In an exclusive interview with Freelanews, the shrewd entrepreneur and astute politician, Prince Adetoyi Michael Adeyinka, fondly called Hon. AMA, opened up about his life, businesses and stewardship. The hardworking CEO of Fresh and Nourishing International and an active member of Osun State House of Assembly talked with VICTOR OJELABI on his journey into politics and others. Excerpts…

Who is Hon. Yinka Adetoyi?

My name in full is Prince Adetoyi Michael Adeyinka. By the grace of the Almighty God, I am that Prince from Oyan town who has been favoured by God to be both successful in business and politics. Aside from being CEO/Managing Director of conglomerate of businesses, I’m privileged to also be the lawmaker currently representing Odo-Otin state constituency at the State of Osun House of Assembly (7^th Assembly) under the leadership of Rt. (Hon) Timothy Owoeye. And as an active member of the assembly, I’m currently the chairman, House Committee on Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism; deputy chairman, House Committee on Rural and Community Developments; member, House Committee on Public Accounts and member – House Committee on Human Resources and Capacity Building.

How did the nickname Hon. AMA come about?

Yes, I’m always and preferably so referred within the political circle and the nickname came from the coinage of the first alphabet of my names.

How did you get here?

I started my early year education at Community Primary School, Obajare, Ore, Ondo State between 1978 and 1983 and which I proceeded to Government Secondary School, Tanke, Ilorin, Kwara State between 1984 and 1989, where I bagged my Secondary School Certificate Examination.

I subsequently attended Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin between 1990 and 1992 for my Ordinary National Diploma Certificate (OND) in Purchasing and Supply and then to The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo State between 1994 and 1995 for my Higher National Diploma Certificate in Purchasing and Supply. I had my National Youth Service Corps primary assignment at the Lagos State Ministry of Commerce and Economic Development between 1996 and 1997.

Because of my zeal for education, I enrolled and became a graduate member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management Nigeria (CIPSMN) in the year 2000 and also moved further to Ladoke Akintola University (LAUTECH) where I obtained the prestigious Master in Business Administration (MBA) in 2007.

In order to broaden my professional and entrepreneur knowledge, I further enrolled for courses at the prestigious Lagos Business School (LBS), and Multimix Academy and Commerce Edge in South Africa.

After my one-year mandatory NYSC at the Lagos State Ministry of Commerce and Economic Development, I joined Fareast Mercantile Company Limited immediately as a store officer. I left Fareast Mercantile as a supervisor in year 2000 to join Vitamalt Nigeria Plc as assistant procurement manager, where I was responsible for key deliverables in procurement for the whole company.

This I did up till May 2003 before I was subsequently promoted to the position of substantive procurement manager, a position I held till 2006 when I join the tobacco giant and a Multinational Company, British American Tobacco in the Import desk as a Supervisor. At the British American Tobacco, I worked at several units of the Company, especially the Import desk, procurement etc. before I left the company in March 2010

After leaving British American Tobacco Limited, I joined Golden Pasta Company Limited (now Flour Mills Nigeria Plc) as purchasing and planning manager. There, I was responsible for the overall planning and coordination of all activities revolving around material acquisition both locally and internationally.

I left the services of the flour giant in 2012 to begin my much desired life as an entrepreneur and a director at Fresh and Nourishing International, which was founded in year 2012, a foremost trading and agricultural giant, dealing in importation and exportation of agricultural products with partners across the globe. I am also the founder and chief executive officer of New Vision Agro and Merchandise Company, a vehicle through which I have invested heavily in agriculture, with farms in Ogun State and State of Osun, all in Nigeria.

At what stage in life did you decide to be politician and how has the journey been so far?

I will say thus far in the journey of life and politics, it has been God because the journey has been rough and tough but in all, God has been faithful.

My involvement in politics did not just start. In one way or the other, I have been in politics from my little age which made me to be saddled with responsibilities right from my school days. I was the health prefect in my primary school and a punctuality prefect in my secondary school days.

At higher institution level, I participated in students union activities at the department, faculty and the school level.

