Dr. Aderotimi Adelola is the longest-serving Secretary to the State Government in Ondo State. He attended the most prestigious universities in Nigeria and obtained a doctorate in Organisational Psychology from the University of Ibadan. He has decades of post-graduation work experience in academia, management consultancy, and senior executive positions in the manufacturing, financial services, and oil and gas sectors.
He received training at the Lagos Business School. He is an alumnus of the International Development Ireland (IDI) Dublin, London Management College, London, the Society of Neurolinguistic Programming, San Francisco, California, and the Harvard-Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA. Dr. Adelola was trained as a film producer at the Mainframe Film and Media Institute in Abeokuta Nigeria. He has produced five feature movies and created the “psychotechnologyofsuccess” series to train youths on the timeless psychological principles of personal success.
He spoke to The Podium Magazine’s Publisher, Oloye Ademola Akinbola on his new book which chronicles the strategic milestone achievements and legacy projects of the Mimiko Administration in Ondo State. Here are excerpts…
Congratulations on your new book, sir. What was the motivation, coming about eight years after the end of the administration?
Thank you very much. I appreciate your thoughtfulness. It is not too late that l am just coming out with this book eight years after l left office as SSG. Scientists have proven that time is an illusion created by the human mind. For example, Albert Einstein espoused that “…the distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion”. This has been corroborated by Abnijit Naskar, an author and a celebrated Neuroscientist that “…time is a virtual perception of the past, present, and the future based on all our experiences. There is no actual existence of the past and the future. All that there is, is the present.” Therefore, this moment is the season, the perfectly normal time for me to write this book. As stated in the Holy Bible, “To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven…” (Ecclesiastes 3:10).
My motivation for writing this book is historical documentation, to share my knowledge and insights, and to pass the inherent lessons to current and aspiring political leaders, elected public servants as well as political appointees at all levels of governance. Moreover, it was an index of personal fulfillment as l pursued the book writing project, exploring my creativity, and enjoying the process of writing and storytelling.
What do you intend to achieve with the book?
The Mimiko administration was the first democratic government to operate for two uninterrupted terms since the creation of Ondo State. I am also the longest-serving SSG in Ondo State. The story is worthy of being told by me, a person who worked closely with the governor. For one thing, the philosophical orientation of Governor Mimiko, his leadership tendency, and his vision-driven approach to governance are worthy of emulation by current and aspiring Governors and other elected and appointed political office holders. What l have done in this book is to decently reveal the underbelly of the Mimiko administration, the strategies, the challenges, and decisions, and to set the record straight about the administration by providing an accurate account of historical events, and correct misconceptions.
The book, ‘ Working under the Sunshine: Reminiscences on How a State Government in Nigeria Created Values for the People’, offers a unique perspective on how the government was able to record phenomenal achievements that positively impacted the lives of citizens who were in the majority and on the fringes of the society.
Please, give us an insight into what the book essentially covers
As l mentioned earlier, the book is a historical documentation that provides an account of significant events and decisions in government. It gives a detailed account of how the Ondo State government was reinvented by Dr. Olusegun Mimiko during his tenure: the mechanics of a customer-driven and outcome-oriented state governance model; strategic civil service reforms, and the motivational schemes deployed to make all civil servants and political appointees focus their eyes on the ball to achieve positively impactful outcomes for the people.
There is a general, albeit unacceptable, tendency by analysts of government performance to focus attention on the national level and attempt to extrapolate such analysis to the entire nation. This is, of course, with thoughtless disregard for any success stories at the subnational levels. This book reveals the inspiring and emulatable success secrets and principles of a state government in Nigeria, focusing on how a customer-driven and outcome-oriented governance model created sustainable values for the masses. The book is a must-read with great lessons for all categories of political leaders, including:
● Governors and aspiring governors
● Ministers, Senators, House of Representatives members, and State Houses of Assembly members.
● Secretaries to State governments and Commissioners
● Local Government Chairmen
● All elected and appointed public servants
● Researchers, Political Science, Public Administration, and Organisational Psychology students.
