Growing up, Michael Olomu was intentionally preparing himself intellectually and through lived experiences for the role he would play in society. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Criminology and Security Studies from Federal University, Otuoke (2025), a Master’s degree in Sociology and Anthropology (Criminology option) from the University of Port Harcourt (2012), and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Niger Delta University (2006), as well as early as a certificate in Accounting Education from Waziru Umaru Polytechnic, Kebbi State.
The first time he came into national politics was by coincidence, on a day of mourning. On 30 October 2005, young Michael, still a student and still finding who he would become, took a bus to Abeokuta, Ogun State, to join thousands of Nigerians paying their final respects to Mrs. Stella Obasanjo.
The nation was heavy with grief, with dignitaries and citizens alike crowding the funeral grounds; the calm air was interrupted by cries and the gentle rustle of mourning clothes. Michael, however, was not merely an observer. Because of the work he was doing within the student movement, he had been officially invited to Abeokuta. That invitation was more than just a ticket to the funeral. It was a recognition of his years of activism, his struggles for student rights, and the voice he had built within the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
Because Mrs. Obasanjo had been a Matron of NANS, the presidency decided to respect the relationship by bringing both current and former student leaders to the funeral, which led to that first contact with major political actors. Akinjo Kolade Vakama, the president’s special assistant on student matters, introduced Michael to Chief Timipre Sylva in that audience. Michael caught Sylva’s attention right away, not because he was youthful or lively, but rather because he exuded a composed confidence that concealed his age. This young man had ignited student networks, organised huge gatherings, bravely argued for young Nigerians, and engaged in negotiations in situations where others would have baulked.
Michael was still a student at Niger Delta University on Wilberforce Island, but his maturity, clarity of purpose, and in-depth understanding of governance distinguished him. Their first interaction was basic yet impactful. Michael asked Sylva, who was contesting the governorship of his home state of Bayelsa, a question that reflected both honesty and a growing political instinct: “If you win, what role would I play?” There was no delay. Sylva promised right there to make Michael his Special Assistant for Student Affairs. It appeared to be merely a promise at the time, but it served as the foundation for a relationship and the seed of Michael’s political future.
After the funeral, Sylva returned to Bayelsa State to launch his governorship campaign, while Michael went back to complete his studies and later left for national service. He was posted to Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State, well over a thousand kilometres distant from the state. Most people would have found the distance to be a hurdle, but not Michael. He is not one to stay on the sidelines. Although it was inconvenient for him, he hit the road every weekend, travelling relentlessly between Bauchi and Yenagoa to mobilise Bayelsa State youth and student networks in support of Sylva’s candidacy for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the time. He balanced the demands of campaign rallies and national service, never giving up one for the other.
As a student leader, Michael was a staunch opponent of cultism on campus, and this influenced his approach to communal life and politics. He opposed violent and secret confraternities, unlike many of his peers. He knew that violence destroys potential, suppressed voices, and deprives young people of freedom. His anti-cultism campaign required guts, patience, diplomacy, and sensitivity. It taught him the value of dialogue, diplomacy, and moral courage, which would eventually define his political career.
During this time, his ability to speak English, Izon, Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba began to increase his impact. He could communicate directly with people across Nigeria, overcome ethnic boundaries, and build trust networks that no amount of violence could. His voice resonated not because it was loud, but because it was recognised and appreciated throughout regions, communities, and youth groups. His ability to speak in multiple languages became an essential component of his political effectiveness, allowing him to reduce tensions, form alliances, and organise support from a wide range of groups.
When Sylva won the election and took office as governor, Michael’s involvement in the campaign marked his transition from activism to governance. But it was an unplanned incident soon after that sealed his rising reputation as trustworthy and effective. Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, a revered elder statesman, had been trying to contact Sylva without success. In frustration, he contacted Michael. Michael drove without hesitation to the Government House in Yenagoa. At the gate, familiar security officers recognised him as a former student leader and allowed him access to the governor’s office. As he climbed the stairs to the governor’s office, a security aide whispered to him that the principal was meeting with student leaders.
As the door to the governor’s office was opened to allow him to enter, Sylva turned, looked at Michael, and said, almost as if divining Michael’s future: ‘The person I will appoint as my Senior Special Assistant on Student Affairs had just walked in’. At that moment, what had started as a promise at a funeral had turned into a title, a responsibility, and the beginning of a career marked by service, advocacy, and negotiation between power and the people. However, his involvement in student matters had begun earlier. Michael was appointed as a personal assistant on the Students’ Desk by Dr. Princewill Igbagara, the Special Adviser on Higher Education, during the administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, then Governor of Bayelsa State, in 2006.
This early position, while less well-publicised, proved to be useful. It prepared him for many other responsibilities he was going to perform under Sylva, such as coordinating bursary payments, administering scholarship schemes, and serving as a bridge between government bureaucracy and student groups both within and outside of Bayelsa State. Michael’s training in Sociology proved invaluable as he navigated these complex responsibilities.
One of Michael’s first big responsibilities as Senior Special Assistant was to address the lack of student bursaries. At the time, the Bayelsa State Government was struggling financially and unable to finance student support programmes. Michael persuaded Sylva to bring back bursary payments in phases. He devised and implemented a strategy that began with students studying in Bayelsa State and later expanded to cover students from the state studying in other parts of Nigeria and beyond. He paid personal visits to some of the foreign institutions where the state’s students were enrolled, checking their welfare and monitoring their academic performance. These efforts enhanced the relationship between the government and the young populations, and no administration since has maintained the level of student support Michael had achieved during that administration. The Bayelsa State Students’ Union Council honoured his unwavering dedication with an official award for excellence in youth involvement and policy implementation.
