News
Zacch Adedeji @ 47: Celebrating A Man Of Exceptional Grace, Excellence
By Dare Adekanmbi
Ecclesiastical evidence abounds to affirm that God does not look at people or issues through the same prism from which human beings perceive matters.
As mortals, we give primacy to mundane parameters as appearance or outward adornments, height or whether the person is oozing opulence or simply look at nobility of a person’s birth before ascribing value or judgment to such a person.
The story of David’s ascension to the throne of Israel summarises how God make His choices. Prophet Samuel beheld the firstborn of Jesse named Eliab and, looking at his outward qualities, concluded “here comes the Lord’s anointed king who will govern over Israel.” But just before that thought could settle in the prophet’s mind, God told him that is not the man for the job.
The story of Zacch Adedeji, executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) is the story of a young, wise and brilliant man who has enjoyed exceptional grace of God. His father (of blessed memory) was a cocoa farmer from the mainly agrarian Iwo Ate town, in Ogo Oluwa Local Government Area of Oyo State.
His mother is a trader-cum-farmer. It was thanks to Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s matchless leadership and quality governance that the town at that time boasted some basic municipal amenities like school and a dispensary.
I can imagine the joy on his father’s face when the news was broken to him that his wife was delivered of a bouncing bonny baby boy later christened Zacchaeus Adelabu Adedeji.
While his father desired functional education for Zacch, the first child of the family, the greater joy for the cocoa farmer would be that the birth of Baby Zacch means an extra hand on the farm, heir apparent to the cocoa farming business.
This perception perhaps prevented Zacch’s father from noticing the unique stars in the sky that heralded the arrival of a special child to the family, the humble background notwithstanding.
The family did not realise they have been gifted a global talent whose brilliance and expertise will be acknowledged beyond the shores of Nigeria.
While his father was looking at a child who will grow to become a helping hand on the farms, God was looking at a precious gift that will bring honour to the family name.
Growing up for Zacch was not easy as there was no silver spoon in his mouth at birth. But with the grace of God upon his life, he was determined never to allow the circumstance of his birth dictate how far he could go in life. While going to school, he was also assisting his father in his cocoa farming. Zacch could not have chosen any other course in his post-secondary educational pursuit other than accountancy. He was his father’s book-keeper for the sale of cocoa produce.
At the Federal Polytechnic in Ede, Osun State, where he studied Accountancy for his Ordinary National Diploma, Zacch came out flying with a distinction.
Rather than return for his HND, he opted to further his studies at the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, where he read management and accounting and finished with First Class honours. He did not allow the death of his father at about the time he was starting at Ife to extinguish his hope of having functional university education.
Zacch’s special talent as a brilliant accountant quickly singled out from the new recruits at P&G. He saved the company hundreds of millions of dollars in needless expenditure and deploys his financial wizardry to catapult the company’s profit to new heights. For this exceptional display, the company dispatched him to one of the best business schools in Switzerland to share his experience with them.
This feat earned him a seat at the management cadre of the American goods company earlier than any young recruit by the firm. He rose to become the Corporate Finance Manager for West Africa.
It was while making his mark at the firm that he met a great leader, Senator Abiola Ajimobi (of blessed memory), sometime in 2009.
He was just attending to what he would ordinarily consider a routine payment query when they met. Ajimobi was happy to meet a young chap from Oyo State making waves at such a company. From that time, a journey of mentoring, love and support that would remain with Zacch for a lifetime started. It was a meeting that also changed his trajectory from the private sector to the public sector.
Ajimobi appointed him Finance Commissioner for Oyo State at age 33. Notable among his achievements include: raising Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from about N600m monthly to about N2bn in a short period, blocking leakages by streamlining government bank accounts through which a lot of money was haemorrhaged from about 100 to about 10.
As executive secretary of the National Sugar Development Council, Zacch left an indelible mark, raising standards and re-engineering processes to deliver better quality service and increased productivity. When tapped as Special Adviser on Revenue by President Bola Tinubu, a lot of people speculated he would ultimately head the country’s tax agency, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
As an evangelist in the Anglican Communion, Zacch believes in the scripture that the power of life and death is the tongue. As the one whose duty it was to interface with FIRS tax officers while at P&G, he had said during one of his frequent visits to the Agidingbi office of the agency that “someday, I would like to work in this organisation and contribute to its transformation.” Today, not only is Zacch the executive chairman of FIRS, he has brought unprecedented transformation to the agency within a short period.
FIRS, under Zacch, surpassed tax revenue target in 2023, leading to a higher revenue benchmark of N19.4 trillion set by government for 2024. Later this month, Adedeji will announce to Nigerians what the agency was able to collect in the year just ended. The agency has done well again and has exceeded the target from available information.
To all who know Zacch and have had interactions with him, one special attribute stands him out: his humility.
