PROFILE OF HIGH CHIEF AKEEB ADEKUNLE ALABI, JP
Adekunle Akeeb Alabi was born on the 1st January, 1961 to the family of Mallam Akinropo Akanji Akibu Alabi, the founding Akin-Ogun of Islahudeen Missionary Society of Nigeria. He hails from Ile Sade, Feesu, Oke Adan Ward III, Iwo, Osun State.
He had his primary education at the Feesu Baptist Day School, Iwo (1970-72) and the St. Michael’s R.C.M. School, Idi-Ayunre, Ibadan (1972-75). He attended the St Patrick’s Grammar School, Ibadan (1978-83); and he re-enrolled at the Iwo Grammar School, Iwo (1983-84).
Kunle Alabi, as he is fondly called, worked as a Clerical Officer between January 02, 1985 and December 31, 1986 with The Polytechnic, Ibadan before he proceeded to study English Studies at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (1986-1990), where he involved himself in active students unionism, and later emerged as honourable member, Students’ Representatives Council (SRC). He obtained a Bachelor of Arts’ degree from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in October 1990 and later was awarded with a Master of Arts degree (English Language) from the University of Lagos in year 2002.
He participated in National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 1990-91 wherein he taught at the United Grammar School (UGS), Ode Irele, Ondo State and was adjudged the Ikale Local Government Best Corps Member.
In 1991, along with bosom friend, Musbaudeen Adebayo Isola MURAINA, he formed a business enterprise -MURLAB SearchWisdom Educational Services. He’s its founding Executive Chairman.
Kunle Alabi began his Journalism career with Parrot (a community based newspaper) Iwo (1988-92). He worked in a number of local and international news print media houses including Lady Magazine; Lagosday Tabloid (1991); Times Week Magazine, a publication of the Daily Times of Nigeria Plc, Ikeia, Lagos (1992-3), National Newswaves newspaper; Iwo (1994); Founding Associate Editor of Conscience International (Magazine) 1996-97, he was Editor Labour/Management desk of the Financial Telegraph, Nigeria’s First daily business/financial newspaper (1997-98); and was an Executive Editor of Policy Decision Makers Magazine, Victoria Island, Lagos (1999 – 2012). Due to his deep involvement in national politics, he obtained leave of absence from his workplace between May 2003 and May 2011.
He was an active member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Osun State. In 2002, he aspired to represent Iwo State Constituency at the Osun State House of Assembly on the platform of the PDP. Although, he came tops at the pre-primary elections, however, some leaders of the party prevailed on him to step down. He eventually agreed. In year 2003, he was a committee member of PDP Osun State Media & Publicity under the chairmanship of Chief Ebenezer Babatope (OFR). He was the Senior Legislative Aide to Prince George Oyewole JOLAOYE, the Honourable representing Iwo/Ayedire/Ola-Oluwa Federal Constituency, House of Representatives, National Assembly, Abuja between May 2003 and May 2011).
Between 2000 and 2003, Kunle Alabi was a associate lecturer at the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo and Wolex Polytechnic, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos (Oshodi Study Centre, Lagos).
He was a member of Labour Writers Association of Nigeria (LAWAN); he served as the Chairman of Telegraph Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ogba-Ikeja, Lagos in 1998 and was National Chairman of Property & Environment Writers Association of Nigeria (PEWAN), a professional sub-group of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) between 2003 and 2006.
He is a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) since 1988, and Full Member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered) – MNIM since 1998.
High Chief Adekunle Akeeb ALABI was a very active member of the Labour Party between October 2010 and 2017 wherein he was the 2011 Party’s House of Representatives candidate for Iwo/Ayedire and/Ola-Oluwa Federal Constituency, Osun State. He also served as a member of Media & Publicity Committee of Labour Party in Osun State in 2014.
On principle, High Chief Kunle ALABI moved to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the actualization of Iwolokan Agenda. He is the 2019 Osun West Senatorial candidate of his political party.
The journalist turned politician, who was described as embodiment of development by the Federation of Iwoland Students’ Union (FILSU) in 2005, has been playing a leading role on community development. He champions annual fundraising for some towns within Iwoland, since 2007.
