Prince Olabode Sunday Ogunleye is a Chartered Accountant and Philanthropist extraordinare. He is also a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
Ogunleye, who is a Prince of Ikorodu Kingdom, is also a former Chairman, Governing Council of Lagos State Market Development Board (LSMDB), past President, Oriwu Club (No.1 member), past Chairman, Ikorodu Resource Development Group (IDRDG) and the first Chairman, Ikorodu Town Hall Management Committee.
He is a chieftain and the Baba Asato of The African Bethel Cathedral Church, Ikorodu. He has served in many capacities of the Church at the cathedral, Archdeaconry, Diocese and the national levels.
He spoke with Reporter – in – Chief, THE IMPACT, Kunle Adelabu, in an interview on Sunday, April 31, 2023, after the dedication and donation of a storey – building to the Youth & Children Chapel of the African Bethel Cathedral Church, lkorodu, which he built. The seasoned accountant spoke on the Chapel, Oriwu Club at 50 , IDRDG, Ikorodu Town Hall and accounting profession. Excerpts:
THE IMPACT: Congratulations on your birthday and the successful completion of the Youth Chapel that you are dedicating and donating to The African Church Bethel Cathedral,Ikorodu, today. What is the significance of this, Sir?
Prince Ogunleye: I didn’t plan it for my birthday, it was a matter of gesture that was extended to me by the executive committee of The African Church Bethel Cathedral, which wanted a separate Church for children and youths and I was at that meeting. I felt that it was a nice idea, and the initial idea was to have a bungalow to replace an old building that was there. That was how it started and God willing and by the forceful prayer by Chief Oshin, I just accepted that I would do it for the youths. It wasn’t planned for my birthday.
When the building got to the bungalow level, I felt that it could be decked and also added another hall for other usages. That was how it turned into a storey – building, and luckily for me, God was so good to me and very wonderful because I did have the money then. All the needed resources started coming in for the project and today, this is it.
THE IMPACT: Sir, you are a chieftain of the prestigious Oriwu Club, and you are normally referred to as No 1 member of the club. The club is clocking 50 years, do you think that the club has attained the level that the founding fathers of the club and those of you that are sustaining the tradition, really wanted it to be?
Prince Ogunleye: Well, in all ramifications, I can say that the club has more than attained that level. We are very proud of the level that we have been able to get ourselves to in Ikorodu Division, by the way of the character and the professionalism of the members. The caliber of members that we have are diligent and professional and as you can see, Oriwu Club can compete with any club in Lagos State and Nigeria at large. I don’t even think that any club can compete with what we have in Lagos. We are satisfied with where we are right now, and that is why you see many Chief Executives and professionals aspiring to be members of the club and that is something that is good for us. Although, we are selective in the sense that your father or mother must be an indigene of Ikorodu. The aspiration of every parent in those days is for their sons to be a member of Oriwu Club, and thank God that we have kept to the standard and I am proud of the level that we are.
THE IMPACT: Where do you see the club in the next 10 to 20 years?
Prince Ogunleye: By the quality of our young members, I think that they would really make a good account of themselves in the next 10 to 20 years. There are so many things that they would do for the Ikorodu Division. The interconnection and networking have been very helpful to them and as a result, the government is always trying to look at the members of Oriwu Club, in allocating appointments because most of the people there are highly qualified and it is a something of pride to Oriwu Club.
In the next 20 years, they would still continue to grow more and more in all ramifications. That is my belief.
THE IMPACT: Sir, you were also a former Chairman, Ikorodu Division Resource Development Group (IDRDG), and that of the Ikorodu Ultra – Modern Town Hall, what is your view on the two and do you think that they have been sustained?
Prince Ogunleye: In reflection, I was the first Chairman, Town Hall Management Board, and I tried to put all the administrative requirements in place. We recruited staff and the town hall has continued to grow. The Resource Group has continued to keep an eye on it to ensure that the standards are adhered to and that money is not wasted. That has been one good thing that has been keeping the town hall going.
On the Resource Group, the group has been a pivot for many developments. The body is really looking at the progress of the youths in getting them to colleges and also developing schools which are encouraging.
THE IMPACT: Looking at the accounting profession today, that is a field that you have really impacted and recorded tremendous achievements, how do you see the practice in recent times? Do you think that those coming into the profession are abiding with the principles which you are known for?
Prince Ogunleye: In our time, we take the profession as a very responsible and respective profession that must be kept to standard. These days, they are using technology in various forms to develop it which is very good, and those in our own generation are mostly manual in carrying out our assignments. Nowadays, technology has taken over everything. By and large, the profession is having a remarkable impact on the progress of the country which is good. We now have various sections in the profession – management consultant, financial consultant, auditors and tax experts. This has really helped develop the profession so much.
THE IMPACT: What is your advice to the youths, and what do you think that they should emulate from accomplished individuals like you, Sir?
Prince Ogunleye: Most importantly, they should not be in a hurry to make it. That is what is really killing us in Nigeria today. They are not ready to endure and persevere. They should give everything to their education and after that, they must ensure that they have a skill and prepare to persevere. They must have a professional calling to call themselves by. That is my belief and it’s really something that is lacking. They should also fear God and be ready to put Him first in all things. They must make themselves useful to the community, and be prepared and focused on being an important person and work hard towards achieving that.
