INTRODUCTION

Oyedele Hakeem Alao, is a professional civil engineer based in the Sultanate of Oman, was born on December 19, 1968. His career in the Oil and Gas industry has spanned more than 25years. He is the Chairman of Oceansalt Oil and Gas Engineering, Lagos. He is married to Jamila (Nee Al Naamani) and they are blessed with promising children.

EARLY AGE

Born in Ibadan, in the old Ibadan Municipal Local Government Area to a middle class parents of Mr Rauf Oyebode Alao, of Muslim background, from Baale Olodo compound in Itutaba area of Ibadan and Late (Mrs) Sarah Adedoyin Alao (nee Adegoke), a Christian by birth from Ile Adana, Aborerin Eruwa in the old Ibarapa local government area of Oyo State. His father, who was a professional soldier, opted for voluntary discharge from the army because of his zeal and undying love for education and his resolve to give his children good and qualitative education. He sacrificed his career in the army in order to ensure the proper acquisition of western education by his children. He had earlier transferred his services to the teaching profession

Education

Young Oyedele Hakeem had his elementary school education at the Ibadan City Council Primary School Adeoyo N4, Ibadan, Oyo State. From there, he proceeded to Urban Day Grammar School, New Ife Road, Ibadan. As a result of the burning quest for quality education by his father, he sought a transfer for Hakeem from Urban Day Grammar School after the first two years. This led to Hakeem’s movement to the prestigious Loyola College, Ibadan; the school that was adjudged the best educational institution offering secondary education then. It was at Loyola College that Hakeem completed his secondary school education and he graduated with distinction in all his subjects. During his stay at Loyola, he represented the school in several quiz competitions all over the country and he also won the National Mathematical Olympiad in his final year. Due to his educational prowess and especially his exceptional performance in Additional Mathematics in the school, he was given the nickname “Add Maths” in recognition of his brilliance in the subject. On leaving secondary school; young, dynamic and brilliant Hakeem Oyedele Alao proceeded to the University of Lagos to study Civil Engineering. After a few years of working in Warri as a Shell Petroleum Development Contract staff, he went back to school. This time, he went to the University of Benin where he bagged Master’s degree in Structural Engineering. For his educational aspirations, Engr Oyedele Hakeem Alao has in his kitty first primary school leaving certificate obtained in 1981, West African School Certificate in 1986, Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (B.Sc. Hons) from the University of Lagos and Master’s degree in Structural Engineering (M. Eng) from the University of Benin. For his professional development, he has undergone several professional courses at home and abroad.

Professional Career

Engr. Alao Oyedele had his mandatory one-year NYSC programme with Shell Petroleum Development Company, Warri, Delta State. As a result of his dedication to work and excellent performance, he was one of the 250 corp members retained to work as Contract Staff. Engr. Oyedele Hakeem Alao has been in the private sector of the Oil and Gas industry since 1993 and has worked in various capacities as Project Engineer, Facilities Engineer and Project Manager, all in Nigeria before going overseas. In January 2004, Engr. Alao secured employment outside the shores of Nigeria with world acclaimed Engineering Consultants, Tebodin and Partners, Sultanate of Oman and he was seconded to Petroleum Development of Oman as Projects Construction Coordinator. Due to his excellent performance as a seconded staff, he was recruited by the company in November 2006 as a Senior Contract Analyst to manage the administration of the two services contracts ($1.08B). Engr. Alao was Secretary to the Governance Board of the two contracts up till 2011. He was later elevated to the position of Company Representative to manage a $2B Off Plot Delivery Service Contract. In 2015, he was promoted to the position of Head, Contract Services to support eight service contracts with a total Contract Value of over $4.5B. As Head, Contract services he oversaw four main sections which included contract administration, planning, costing and In-Country Value. In 2019, he was again reassigned as Lead Compliance Engineer to support department contract holders and during the same period he was Contract Holder for the Off Plot contract. He left the services of Petroleum development of Oman after eighteen years. In 2023, based on his experience and his financial worth, he was invited to join the group of Arab investors (Al Jadeed International Investment) who has diverse investment portfolios which span finance, oil and gas, energy and shopping retail super markets. As part of his commitment to the group, he was assigned as Investment Adviser -Nigeria and other West African countries. Engr. Alao believes that the road to both State and national development can only be achieved through a well-thought-out program of equal and sustainable development that will focus on infrastructural development, human capacity development, youth empowerment, job creation and employment generation, industrialization (including agro-based industries) and judicious exploitation and commercialization of natural resources.

Political and Community Services

Engr Oyedele Hakeem Alao was the gubernatorial candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the 2019 general election. Immediately, after the election, Engr Hakeem Alao rejoined the APC Oyo and in 2022, he was one of the aspirants for the gubernatorial position. Despite losing the primary election, as core progressive, Engr Alao stayed back with group to support APC candidates at all levels for the 2023 general election. Engr Alao was also a select member of the Finance committee, during the 2022 APC National convention. As an undergraduate student at the University of Lagos, Engr. Alao was Class Representative for the five arms of engineering discipline from his preliminary level. He also represented the Faculty of Engineering as a member of UNILAG Student Union House of Representatives. He was later elected as Welfare Secretary of UNILAG Students Union between 1988 and 1989. He was a strong member of UNILAG Socialist Youth League, and also an active member of Ibadan Youths Forum. He is also member of Loyola College Old Boys Association. Engr. Alao is a strong member of Naija Oman Association, Nigeria Diaspora Stakeholders and also a member of Diaspora Investment forum. He is an ardent golfer who has contributed immensely to the growth and development of golf as one of the means of improving tourism in Oman. For three consecutive years, Engr. Alao was part of the contingent for the Oman/Indonesia Golf Energy Tournament and Oman/Malaysia Golf Energy Tournament to improve bilateral relations between the countries and promote tourism. Engr. Alao is also a committee member (Junior Golf) of Oman Golf Committee. Engr. Alao is a practicing Muslim who, like the Late Àré Muslim of Yorubaland, Chief MKO Abiola also supports some notable Nigerian churches financially to assist the widows and less-privileged. He is committed to and is actively involved in many humanitarian aids and support. He has used his good positions to secure employment for more than Two Hundred (200) individuals, personally employed more than fifty in his private businesses. Engr. Oyedele is a staunch and dedicated supporter of the democratic principles involving politics which recognizes individuals in the society as socially interdependent and advocates social justice, cohesion, equality before the law, and provides equal opportunity for all irrespective of the accidents of their birth. He is a firm believer in the dignity of the individual as an element of the greater society.
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