Denrele Lekan Salami an international businessman and farmer is the last born of late chief Lekan Salami one of the notable philanthropist in Ibadan, in this interview with our reporter, he speaks about his vision and aspiration to be Olubadan as well as using his wealth and influence to assist the needy. Excerpts.
Can you briefly introduce yourself?
My name is Adenrele Lekan Salami. I am the last born of Chief Lekan Salami from Oyo State.
A stadium was named after your late Dad by Oyo State Government but many people don’t really know who Lekan Salami was when he was alive
The beauty of it is that I was just three months when my dad died. So, I never really met him as a father, but the legacy he left behind, helping people, helping the poor, the young, the old, sending people to school has left much more than meeting him as a father. What I can say is that he was a philanthropist, he loved sports, he did so many things that when I steps into places and people ask me are you the son of Lekan Salami? I will say yes! They will tell me that Lekan Salami can never gives birth to a son that is as young as this and I would be like well, I was just three months.
Growing up and knowing the kind of figure your father was, how do you feel?
I feel motivated. What I heard and read about him motivates me to do a lot of things. I think I want to leave much more legacies than where he stopped. I want to carry on. People always tell me that I look like him. But, I want to do much more than he has done.
You are a farmer and an international business man, how has it been?
Its been tough. The terrain where we work is difficult and I do a lot of things, but with God, everything has been possible. I have gone far out of the country, I have seen how business is done. The terrain is difficult but what keeps us going is God I have met a lot of people while doing business. Once you can push on, you will definitely get it right.
Some people are trying to lure you into politics. How prepare are you for this?
I would say I am not interested in politics. People that know me know what I am interested in. People call me Asiwaju Olubadan and that was the last title that was conferred on my father before he died. and I think I want to go a step further by becoming the Olubadan of Ibadan land one day. Kings that have been coming these days are very young and I feel if I get it at a very young age I will be able to move Ibadan to where is going to be. A lot of people have asked me about politics because of the NGO and foundation I am running. But basically, I believe we need to push the Lekan Salami name more in Ibadan. The NGO is just doing what my father left, helping people and really my major aim is to become the Olubadan of Ibadan land if God willingly.
Tell us more about your NGO and how have you been funding it?
I get a lot of support from friends. I have been having funds from my friends, family and I am doing this because I know what it means. People looked at me that I am a son of a big man, but I never knew what it means to be son of a big man because I didn’t grow up with silver spoon. I grow up looking for people to send me to school. I wasn’t sent to school by my father’s money. I know what it means to have received favour. I said something on my wedding day that I didn’t miss my father, but I have a father that could do much more that he could do and that’s my brother, Tokunbo Salami.He did so much for me, making sure that I went to school and that is the greatest gift anybody can give. So on that note, I am also willing to send people to school and doing that you have done a lot for them, from there they can get where they can work. I am a product of the education I had and not son of a big man.
How have you been using that education to help your community, especially Ibadan?
We are doing a lot of project in Ibadan now. We have gone to different schools around Ibadan giving them note books, school bags, paying people’s school fees. I went to a school around Adeoyo and I was surprised that most of the students don’t have writing materials, it could be as not having a notebook, even the Biro to work . A lot of schools we go there and do feeding give them food. You know in the North where I am based, you have to use food to lure people to school. We’ll ensure doing anything that will make people go back to school. Our major aim is feeding, education and youth empowerment because we believe that if someone is not hungry, he can live for the next day, and if you go to school you can make a future for yourself.
What has been your contribution to Shooting Stars FC?
I have not made any major contribution to 3SC but I think everything is going to be in phases. I am a young man, the last born of Lekan Salami and I always do what I want to do step by step. I am still going to be involved in Shooting Stars FC. I once watched the video when 3SC won the champions league and my father called Sunny Ade to sing for them and I think I want to take 3SC to a great position because football, when you have a sponsor, you break through.
You said earlier that you are aspiring to be Olubadan of Ibadan land, any plan to transform Ibadan?
I have made contacts both far and wide and I belief if I becomes Olubadan, I will use these contacts, we can transform Ibadan. I always tell people there is nothing that cannot be done. What does Lagos have? They have the port and in Ibadan we have land, agriculture is the best thing in Nigeria today and if we are not fully involved, we might miss it. Our youth go about begging for money when they can actually make that money working for something. So, its been use of lack of opportunity and will power for our people to project them into the business. My major focus will actually be on youth empowerment because if you are a youth and you empowered them and they are doing. We will have less problem with having thieves all around the country.
Your view about Oyo state government’s decision to review Olubadan chieftaincy arrangement?
It’s a welcome development. It is something I have been praying for and I can say may be it is prayer well answered. I think we need to review the status. I know its very traditional and I might not been too much on the tradition but I can say Ooni of IFE today, his father is still alive while he is still the king. Yes, we need the father figure, the elderly to be behind us, but we need more vibrant Young to hold key positions, so its a welcome development by the government.
Your fathers benefactors and friends, do they still relate with the family?
Yes! Very well, they do. If we have major family function they always come to support. Like the late Arisekola, General Jenbewon, Chief Oyelade, they are very supportive.
Have you ever think that if your father was alive, you would have done things better?
I said something one day, not meeting him, is actually a blessing because if he was alive and I have that father figure as a rich man, I might not be who I am today because he might have spoiled me with money and may not know what it means to actually sit down and think as well make my own money. So, I think is a blessing in disguise.
