Olateju Oyeleye (1924 – 2013)

Oyeleye

OLATEJU Oyeleye, a renowned engineer and pioneer of television broadcasting and management in Nigeria, died five years ago. He was the co-founder of Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) in 1958.

Born in Ilesha, Osun

State, Nigeria on April 7, 1924, his early childhood was the foundation of his religious life and core values. His parents, through example, developed Oyeleye’s faith in God, respect for others, desire for service, and passion for excellence.

He attended Ilesha Grammar School, where he graduated in 1942. His first job was at the Niger General Certificate in Education (GCE) Advanced level in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. He passed with exceptional results and earned a scholarship from the Western Nigeria Production Board, to study Electrical Engineering at the University of London

In 1957, he obtained a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of London. He was the president of African Students and was the publicity officer of the college students union at the University of London,

His sojourn into broadcast- ing started at Ferguson Radio Corporation. London between 1957 and 1959, after which he returned to Nigeria. He joined the Western Nigerian Television Station (the first television statement in Africa) in September 1959 as a Development Engineer. He rose to become the first Nigerian General Manager in 1966 , a position he held till 1973.

In 1973, he joined Total as an Assistant Operations Manager. He rose to the rank of General Manager, a position he held till 1984. He later became the Group Executive Director and was asked to help set up several new ventures (similar to incubator companies) for Total.

For the three years he spent as the Group Executive Director of Total Nigeria Subsidiaries, Oyeleye formed several successful subsidiaries such as Nigerian Gas Cylinder Manufacturing Company, Ibadan. Total Industries Ltd. Koko; Total Agrik Ltd., Olokoto (now Yakoyo Agrik Ltd.) and Rhone-total Nigeria Ltd. In 1958, Olateju Oyeleye and Chief G.O. Aiwereoba formed the Nigerian Society of Engineers in London, England. He was the Secretary-general during the earlier years of the organisation when Chief G.O. Aiwereoba was the president. He later became the president for two years (1976 to 1977).

Oyeleye was a devoted family man. His first wife died in a car accident during a family holiday, after which he remarried. He is blessed with six children. Teju Oyeleye, though he was a high flying professional and despite the many positions he held in various organisations, he chose the path of honesty and integrity. May his legacy live on.