He relates with the young and the old quite well and the big success that God has given him does not get into his head. Many people have spoken so glowingly about this character trait in Zacch. In 2017, he and I returned to Nigeria from a trip to the US. He had gone on holiday and I had gone to cover the annual meetings of the World Bank/IMF. We were to lodge at a popular hotel in Ikeja on arrival.
After dinner, the receptionist said only one room was left. “Give it to us. Dare and I will share it,” said Zacch. That was how we slept on the same bed that night.
If there are so many positive things to say about Zacch who is 47 years today, then the future holds even a brighter future for the number one tax man in the country today. Our boss believes in Simon Sinek’s submission that leadership is not just about being in charge, but also about taking care of those in your charge.
I join admirers and well-wishers to wish ZA many more happy years of his trademark brilliance and wisdom. May God continue to strengthen him in good health.
News
Portable Confronts Odunlade Adekola Over Viral Video With Babymama, Ashabi
Controversial Nigerian musician, Portable, has confronted famous Nollywood actor, Odunlade Adekola, following his viral video with actress Ashabi Simple.
Recall that Portable’s fourth baby mama, Ashabi, was captured in a viral video hugging Odunlade while he playfully asked if she had taken permission from Portable about the hug.
In the trending clip shared by the actor on Instagram, he jokingly said, “Please, for God’s sake, hope you have taken permission from Portable before hugging me? Please go and inform him, 0oo.”
Responding to the video, Portable, who feels offended by the actor’s comment, took to his direct messages to question the motive behind the statement.
Portable wrote in Pidgin: “Wetin you talk inside that video with Ashabi Simple? Please, I respect my home and I no dey use am do movie. Why you go talk say she tell me before coming? Shey una no dey collect money for her hand ni?”
“But why everybody dey talk say I get wahala? Make una dey talk good about me. Me self, I dey loyal, o. Loyalty pass juju.”
News
‘Misbehave Again, No Mercy Next Time,’ Burna Boy To Speed Darlington After Release
Grammy-winning artiste Burna Boy has seemingly issued a cautionary message to Speed Darlington following his recent release from prison.
Darlington was arrested on November 27 while performing at a show in Owerri, Imo state. He was accused of cyberstalking Burna Boy, the Grammy-winning artiste.
Darlington had taunted Burna Boy over his affiliation with the embattled US rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ who is facing multiple charges for sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
He asked Burna Boy to explain how he won the Grammy award for his album ‘Twice As Tall’ — a project executive produced by Diddy. He claimed there was a sexual relationship between the duo.
After two months in the Kuje prison, Darlington was released on Tuesday.
In a now-deleted post via his Instagram story, Burna Boy warned that there would be no leniency if such a situation arose.
“If you like misbehave again, you will go back to where you come from! And this time around, there will be no mercy! Don’t mess with ODG,” he wrote, although he did not mention names.
The police in Abuja first detained Darlington in October 2024 after a formal complaint filed by Burna Boy.
He was, however, released on bail after five days in police detention.
News
Just In: Ekweremadu’s Wife Freed From UK Prision, Returns To Nigeria
The wife of former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Mrs. Beatrice Ekweremadu, has returned to Nigeria after being released from a UK prison.
Mrs Ekweremadu reportedly arrived in Nigeria on Tuesday.
It will be recalled that Senator Ike Ekweremadu, his wife Beatrice, and a medical doctor, Dr. Obinna Obeta, were convicted in the United Kingdom for their involvement in a controversial organ harvesting case.
The UK court sentenced Senator Ekweremadu to 10 years in prison, while Mrs. Ekweremadu received a six-year sentence.
Recall that Senator Ekweremadu, the wife and one Dr Obinna Obeta were sentenced to prison by a UK court for their involvement in organ harvesting.
The UK court sentenced Senator Ekweremadu to 10 years in prison, while Mrs. Ekweremadu received a six-year sentence.
-
News2 days ago
You’ll Soon Learn Your Lessons – Prof Akinyemi Tells Kemi Badenoch
-
News2 days ago
President Trump Signs Executive Order To End Birthright Citizenship
-
News2 days ago
Tinubu To Build A Trillion Dollar Country – Dr Bosun Tijani
-
News2 days ago
Tinubu Meets With Wike, Fubara, Ogoni Leaders At Aso Rock
-
News2 days ago
NATCOMS To Challenge NCC’s 50% Telecom Tariff Hike In Court
-
News17 hours ago
Portable Confronts Odunlade Adekola Over Viral Video With Babymama, Ashabi
-
News17 hours ago
‘Misbehave Again, No Mercy Next Time,’ Burna Boy To Speed Darlington After Release
-
News1 day ago
Dreaded Bandit, Bello Turji Frees Captives After Military Onslaught