High Chief Adekunle Alabi is Olootu of Iwo-Oke Kingdom. He is happily married to Chief (Mrs) Iyabode Serifat ALABI and the union is blessed with children and grandchildren.
PUBLICATIONS
- Editor-in-Chief: Iwo Osun State Best Local Government 1995 on ISBN 978-33492-0-1. Published 1996.
Publishers: MURLAB SearchWisdom Educational Services, Lagos.
- Co-edited: Ogun State Annual & Investment Digest Incorporating Who’s Who
ISBN 978-2918-03-3. Published May, 1999 (538 Pages /Hard Cover)
Publishers: Visionlink Nigeria Limited, Obanikoro, Lagos
- Co-author and Publisher: Contemporary Social Science Research methods,
-A Practical Guide. Published 2003 on ISBN 978-334992-0-4 (206 Pages).
Publishers: MURLAB SearchWisdom Educational Services, Lagos.
- M.A Thesis (University of Lagos):
A Study of Idioms in Achebe’s Arrow of God and Alkali’s The Virtuous Woman
(Unpublished) (2003)
- Editorial-Consultant: Osun State Directory Incorporating Who is Who on ISBN: 97-33492-0-5. Published 2004 (464 pages / hard cover)
Publishers: D&G International Company Limited, Osogbo.
- Presented / delivered three (3) working papers on Housing & Urban Development related matters to the House Committee on Housing & Urban Development, National Assembly, Abuja (Unpublished) (from 2003 to 2006)
- Presented / delivered a paper entitled – The Nigeria Housing Problems:
The Way Forward – at the 16th ARCHlBUILT organized by the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja (Unpublished) (24-29 Oct., 2005)
- Presented /delivered six academic Lead Papers at various times in some events organized by the Federation of lwoland Students’ Union (FILSU) (Unpublished) (between 2003 and 2010)
- Presented /delivered the academic Lead Paper at a forum organized by The Nigeria Union of Teachers, Iwo Wing (Unpublished) (13 May, 2006)
- Presented: Western Education and Muslim Children: The Challenges Before Muslim Parents (being a Lead Paper delivered at the Book Launch organized by the Alasalatu lba – Du Rahman Society of Nigeria, Iwo) – Unpublished. (17 Jan., 2007)
- Presented: Career Talk As Pivot For Quality Human Capital Development (being a lead paper delivered at a Career Talk Programme organized by the Islamic Cultural Group), Iwo (Unpublished) (10 March, 2007)
- Presented: Political Education for Local Community – Responsibilities of Elected Leaders, being a Paper delivered at the one day workshop organized by Jama’atu Ta’awunil Muslimeen, Iwo in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation, University of Lagos Community, Akoka-Yaba, Lagos (4th August, 2009)
xiii. Edited / proofread, State of Osun: Iwo. Published by Department of Social and Grassroots Mobilisation & Guidance, Office of The Governor, State of Osun (2017).
HONOURS
- Best NYSC Member in Ikale LGA, Okitipupa, Ondo State (1990-1991 set)
- Patron: Federation of Iwoland Students Union (FILSU) National Headquarters (since 2003)
- Justice of The Peace (JP) Award by the Osun State Government (December, 2004)
- Appreciated by Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Osun State (25 Nov., 2005)
- Honoured with Embodiment of Development Award by the Federation of Iwoland Students’ Union (FILSU) National Headquarters (2005)
- Installed as High Chief Olootu of Iwo-Oke by HRM Oba Kadiri Olatunde Adeoye II, the Oluwo-Oke of Iwo-Oke, Osun State (29 July, 2006).
- Grand Media Commander (GMC) Award by Freelance and Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria (FIBAN) Iwo Zone, Osun State (19 Sept., 2006)
- District Council School, Laito, Iwo named a House (Sports) after him – Kunle Alabi House (since 2006).
- Baptist Day School, Feesu, Iwo (his Alma Mater) honoured him by naming a House (Sports) after him- Kunle Alabi House (since Feb, 2007).
- Trustee Member, Crown Charity Trust (since April, 2017).
