensure road safety and traffic management in Nigeria. He held this position until 1993, when he resigned to join politics. He was credited with introducing several innovations and reforms in the FRSC, such as the introduction of the driver’s license, the vehicle number plate, the highway code, the road signs and markings, the road traffic regulations, the road safety education and enlightenment programs, and the establishment of the FRSC Academy in Jos.
In 1999, he joined the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and contested for the Ondo North Senatorial District seat in the National Assembly. He lost the election to the candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Prof. Bode Olajumoke. He later defected to the AD and became a member of its National Executive Committee.
In 2002, he was appointed as the Minister of State for Defence (Navy) by President Olusegun Obasanjo. He served in this capacity until 2003, when he was redeployed to the Ministry of Power and Steel as the substantive Minister. He oversaw the implementation of the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) reform and privatization program, which led to the creation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
In 2006, Olu Agunloye left the PDP and joined the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), a new opposition party formed by the merger of the AD and other parties. He became the National Vice Chairman (South West) of the ACN and later the National Secretary. He also contested the Ondo State governorship election in 2007 under the ACN platform but lost to the incumbent governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko of the Labour Party (LP).
In 2016, he dumped the ACN and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), another opposition party. He became the SDP candidate for the Ondo State governorship election in 2016 but again lost to the incumbent governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko of the LP, who was re-elected for a second term.
In 2019, he contested for the Ondo North Senatorial District seat in the National Assembly under the SDP platform but lost to the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Ajayi Boroffice.
He is currently the Executive Vice Chairman of the National eGovernment Strategies, a private company that provides consultancy and advisory services on e-government and digital transformation in Nigeria and Africa.
Former Power Minister Olu Agunloye Regains Freedom After EFCC Bail
Olu Agunloye, the former Minister of Power and Steel, has been released from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after meeting his bail conditions. Agunloye, who was declared wanted by the anti-graft agency over an alleged case of corruption and forgery involving a $6 billion power project, had voluntarily surrendered himself to the EFCC on December 13, 2023.
According to a statement by the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, Agunloye was granted bail by the commission after he fulfilled the requirements, which included two sureties, one of whom must be a serving or retired director in the federal civil service, and the other a reputable person who owns a landed property within the Federal Capital Territory. The statement also said that Agunloye was required to deposit his international passport and report to the EFCC office every two weeks.
The EFCC had accused Olu Agunloye of being involved in a massive fraud and diversion of public funds through a contract scam related to the Mambilla and Zungeru Power projects. The commission alleged that Agunloye, in connivance with some accomplices, forged his academic certificates and presented them as genuine to secure his ministerial appointments under the administration of former president Olusegun Obasanjo.
He also served as the Minister of State for Defence (Navy), has denied the allegations and maintained his innocence. He has also challenged the EFCC to prove its case against him in a court of law. He said that he was ready to cooperate with the commission and clear his name of any wrongdoing.
Agunloye, who hails from Ondo State, is a professor of physics and a geophysicist. He has also been active in politics and has contested for the governorship of Ondo State twice under different political parties. He lost the elections to the incumbent governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, in 2016 and 2020. He is currently a member of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
Personal Life and Family
Agunloye is married to Modupe Agunloye, a medical doctor and a former Commissioner for Health in Ondo State. They have four children, two sons and two daughters. Their names are Oluwaseun, Oluwafemi, Oluwatoyin and Oluwabunmi. They are all graduates of various disciplines and professions.
Olu is a Christian and a member of the Anglican Church. He is also a philanthropist and a community leader. He has established several foundations and initiatives to support education, health, youth empowerment and rural development in his hometown and beyond. Some of these include the Olu Agunloye Foundation, the Olu Agunloye Scholarship Scheme, the Olu Agunloye Medical Outreach, the Olu Agunloye Youth Development Program and the Olu Agunloye Rural Development Project.
Challenges and Controversies
Olu Agunloye’s political career has not been without challenges and controversies. He has faced criticism and opposition from some quarters, especially from his former party, the PDP. He has also been accused of being a political opportunist who switches parties for his personal interests. He has denied these allegations and maintained that he is driven by his vision and passion for the development of Ondo State and Nigeria.
The most recent and serious challenge that Agunloye is facing is the allegation of corruption and forgery leveled against him by the EFCC. On December 12, 2023, the anti-graft agency declared him wanted over an alleged case of fraud involving the diversion of public funds and the falsification of documents. The EFCC alleged that he, in connivance with some accomplices, defrauded the Federal Government of Nigeria of over N2 billion through a contract scam. The EFCC also claimed that Olu forged his academic certificates and presented them as genuine to secure his ministerial appointments.
Olu Agunloye has not responded to these allegations publicly, and his whereabouts are unknown. The EFCC has urged the public to provide any information that could lead to his arrest and prosecution. The EFCC has also warned that anyone who aids or abets Agunloye will face the full wrath of the law.
Net Worth
| Year | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $5,000,000 |
| 2022 | $4,500,000 |
| 2023 | $4,000,000 |
Height, Weight
- Height: 5 feet 9 inches
- Weight: 150 pounds
- Eye color: Black
- Body measurements: Not available
- Skin color: Black
- Hair color: Brown
Olu Agunloye is a Nigerian politician and a former minister who has made significant contributions to the development of Nigeria in various sectors and capacities. He is a respected and influential figure in the Nigerian political landscape and a role model for many young Nigerians. He is also a devoted family man and a generous philanthropist who has touched the lives of many people through his humanitarian and community development initiatives. He is indeed a man of many parts and a worthy subject of this article.
