HON. KAYODE LA-KADRI: CELEBRATING AN ICON OF PERSEVERANCE AND HARD-WORK @ 73

HON. KAYODE LA-KADRI: CELEBRATING AN ICON OF PERSEVERANCE AND HARD-WORK @ 73

Another year has come. A year a rare gem and an industrious goal-getter son of Ilorin Emirate was born. A year to celebrate a living legend, whose journey of life has transcended the thick and thin.

Like our elders do say, "If a wealthy man narrates to a poor man,  the process, the journey and ups and downs of acquiring wealth, the poor man will be calming down and express preference to maintain his status quo". Indeed, this perfect the life journey of Hon. Kayode La-Kadri.

The journey began on the 15th of February 1949 when Alhaji Muhammad Alabi Abdulkadir, popularly known Baba Ilesa was blessed with a baby boy, whose arrival attracted celebration and joyful moment from the nook and cranny of Ilesa in the present day Osun State.

"This is a great blessing to me and alhamdullilahi, I'm blessed with him," muttered Alhaji Abdulkadir who is the father of Hon. Kayode La-Kadri as he was wrapped in his arms and held preciously and warmly on the day of his arrival.

Although born in Ilesa, Osun State, Hon. Kayode La-Kadri hails from Temidere-Kuho Town of Owode District in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State with family home at Katibi Kuho Temidire Compound in Oke-kura, Ilorin. 

As fate has it, he is the only son of the brave and intelligent Jihadist, Alhaji Muhammad Alabi Abdulkadri. And despite, he wasn't pampered but rather well prepared for the journey of life in every sense of it.

At a very tender age, he was sent to Sheikh Ashiru Alaya who was an Islamic scholar and based in Jos, Plateau State. He had both his primary and Secondary education (Commonwealth College of Commerce, Jos Plateau State) and full time Arabic and Islamic studies training there. One of his mates back then is Alhaja Sherifat Alabi, the wife of Prof. Alabi; a former HOD of Faculty of Engineering University of Ilorin and KWASU respectively.

His secondary education was truncated severely for lack of resources and humble background. Eventually, at later time, through hard work and perseverance, he was able to beat all odds against him. He registered for GCE and earned certificate with good grades.

He proceeded in his educational pursuit and gained admission into the Department of Public Administration at the Kwara State Polytechnics, Ilorin wherein he had both his National Diploma and Higher National Diploma. He didn't stop. He also bagged a Master's Degree in Public Administration (MPA) from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso in Oyo State.

He holds Certificate in Verbatim Reporter as a Stenographer from the former Kwara State College of Technology, now Kwara State Polytechnics, Ilorin around 1974.

Also, he is a holder of Chartered Institute of Local Government and Public Administration of Nigeria (CILPAN). It will interest you to also know that he is a fellow of FNSE. 

He ceremoniously and unblemishly exited the Kwara State Civil Service and later established School of Secretariat Studies (Success School of Secretariat and Administrative Studies) at Isale Oja, Pakata Road and Agbo Oba both in Ilorin.

The establishment came at a time tagged 'Education Ignoramus' of the people of Ilorin and its environ. The school, with verifiable evidences, has graduated numerous students with Diploma certificates that make them compete for their place in civil administration workforce. 

Hon. Kayode La-kadri is undoubtedly a seasoned administrator, school proprietor of high repute, management consultant, corporate trainer and a functional politician. 

He has been a blessing to his community - Oke-kura, where he led "Education Inclusiveness" advocacy and mind liberation of the youths of the community by giving free education to the young boys and girls. 100s of orphans were sponsored to both primary and secondary schools, as elderly education was not left out. 

To his record, he established and handed over the only secondary school in Temidire Kuho of Asa Local government to the Local Government Council.

He was a civil servant that worked and rose from Office Assistant to a senior civil servant cadre for nine years, between 1968 and 1977, where he worked closely with retired Colonel Bamigboye, the then Governor of Kwara State.

As a politician, he served as the Kwara State youth leader of the then National Party of Nigeria, NPN in the year 1979-1982. He also served as a Chairman, Social Democratic Party, SDP in Asa Local Government of Kwara state during the option A4 system from 1992 to 1993.

He was appointed a Supervisory Councillor for health in the same Asa LG from 1994 to 1996, during the military era and also, between 2001 and 2002, he was appointed a member in Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin Governing Council and thereafter appointed Caretaker Chairman of Asa Local Government Council from 2002 to 2003 under the governorship tenure of the late His Excellency, Alhaji Mohammed Alabi Lawal. 

Also, between 2009 and 2011, he served as Patigi LG Liaison Officer under the leadership of another Kwara Governor, His Excellency, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

He also meritoriously served as Director of Media and Publicity to the former Nigeria's Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki in his constituency offfice at mandate complex Ilorin from 2014 – 2017.

His versatility cut across board as he is a well known author and publisher of various books in management, politics, education and religion. He is the Author of the popular demand book, titled, "Local Government Administration".

He is a freelance journalist and Publisher of Peoples Choice and Nationlist Newpapers and Magazines. 

Hon  kayode La-Kadri as a retired politician, educationalist and retired journalist chooses an ascetic life of a Mujahid (engaged in Islamic Jihad). He is a religion leader, a Mukadam and Khalifat Quadiriyah Sufi order under Sheikh Nda Salati Mosque, Ilorin. 

As a student of Arabic and Islamic Studies, he had in one way or other acquired knowledge from the likes of Sheikh Ashiru Alaya (the then Imam of Ansarudeen Central Mosque, Jos, Plateau State). He was with him for ten years i.e from 1956-1966. Subsequently, he studied under Sheikh Alfa Ghali Alaaya, Sheikh Maman Oja gboro, Sheikh Sakama and others at Old Jumaat mosque, idiape ilorin.

Humble, kind and unique are not enough words to define Hon. Kayode La-Kadri's personality. He is a man with a great heart and a lover of the people. One whose impact spreads round the globe and who plant smiles on faces of many.

Today is indeed a special day and we are living testament of your great heart and loving spirit, therefore, celebrating your resilience, perseverance and hardwork.

COMRADE LUKMAN OLUKAYODE AHMED

NATIONAL COORDINATOR

FREEDOM NETWORK GROUP

15TH, FEBRUARY, 2022