Distinguished Senator Adetokunboh Mukaila Abiru, FCA: Most outstanding personality of the year 2025

By Comrade Austin Asadu

It is no easy task for the Most Outstanding Personality of the Year to be chosen out of a bevy of political leaders, seasoned technocrats, eminent statesmen or corporate titans many are duly qualified for that appellation as a result of their immeasurable contribution to the growth, stability and progress of the Nigerian society in all positive ramifications.
However, out of many, one must be chosen and the criteria utilised for the selection is the time-worn ethos of Character, Integrity, Hardwork, Principle, Competence and Humilty which Distinguished Senator Adetokunboh Mukaila Abiru FCA, Managing Director/CEO Polaris Bank Emeritus the federal lawmaker who bagged the auspicious honour of Most Outstanding Personality Of The Year 2025 possesses in abundance given the fact that he is one political leader who can be taken literally for his words.
Senator Tokunboh Abiru words as the proverbial saying goes can be taken to the bank, he means what he says and he stands by his words come rain,come shine. The prolific banker, consummate chartered accountant, trailblazing financial guru and outstanding technocrat is not known for careless talk or idle chatter as is common with some in the political class but once he speaks, Senator Tokunboh Abiru resonates with clear authority, clarity, brevity and matchless lucidity.
His statements on policy issues and crucial matters of the day are geared towards illuminating, dissecting and resolving complex and contentious issues of national, regional and international implications.
Senator Tokunboh Abiru who is the erudite Chairman Senate Committe on Banking, lnsurance and Financial lnstitutions with over 32 years cognate experience in the nation’s corporate sector is definitely a man with a vision and a mission to enthrone sanity, probity, transparency, accountability, due process and the rule of law in the nation’s banking, insurance and financial system and there is little doubt that he is skillfully discharging those functions in consonance with internationally recognised best practices and procedures.
Fittingly, Senator Tokunboh Abiru has taken the bull by the horns in his avowed determination at taking the banking and financial sectors to the next level in the crucial scheme of things by deftly oversighting the relevant institutions and agencies in the sector not caring whose ox is gored in the process.
He has convened marathon meetings, intensive public and investigative hearings with the top executives and corporate bigwigs in the sector, meticulously scrutinised, analysed and deciphered relevant info, data, inventory and statistics, to unravel the nitty-gritty of critical policy decisions of the top players in the sector.
Thus a fastidious Senator Abiru has left no stone unturned in proffering much needed policy reforms to reposition, restructure and recalibrate the sectors for a more credible, efficient and responsive service delivery to the Nigerian people.
In carrying out this tenuous assignment, a durable Senator Abiru has been quite resourceful, innovative and principled in his approach to crucial issues at stake thus winning the desired trust and confidence of major banking, insurance and financial institutions in the country.
And fortuitously, since he assumed office in June 2023, there has been no significant financial upheavals, or fiscal crises nationwide as he and his adroit senate committee members have worked round the clock to keep the sector running smoothly and at optimal levels
Fittingly, as the esteemed Chairman, Southern Senators Forum, Senator Abiru’s leadership style is inclusive, accommodating and open to all persons, ideas, opinions and perspectives irrespective of ethnic, religious, sectional or partisan affiliation as far as they are geared towards moving the banking/financial sectors and the nation forward in all positive ramifications
Indeed his singular purpose of wading into partisan politics is to uplift the welfare and well-being of the hardworking people of Lagos East Senatorial District and thus Senator Tokunboh Abiru relentlessly burns the midnight oil and networks incessantly to fashion out the most practicable means of delivering crucial dividends of democracy to them.
With his landslide victory in the 2023 polls, dismantling a coterie of opponents who scampered for safety, Senator Tokunboh Abiru has delivered crucial dividends of democracy to his beloved people in the critical arenas of health, education, roads, clean water provision, power, manpower development and women and youths empowerment.