This book will also inspire eminent individuals who are genuinely committed to uplifting the masses from the muddy morass of lack, ignorance, poverty, and squalid existence. All members of the State executive council, bureaucrats, as well as political appointees who worked assiduously with Dr Mimiko between 2009 and 2017 are celebrated in the book.
What qualifies you to be an author of a book like this which seems to us to be a compendium of the activities of the Mimiko administration?
l am eminently qualified to write a book on the strategies, decisions, challenges, and phenomenal achievements of the Mimiko administration. I was the Director of Organisation of the Ondo Study Group which was created in 1987 with Dr. Olusegun Mimiko as the Chairman. My membership in the Ondo Study Group afforded me an insight into the extraordinary leadership capability of Dr. Mimiko. I was also a keen non-participant observer of his political adventure. This background knowledge is content for storytelling. Furthermore, as SSG, my office was the ‘brainbox’ of government; and as an active participant in policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation, l had a drone’s perspective of the process of governance and this creates another content for storytelling.
How are we sure that this is not another effort by an ex-government official to justify some failed policies or projects?
There wasn’t any failed project in the Mimiko administration. The administration initiated and implemented the Abiye Safe Motherhood project, the Agbebiye Scheme, the Trauma Centre, the Cocoa Revolution, Strategic Urban Renewal, bottom-up rural community development, Agro-Business Cities, Mega Schools, Independent Power plant, Free Trade zone, School Shuttle for students statewide, Kaadi Igbeayo, Comeserve and the associated reforms in the civil service, among other human and society development projects. These projects were applauded by local and international organisations such as the World Bank, UN-Habitat, World Health Organisation, and the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria.
For instance, the Abiye and Agbebiye projects resulted in a significant reduction in maternal and infant mortality. The integrated and interactive approach of the Mimiko administration to rural community development was predicated on the commitment to narrow the age-long gap between the government and rural community dwellers who had lost confidence in government as a result of failed, unfulfilled, and abandoned projects. The bottom-up strategy of the Mimiko administration tagged ‘kajose kajola’ was inclusive as it involved residents of rural communities in identifying, designing, planning, and implementing community development projects. In all, more than 663 projects were completed in collaboration with residents of 350 rural communities who developed a strong sense of ownership of the projects.
Critics are willing to opine that the Aketi administration jettisoned most of the Mimiko legacy projects because they were not sustainable. What do you have to say to that?
The administration of His Excellency Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN (of blessed memory) implemented some of the developmental projects inherited as work-in-progress from the Mimiko administration. The succeeding Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s government is still implementing some of the inherited projects in addition to the ones his government initiated. For instance, the late governor worked assiduously to obtain approval for a deep sea port in the riverine south senatorial district of the State. Dr. Mimiko handed over the deep sea project in his handing-over note. Similarly, Aketi’s government followed up strategically on the utilisation of the Ore independent power plant by inviting some industrialists to commence operation at the adjoining industrial park for which the 60mw power plant was constructed by the Mimiko administration.
However, there are other projects the late Governor Akeredolu, SAN did not follow up with continuing implementation. I have in mind the world-acclaimed Abiye Safe Motherhood project and its foundational Mother and Child Hospitals; the state-wide school shuttle for students, the Mega Schools, the bottom-up rural community development, urban renewal projects, positioning of the Medical Village as a centre for medical tourism, the Idanre Hills Tourism project, and so on.
Of course, a succeeding civilian administration may not continue the implementation of projects inherited from a preceding administration. Differences in ideological orientation are a strong factor here. His Excellency, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, CON, reinvented government in Ondo State with a commitment to a customer-driven model of governance hinged on the parameters of egalitarianism and social democracy. This philosophical orientation was the bedrock for the projects implemented by his government. A successor who legitimately subscribed to a different philosophical orientation might not have ownership and commitment to such projects.
Be that as it may, the governments of the late Arakunrin Akeredolu, SAN, and his successor Governor Aiyedatiwa initiated, and are still initiating and implementing many applaudable developmental projects in Ondo State, and such projects are contributing immensely to the socio-economic and cultural development of the State.
