Yes, history is often written by champions. Sometimes they rewrite it. But very few champs excite the splendid tribute of a cheer in the wake of their most glorious feats. Nonetheless, Chief Demola Seriki, the Otun Aare of Lagos, strikingly commands the relentless tribute of a cheer. Seriki measures equal to any man in every arena where intellect, industry and grit are measured with the character of a man. And every time he is subjected to appraisal, he emerges spick and span; flawless to the bones. Which makes him a darling of a man and a perfect epitome of the quintessential egghead.
Little wonder the Federal Government on Thursday reconstituted the new board of Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and appointed Chief Ademola Seriki as the board Chairman with effect from Jan. 7.A statement issued in Abuja by Mr Ibrahim Haruna, Deputy Director, Press of the ministry, said the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Adeniyi Adebayo, disclosed this while presenting appointment letter to new CAC Registrar-General, Alhaji Garba Abubakar.
His immense knowledge, unremitting gift of wisdom and character emphasised his appeal and worth in the estimation of the Federal Government. His inexorable desire to make a positive difference has seen him cut a swift, inspiring path to the top. Like a fearless warrior, he soldiers on, hacking his way through the frontlines of predictable and unforeseen odds, wielding knowledge as his sword and integrity as his shield. His fearlessness and dedication are also his greatest assets.
However, Seriki, who has the rare honour of having been appointed a minister in four different ministries, had his first legislative sojourn in 1998 when he was elected a member of the Federal House of Representatives on the ticket of the defunct United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP). He has since played prominent roles in national politics as well as in Lagos State Chief Seriki, the Otun Aare of Lagos is the rallying point of many heart warming ideas. And he surrounds himself with some of the brightest minds of this generation who also see him as a prototype of excellence.
Versed in the art of grassroots politicking, and blessed with an uncanny gift to see kilometers ahead of his peers and opponents, the fair-skinned man of means never shies away from saying it as it is, not minding whose ox is gored. He has done so many things to convince all that he has the can-do magic wand.
Courted by dreamers who are eager for a breakthrough, Ademola is never tired of supporting good governance. With a disposition that borders on reticence, one can not but wonder what this genial gentleman is doing in politics; a vocation perceived by many as being replete with intrigues, conspiracy, back stabbing. Blessed with a rich occidental drawl – a spin off of his background, education, exposure and progressiveness – Chief Seriki has a temperament that is both refracted and subdued, depending on what issue he is discussing.
A precocious kid, the young Seriki blazed through primary and secondary schools in flying colours before heading for the Herbert Lehman College of the City University of New York where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Management in 1984.
While studying for his masters’ degree in Accounting as major, with a minor in Finance and Management, the sociable young man was licensed to teach accounting and business mathematics by the New York City Board of Education. He combined his role of a teacher with that of counselor at the prestigious JFK Memorial High School and Walton High School, both in New York. He recalled that prior to the take-off of his teaching career, he worked at the Dollar Dry Dock Bank, New York City as a customer representative cum assistant manager .
Demola Seriki was named – Best State Chairman of Sports Council [for the year] 1993 by the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF). He was granted Honorary Life Membership of Table Tennis Association in 1993 in recognition of his public administration expertise and passion for sports development in Lagos State.
Seriki went on to start his company – Perpetual Investment and Finance Company Limited(PIFCO) after the political instability of 1993. From 1994 to 1999 Demola Seriki was Vice President of Rosedale New York based Perpetual Associates International (USA) Inc. (an International Consulting Firm to multinational Oil and Aviation companies). He returned to PIFCO Nigeria Limited from 1999 to 2007 as Executive Director – Business Development and Marketing.