Some of the laudable constituency projects, programs and interventions of the proactive Senator includes the construction of: Four blocks of 24 classrooms equipped with complements of furniture and 16 toilets and Solar-Powered Borehole at Aga Primary School, Ikorodu;
Two blocks of 6 classrooms were facilitated at RCM Primary School, Iwerekun, Ibeju-Lekki;
One block of 3 classrooms at Ajelogo Primary School, Agboyi-Ketu;
One block of 2 classrooms with office/ store furnishing and solar power installation was facilitated at UPE Primary School, Ajegende, Eredo;
One block of two classrooms at Methodist Primary School, Oke-Eletu, Ijede LCDA;
One block of 2 classrooms at Araromi Primary School, Gbagada;
One block of 2 classrooms at Aiyeroju Primary School, Oworo;
Two blocks of classrooms at Isheri Primary School, Ikosi Isheri LCDA;
ICT Centre at the Igbobi Junior High School, Somolu Lagos;
Construction of one (1) Block of two Classrooms with Furniture, Express Way, Pry Sch, Ikosi Isheri;
Construction of one (1) Block of 2 Classroom, Isheri Pry School;
Provision of Instructional Materials, Textbooks, Furnishing and Equipment to African Bethel Primary School, at African Bethel Primary School, Ota-Ona Ikorodu;
Provision of Infrastructural Materials, Textbook, Furnishing and Equipment to Pedro Primary School, Pedro Primary School, Somolu;
Provision of Infrastructural Materials, Textbook, Furnishing and Equipment to LG Primary School, LG Primary School, Akodo Ibeju Lekki;
Construction of one block of 2 classrooms , Kingdom Nursery and Primary School, Egbin, Ijede LCDA;
Construction of Two (2) blocks of three classrooms each (6 Class rooms), UPE Primary School, Irila;
Construction of Two (2) blocks of three classrooms each (6 Class rooms), Abule- Ayo Primary School, Somolu;
Construction of a block of Twenty-Two (22) class rooms with toilets at Wright Memorial Primary School, Somolu;
Construction and equipping of one block of three (3) classrooms at Methodist Primary School, Imota;
200-solar-powered street lights at LASUSTECH;
Construction of a 40-bed Health facility and Dental Centre at the Ikorodu Campus of the Lagos State University of Science and Technology, LASUSTECH, formerly known LASPOTECH;
40-Bed Health facility at Mascara Health Centre in Agboyi-Ketu LCDA;
40-bed hospital at Isiu, Ikorodu North LCDA;
Supply of ambulances to General Hospitals; Rehabilitations of Igbo-Olomu and Ori-okuta Primary Health Care Centres and supply of drugs and medical equipment;
Construction of Doctors’ quarters at Owode Labora, Ibeju Lekki Social Economic Development;
In the power sector, a kinetic Senator Abiru has not been caught flatfooted as he has provided 300KVA transformers to the following communities:
Ifelodun CDA, Igbogbo-Bayeku;
Magodo Community CDA Oke Ota Ona, Ikorodu; Ikorodu GRA 2, Ibeshe Igbogbo-Bayeku;
Ifeloju Abule Eko,Ijede Ikorodu;
Sekungba CDA ikosi Ejirin;
Isale Agoro CDA, Epe LGA;
Ideraoluwa CDA, Eredo LGA;
Olugayan CDA, Imota;
Idegun CDA, Imota;
Gbaga Olorunda CDA;
Adamo (Ikorodu North);
Agura Central Gberigbe ( Ikorodu North);
Garden Estate (Agboyi Ketu LCDA);
Agunbiade CDA ( Somolu);
New Araromi CDA (Ipakodo, Ikorodu West);
Liberty CDA (Ipakodo);
Unity Progressives CDA, Isawo;
Eleshin Community CDA, Itamaga, Ijede;
Ikorodu Town Hall, Owolowo, Ikorodu;
Awofusi CDA, Erunwen Ikorodu;
The Exclusive CDA, Igbogbo;
Adebare Community, Kosofe;
Hilltop, CDA, Odomola;
He has also embarked on the reconstruction of the popular Oluwo Fish Market in Epe increasing the numbers of shops from 259 to 322 comprising Lock-up shops, open sheds and 12 toilets; Provision of hand planters to 200 rural farmers with N20,000 cash support;
Cash grants of N50, 000 to 1,250 market women across the district.
In order to provide potable clean water to the Lagos East communities, an insightful Senator Abiru has provided motorised boreholes with generators to Mojoda Market Eredo;
Itoikin; Agbowa and Eleyo CDA, Imota.
The compassionate legislative titan has also provided financial and food security to the less privileged including
Over 25,000 Households who benefit from the quarterly food pack Scheme, monthly financial assistance to hundreds of constituents through liaison offices at Epe, Ibeju-Lekki, Somolu , Kosofe and here in Ikorodu as well as
festive gifts to constituents and stakeholders across 98 wards in the 16 LCDAs/LGAs in the Lagos East Senatorial District.