How were you able to personally impact positively on the activities of the Mimiko administration?
In the words of an American football coach, Lou Holtz “Your talent determines what you can do. Your motivation determines how much you are willing to do it. Your attitude determines how well you do it.” As an organisational psychologist who had served in various senior executive positions in the manufacturing, financial services, and oil and gas sectors, I had the preparation, professionally and experientially, to manage the activities of any complex human formation like the secretariat of a state government. Hence, l invested the best of my intellectual, spiritual, emotional, and physical resources to my role as SSG in obedience to the Biblical injunction in Ecclesiastes 9 : 10 that “whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might…”
In addition, l worked SMART. I made sure that l had a full understanding of what the governor expected of me and my office. During my first official meeting with the governor, himself a former SSG, l deliberately asked him to educate me on my duties and responsibilities as SSG and the areas in which he expected specific results within a timeline. In his response, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko took time to explain my role as SSG, his vision, mission, and commitment to social democracy as a guiding philosophy in crafting his strategy, policies, decisions, and actions. I can remember vividly his words that “our business in governance is to understand that government policies and activities should be about the people, their socio-economic wellbeing, their health, irrespective of socio-economic status. We must strive at all times to make and implement decisions that will benefit the greatest number of people. And my goal is to provide enlightened, selfless, and committed leadership for our people.” He stated clearly my core responsibilities as SSG were to work closely with him to drive policy formulation, harmonisation, implementation, and evaluation to achieve specific and measurable outcomes for the people.
Is this your first book?
Aside from my doctoral dissertation and manuals and workbook on corporate development which l created in the course of my work in the private sector, this book is my first published work. However, in 1997, l contributed a chapter on Total Quality Management: A Practical Approach in a book titled The Global Village: Selected Topics in International Economic Relations authored by Oluwafemi Mimiko, PhD.
Do you still maintain a cordial relationship with Dr Mimiko?
Yes, l maintain a very cordial relationship with my leader in governance, His Excellency Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, CON. He read through the draft manuscript of my book and made a unique contribution that has enhanced the quality of the book. Working under The Sunshine: Reminiscences on How a State Government in Nigeria Created Values for the People is dedicated to Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and his subscription to the timeless truism that knowledge is power when applied to the transformation of individuals and societies.
What are you currently engaged in professionally?
At the expiration of my appointment as SSG, l enrolled in Tunde Kelani’s film school in Abeokuta, Mainframe Film and Media Institute, to learn the art of movie-making. After the training l established a studio, Number 9 Film Studio which is fully equipped with state-of-the-art filmmaking gear for movie production. To date, to the glory of God, l have produced five feature films, a TV Talk Show, and a YouTube series titled psychotechnologyofsuccess which is designed to educate youths on the timeless psychological principles of personal success. In addition to writing and reviewing Film scripts, l am writing self-development pamphlets and books, and also teaching personal development to teenagers in college settings.
When is your next movie and what will it focus on?
My next movie is a thriller titled, Deadly Game. The premise is that “mindless ambition leads to its destruction”. The Yoruba version is titled, Itasan Oorun. I also have a work-in-progress movie-making project titled Omolabake with His Excellency, Dr Mimiko.
Tell us briefly about your career trajectory
I attended the most prestigious universities in Africa – the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) for my Bachelor’s degree, the University of Lagos for my Master’s, and the University of Ibadan for my PhD degree. Before I was appointed SSG in 2009, l had fulfilling work experiences spanning advertising and public relations, academia, management consultancy, and senior executive positions in the manufacturing, financial services, and oil and gas sectors.
I attended the Lagos Business School, and am an alumnus of the International Development Ireland, Dublin, Ireland, London Management School, London, the Society of Neurolinguistic Programming San Francisco California, the Harvard-Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University USA, and Mainframe Film and Media Institute Abeokuta Nigeria.
The foci of my numerous trainings were on corporate finance, Treasury and Liability Management, Leadership, change management, strategic human capital development, strategic marketing, strategic planning, implementation and evaluation, Design Human Engineering, driving government performance, and movie production.