However, not everything went smoothly. At one instance, Chief Olomu, a journalist with the same surname, wrote a controversial article critical of Sylva. Security officials thought that Olomu was related to Michael. They got in touch and requested that Michael have a meeting with the Chief to assist the government in resolving the matter. Not knowing that he was being used to arrest the old man, Michael arranged a meeting at Igbagara’s home. Not long after the journalist arrived and the meeting started, armed officers raided the compound and arrested Olumo. Michael was horrified. Realising he had been unwittingly lured into a politically volatile situation, he confronted the governor and later appeared in court as a witness to the government. Instead of siding with the administration, he stepped into the witness box and openly declared the man innocent, explaining how he had been deceived. There was a mild uproar in the courtroom, but Michael stood his ground. After months in detention, the court eventually acquitted Olumo, thereby bolstering Michael’s conviction that one can serve in government without compromising the truth. Governor Sylva later said that he had expected his aide to tell the truth, demonstrating that integrity was important even in the corridors of power.
Michael worked as Senior Special Assistant on Student Affairs until 2012, when he returned to private life after Sylva’s tenure ended. Nonetheless, he continued to serve and work in the community. He continued to coach student leaders, participate in youth circles, and develop his spiritual life. He became a devout Christian and joined the Omega Fire Ministry’s multimedia department, where he worked closely with Apostle Johnson Suleman. His ability to capture striking photographs and footage with his smartphone brought him recognition in the faith-based media community, as well as the ministry’s Excellence in Multimedia Communication Award. Apostle Suleman suggested him to Rotimi Amaechi, the then-Minister of Transportation, who connected Michael to Chief Nsima Ekere, the Niger Delta Development Commission’s Managing Director.
From 2016 to 2018, Michael worked as Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties under Chief Ekere, where he gained experience in regional development, resource politics, and bureaucratic challenges. During this time, his understanding of injustice deepened. He observed that projects were disproportionately allocated away from Bayelsa, a region critical to Nigeria’s oil production but chronically underdeveloped. He expressed concerns at meetings, only to realise that his comments had been leaked without his knowledge. When Chief Ekere confronted him, Michael stood firm, defending his advocacy not as an attack, but as a cry for fairness. This principled attitude earned him a leadership award from civil society organisations working for the Niger Delta equity and accountability.
Michael later returned to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), under new leadership, holding positions ranging from Special Assistant on Student Affairs to Special Assistant on Projects, FCT Affairs, and National Assembly Matters. The commission encountered funding delays and a parliamentary oversight crisis. Michael worked across boundaries, engaging in talks with prominent people and faith leaders and leveraging every resource at his disposal to resolve the crises. His interventions helped restore functionality even amid bitter power tussles. His ability to bridge political, religious, and ethnic barriers earned him considerable recognition, including the Integrity and Accountability Award from a coalition of Niger Delta advocacy organisations.
However, his tenure was not without personal sacrifice. During one highly charged meeting, Michael was confronted with claims about money he was allegedly given as a bribe to a top member of parliament. When asked to confirm that he delivered the money he was never given, he politely refused. His refusal was more than just a denial. It was an expression of the principles he had followed since his days in student politics: integrity, accountability, and truth over convenience. Pressure mounted. There were loud whispers, disguised threats, and subtle attempts to force him to admit to something that would damage the reputation of an innocent person. He immediately found out that keeping the job would mean abandoning his true nature. On July 20, 2020, he resigned. Headlines portrayed it as a victim of corruption investigations. Those who knew him saw something different: a man willing to walk away from power rather than sacrifice his conscience.
Michael withdrew from public life following his resignation. He went back to his family and friends and embarked on a journey of intense soul-searching that led him from student activism to national prominence. During that peaceful moment, he discovered clarity and renewed purpose. But destiny was not finished with him. An unexpected meeting with Dr. Effiong Akwa, the newly appointed Managing Director of the NDDC, brought a fresh opportunity for him to return to public service. Despite Michael’s resolve not to accept an appointment with the Commission, Akwa’s insistence on getting him back to work and the encouragement of his bosom friend, Hon. Oluwole Tunji-Ojo, he took the position of Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters with the new Managing Director of the commission. With his return, the long-standing disagreements between the Commission and the legislature were resolved.
Throughout his career as a student activist, government aide, regional advocate, religious media partner, and political strategist, Michael built relationships across party lines, ethnic origins, and faith. Even his earliest encounters taught him lessons that he would keep for his entire life. As an undergraduate, he got a large contract to provide tables to a secondary school. He executed it with precision and excellence, earning both trust and profit. The incident proved to be a watershed moment, showing how preparation, integrity, and opportunity could all work together to open up possibilities.
His bilingualism played an enduring and subtle role. It enabled him to communicate effectively with Nigeria’s young, elders, and political leaders. He could diffuse tension in one language, establish rapport in another, and negotiate across ethnic lines with clarity and credibility. English, Izon, Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba were more than means for communication; they were also tools for connection, trust-building, and influence, which defined his career and increased his ability to mobilise young and coordinate activities across regions. Looking back, Michael frequently points out that success is determined not by titles or positions, but by the value one makes and the lives one touches. The road has not been easy. There were moments of excitement and sadness. Loyalty was tested, and courage was questioned. However, one thread remained unbroken: a firm dedication to truth and service. Those who know him today describe him as a man tempered by challenge, rooted in principle, shaped by experience, and guided by the lessons of his youth.
His life illustrates to young people everywhere in the world that violence and intimidation are never acceptable, that honesty fosters long-term impact, and that courage and moral conviction can build a life capable of touching nations.