In order to engage the youths in meaningful recreation and sports, Senator Abiru has constructed:
A 960-spectator capacity mini stadium with a two-pavilion sports facility, Basketball and Volleyball courts, at Epe;
Mini- Sport Facility at Imota;
Mini- sports facility at Eredo;
Mini- Sport facility at Ikosi-Isheri;
Mini- Sport facility, Ibeju-Lekki and Youth Centre, Ibeju Lekki
In order to build capacity among entrepreneurs and young upwardly mobile professionals, Senator Tokunboh Abiru has organised several workshops including:
a Business Capacity Workshop/Clinic/ for 1000 MSMEs as well as providing:
SMEDAN Trade Grant to 200 MSMEs in the District;
N300 Million Naira Constituency Intervention Revolving Loan at 6 % per annum interest rate.
and support for smallholder poultry farmers in Lagos East in partnership with NALDA. The SAIL Empowerment Foundation run by Senator Tokunboh Abiru has pioneered the SAIL INNOVATION LAB
(SAIL) with various digital programs for youths including
Tech Talent Development;
Data science for society;
Startup Accelerator;
Game Development;
STEM for Senior; Secondary Students;
Lagos East Teachers Fellowship and
Modern Technology to impact knowledge.
Apart from training programs, financial incentives has also been provided including bursary award to 600 brilliant but indigent students;
Cash support to over 2,500 vulnerable people every month under COVID 19 Relief Support Scheme. The charismatic Senator Abiru’s private and official residences are a mecca for countless citizens, youths, professionals, artisans, market women, political activists and persons from all works of life keen on benefiting from the the dynamic lawmaker’s deep well of wisdom.
An astute parliamentarian, Senator Tokunboh Abiru has been of high moral standing, very vibrant and productive on the floor of the Senate all through this legislative dispensation. He has contributed substantially on national issues and has indeed positioned himself through sheer determination and confidence in the Red Chamber where he argues the cause of his people and thereby renders dividends of democracy to his constituency.
In the vital areas of lawmaking, representation and oversight functions ,a highly resourceful Senator Abiru has made his mark as a force for stability and order in the Senate and his mature counsel, timely and sincere advice as well as his unshakable integrity and honour has brought him in good stead with the leadership and membership of the National Assembly.
Some of the pivotal bills sponsored by a dynamic Senator Tokunboh Abiru includes:
The Copyright Bill 2021 (Repeal and Reenactment) signed into law in March, 2023 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR; Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Act Amendment Bill 2024;
Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC Amendment bill 2024; The Nigerian Insurance Reform Bill, 2024( First Reading);
The National Insurance Commission Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2024 (First Reading);
The Franchise Regulation Bill 2022;
Federal High Court Act (Amendment) bill, 2023;
The Industrial Inspectorate Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023; Company and Allied Matters Act ,2023;
The Institutionalizing of the inclusion of Digital Technology in the curriculum of Public Education bill, 2023; The Flood Management Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2023;
Inflation Reduction Programme Bill 2024;
The Factoring, Assignments and Receivables Financing Bill, 2023;
Energy Commission of Nigeria (The Repeal and Re-enactment Bill) 2023.
Apart from these crucial bills, a steadfast Senator Abiru has also moved a number of high capacity motions on the floor of the Red Chamber including:
Motion on the urgent need for the rehabilitation of the Ikorodu-Sagamu and Ikorodu- Itokin Roads;
Motion on the ban of Crypto currency in Nigeria;
Motion and presentation of petition by Magodo Residents Association on the unlawful invasion and occupation of Magodo Estate by armed policemen purportedly acting on the order of the Attorney General of the Federation and Inspector General of Police;
Motion on flood disaster in Ikosi-Isheri, Agboyi-Ketu, Kosofe Communities;
Motion on the need to position Nigeria and Nigerian businesses for Continental growth through the African continental free trade zone (Afcftz);
Motion on the urgent need to effect the payment due to Beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s special public works Scheme through their respective chosen banks.
One of the reasons for the extremely high regard in which Senator Tokunboh Abiru is held among his peers is his unequalled reputation as an epitome of rectitude and integrity, a standard bearer of truth,respect and honour who does not engage in rumour or meddlesome hearsay. Indeed all these sterling character traits, dispositional ethos and tremendous achievements came in sharp focus when a cross-section of blue chip think tanks, influential apparatchiks, civil society groups, social affairs commentariats, public policy gurus and the media punditocracy under the aegis of the National lnterest Forum overwhelmingly and unanimously elected Distinguished Senator Tokunboh Mukaila Abiru FCA as the Most Outstanding Personality Of The Year 2025. To God be the Glory.