My participation in union activities while in employment service also brought about my being elected as the branch secretary for Food, Tobacco and Beverage Staff Association. So it wasn’t much of a wonder my believes lean towards the progressive house when I decided to get involved in active politics after resigning from paid employments.Therefore, I will say I have been involved in active politics since 2011 as one of the numerous party sponsors through funding and publicity.

Looking back over the years, what advise will you give your younger self?

Thank you. My first advice to my younger self is in Prov. 3 Verses 5 to 6 which reads, ‘Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths‘. My second advice to my younger self is keep humbling yourself as God resisted the proud but giveth grace unto the humble (James 4:6).

How do you balance your work and home?

God grace has been sufficient for me on this. The work no doubt is hectic but with the help of the Almighty God, coupled with the understanding of my family members, I have been graced to have a healthy work–home balance through spending of my leisure time with my families and sometimes we embark on family vacation.

Are your constituents happy about your stewardship?

I wouldn’t want to praise myself, but the projects already completed in this dispensation for Odo-Otin State Constituency under Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola as governor and my humble self as honourable are five in number, namely Medical outreach at Odo-otin North with other LCDA coming up soon, Public Health Centre at Agbeye, Igbaye, Ijabe and Jagun Osi.

Also, in line with the Saving One Million Lives (SOML) program and as promised by Governor Oyetola, there will be at least one primary health care in each political ward so that people don’t need to travel far before accessing first aid medical treatments.

Also, Odo-Otin Local Government is to be soon declared open defecation free (ODF) by the National Task Group on sanitation. This is a project of Water and Environmental Sanitation Ministry in collaboration with office of the First Lady. It ensures that the local government if free of diseases like diarrhea and other water-borne diseases as a result of indiscriminate defecation.

On education, Government Technical College at Inisha is one of the five (5) government technical colleges currently undergoing upgrading.

On infrastructure, the government has pledged support to continue dualization of Ikirun- Ila-Odo road (which extends to Kwara State boundary) and re-assessment of moribund water works in Asi with desirable efforts to resuscitate it if viable.

Also, stated to ears of the government are the followings which in due time, they shall be attended to; spot rehabilitation of a 5.5km Ore-Agbeye road, rehabilitation of 5.3km Okuku road, construction of 9.415km Inisa-Iba- Iree road and reconstruction of Inisa Township road.

With all these attained, I guessed you need not be told that my constituents are happy with me.

What experience always stood out whenever you reflect about your career and which you think you could have handled better?

You will remember that I said earlier that “thus far, it’s been God” and when God does things, it’s always perfect. Hence, I will say no regret about any step so far and I pray that there will be no regret(s) in the journeys ahead.

In fact, all glory and honour be to the name of the Almighty Jehovah over my life, career, family, business and endeavours.

In what ways have you impacted your constituency?

Like I have said time over, AMA is not just about me, but the entire Odo-Otin Local Government and I have impacted my constituency in several ways which include facilitation of standard primary health care centres, a higher level of participatory governance, a higher level of economic boost through infrastructures mentioned above, empowerment opportunity for the constituents, enlightenment of our people on COVID-19, contribution to the distribution of stimulus package during COVID-19 state lock down, and lastly, showing more care and giving total respect to our entire traditional stool.

Tell us about your business.

Fresh and Nourishing International, founded in year 2012, is a foremost trading and agricultural giant, dealing in importation and exportation of agricultural products, with partners across the globe.

New Vision Agro and Merchandise Company is another subsidiary that served as a vehicle through which I have invested heavily in agriculture, with farms in Ogun State and State of Osun Nigeria.

How will you rate the state of the nation?

The nation is improving. Although we are yet to be where we ought to be as the giant of the continent Africa, but we aren’t where we used to be. Hence, we are moving. As a result, I’m optimistic that one day, we shall fully get all things right.

Do you see yourself in governorship election race in future?

God holds the key to our future. I already have the belief that His thoughts towards me are of good and not evil to give me an expected end. I commit my life and future into His hands; may His perfect will speedily manifest in my life.

Tell us about your take on COVID–19.

My take on it has been my messages to the indigenes and residents of Odo-Otin Local Government. And the summary of the message centered around obeying government directives, practice top level of hygiene by regularly washing your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer and stay at home. However, if you must go out, use nose mask.