Clocking the golden jubilee is worth celebrating. For Olusola Adetayo Kesa (King Kesh to us, his friends) who hit that milestone on Thursday 5 May, 2022, it has been a great sail, though not without life’s bumps as it is with all mortals. But then to the Glory of God the ship is sailing on safely, gloriously and is now cruising in the golden waters of the fifth decade of life for this exemplary icon, a blessing to his family, friends and indeed his generation.
Faith in God, contentment and diligence are the guiding virtues which kept Kesa sailing on these past 50 years. These enduring attributes acquired from his strict parents’ personal examples and instructions guided his steps all the way to the Golden Jubilee juncture of life and would, no doubt, remain with him as he journey on.
As a personality type, Kesa exudes love and his graceful comportment, humility, honesty and amiability endear him to all and sundry. Little wonder he is both a community and church leader. A man of the people, Kesa is a jolly good fellow who is deeply committed to positively touch as many lives that come his way as possible.
Born on May 5, 1972 to the family of Mr. James Odejayi Kesa from Ota Quarters of Ago-Iwoye and Mrs. Iyabode Kesa of Oke Agbo, Ijebu Igbo, all in Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria, Kesa received an upbringing which impacted patience, courage, divine wisdom and the fear of God in him.
From his Ago-Iwoye birth place, Kesa moved to Ibadan when he was five years old for his educational pursuits, starting off at Ratibi Moslem Primary School, Molete, Ibadan between 1978 and 1983. Secondary education saw Kesa attended the famous Ibadan Grammar School, Molete, Ibadan from 1983 to 1989. He proceeded to the famed Ogun State Polytechnic (now Moshood Abiola University of Technology) where he obtained both the Ordinary National Diploma (OND) 1992-1994 and the Higher National Diploma (HND), 1996-1998 in Mass Communication. Kesa also holds a Post-Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Public Administration from the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye.
Kesa believes passionately in knowledge. To him knowledge is power and acquiring it is a necessary step to attaining greater heights in life. Also, Kesa cherishes the fact that schooling not only opens up a whole new world to the mind but it is also a stage in life when one builds life-long friendship and relationships that makes life a great experience.
These have influenced Kesa’s disposition to knowledge acquisition, hence he is always prepared to seize on any opportunity to broaden his horizon through education – formal, informal, spiritual or secular. Little wonder, therefore that Kesa is back at school pursuing a Bachelor of Law Degree (LLB) at the prestigious Lead City University, Ibadan. Soon, he looks forward to proceeding to the Nigerian Law School where he would be called to the Nigerian Bar as a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Of course Kesa is Ijebu and as is typical of the Ijebu from antiquity till date, he loves, thinks, talks and does business. And of course Kesa is a serial entrepreneur.
However, before he ventured out on his on in the business world, Kesa garnered experience via stints on the Sports Desk of the iconic Nigerian Tribune Group of Newspapers founded by the late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo, as an industrial training attaché.
He also served out the mandatory, one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme at the Osun State Ministry of Information and Culture, Osogbo. Thereafter, Kesa plunged straight into the world of business. Today, his venture portfolio encompasses publishing, public communication, image building and reputation management consultancy services, real estate, import and export and auto sales. He is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Limelight Associates and CityGold Integrated Business Limited.
Kesa is a staunch advocate of giving back to society. He lives out that conviction through the Olusola Adetayo Kesa Foundation (OAKF), a non-profit, non-partisan, and non-governmental organisation which Kesa founded with the mission to impact meaningful and purposeful living on the present and future generations of Nigerians. Consequently, the OAKF offers scholarships to students and facilitates economic empowerment for poor widows, orphans, women and the youth.
On the political scene, Kesa was twice a Legislative Assistant to Senator Teslim Kolawole Folarin, including when the distinguished Senator served Nigeria as Senate Leader, 2007-2011.
Kesa is widely travelled for business, leisure, educational and spiritual growth. These journeys have taken him to a number of countries in the West, including a holy pilgrimage to the State of Israel
A learning and sports buff, Kesa’s hobbies include Table Tennis and Chess, and reading.
Akindele, a veteran journalist, lives in Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria.
