Chief Oyekunle Oluwasanmi, a former minister of state for steel and power, has passed away.
Oluwasanmi, who was regarded with affection as an excellent technocrat, administrator, and head of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), passed away on Thursday.
His passing was mentioned in a statement his family sent yesterday.
In 1992, Oluwasanmi presided over the board of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He served on the boards of numerous organizations, including Wise Health Services Limited and Kinley Securities Limited.
He was appointed by the Federal Military Government to the Committee for States and Local Governments Creation in 1995 as a result of his excellent administrative abilities. In 1996, he was a member of a team that pushed for the establishment of the states of Ekiti, Ebonyi, Nasarawa, Gombe, Zamfara, and Bayelsa.
In 1997, the dead was named the state’s minister of steel and power. Several reforms that had a positive impact on the country’s steel and electricity industries were implemented during his administration.
Oluwasanmi was the Customs and Excise Area Administrator for Tin Can Island Ports and Calabar Ports, and she was a deserving example of a community leader. Oluwasanmi participated in a number of training programs abroad while she was a member of the Customs Service and represented Nigeria at roundtable discussions on customs operations in Finland, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Peru, Kenya, and Australia.
After years of great service to the nation, he retired voluntarily in January 1987 and went on to co-found the legal practice of Ibironke, Oluwasanmi & Co. with his friend, the late Mr. Adejuyigbe Ibironke. He received numerous accolades throughout his career.
Oluwasanmi was from Ipetu Ijesha in the Oriade local government area of Osun State, and up to the very end, he was actively involved in community-building activities there.
Oluwasanmi, a well-known philanthropist and religious figure, was appointed Baba Ijo of the same church in 2003 and Otun Balogun of the Anglican Youth Movement of St Paul’s Church, Ipetu-Ijesha, in 1991. He was appointed the Deputy Lay President of the Diocese in 2009, the year the Church established the Ijesha North-East Diocese. He was a vital part of The Fellowship of the Cross of the Healing Cross Church, Idi- Araba in Lagos. For 14 years, he served as a trustee for the Chapel. His wife, Mrs. Grace Fehintola Oluwasanmi (Nee Ayeni), children, and grandkids all survive him.