A Glimpse into the Life of Kwara's Successful Entrepreneur

Today, you will get a glimpse into the life of Kwara’s Successful Entrepreneur, Engr. Dr. JBO Adewumi.

Engr. JBO Adewumi is a thorough-bred Civil Engineer, Academician, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist.

Born on November 26, 1954, in Oko, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Engr. Adewumi has for the past 45 years, traversed both the public and private sectors of the Nigerian economy, leaving in his strides an indelible mark.

Engr. Adewumi has over the years garnered vast experiences in Civil Engineering, Design, Policy Formulation, Research and Lecturing; these have placed him on a different professional wavelength from his contemporaries.

The Kwara-born serial Entrepreneur who bagged a PhD degree in Civil Engineering from the prestigious Imperial College of Science and Technology, London in 1982 has worked on many large Water Resources and Hydropower projects in and out of Nigeria. Amongst his most recent landmark professional work is the Multi-Purpose Gurara Water Transfer Project, being the largest of its kind in Africa.

He also spearheaded the Engineering design of 3050MW Mambilla Hydro-Power Project as well as the 700MW Zungeru Hydro-Power Project where he served as Project Director for the Engineering Design and Construction.

Engr. JBO Adewumi served on a number of Technical Commission and Advisory committees for Civil Engineering Construction Projects and Water Resources Planning for the Federal Government of Nigeria and International Commission on Large Dams. He served as Water Resources expert for Bilateral and Multilateral Organizations which includes: Niger River Basin Development Authority, Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission for Co-Operation, Lake Chad Basin Commission, UNESCO – IHP, World Meteorological Organization, and International Commission on Large Dams (COLD).

His work and other experts’ formed the basis of the Water Sharing Agreement between the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Niger for the Four River Basin common to the two countries in 1985.

The versatility and professionalism of Engr. Adewumi in his fields of endeavours availed him the opportunity of playing leading roles in the Planning, Design and Construction of major Dams, Irrigation and Hydro-Power Projects in Nigeria. Aside from the aforementioned Mambilla and Zungeru Hydro-Power projects he spearheaded, Engr. Adewumi was also instrumental in the construction of Jibiya Dam, Irrigation cum Water Supply Project, Swashi Dam and Irrigation Project, Goronyo Dam and Kampe Dam and Irrigation Project, as well as Middle and Lower Ogun Projects.

Engr. Adewumi is a member of the following Professional Associations: Council of Registered Engineers (COREN), Association of Consulting Engineers (ACEN), Nigerian Committee on Large Dams (NICOLD), and ICOLD Committee on Integrated Management of Hydropower Dams. He served as a Resource person on the Training Programme of ACEN Dams Design and Geo-Technical Investigation for Large Dams. He was elected as President of Nigeria Committee on Large Dams in May 2018 to serve for three years, ending May 2021.

On the international scene, Engr. Adewumi is a member of the International Committee on the Integrated Management of Hydropower Reservoirs whose members are drawn from US, China, Canada, France, Nigeria, Switzerland and Germany. This international committee was inaugurated in Kyoto Japan in June 2012 and he has continued to serve on this committee till date. He had also served as Hydrological Rapporteur for World Meteorological Organization between 1984 and 1986. He served as Water Resources expert for the Food and Agricultural Organization in 1987.

Engr. Adewumi attended special professional courses: Application of micro-computer for Training and Management of Water Resources, UNDP, Kisumu, Kenya in 1984; and Application of Remote Sensing Technique for Food Forecasting and Control, FAO, Rome in 1983. He has also published several works in International Journals such as Journal of Hydropower and Dams (ICOLD), International Committee on Irrigation and Drainage and Water Resources Journal.

He founded Decrown West Africa Company Limited in 1989 and developed the Company to become one of the leading Engineering Consulting companies in Nigeria in the field of Civil Engineering, Hydropower, Transportation and Water Resources. In 1994, he expanded the scope of his Engineering Company to include Construction and Electromechanical works by the incorporation of Construction products Nigeria Limited, a sector dominated by foreign experts.

In line with his track record as an achiever, Engr. Adewumi successfully completed many large scale construction projects in Civil, Roads, Building and Water Resources Engineering, employing more than 500 construction workers made up of Engineers, Technicians and Artisans.

As a proud Kwaran, Engr. Adewumi is always in touch with his root. He served as National President of Oko Development Association for a period of eight years (January 1993 to 2000).

In 1997, Engr. Adewumi founded Thomas Adewumi International College, Oko and built a Primary school for Oko community called Prime Time Nursery and Primary school.

In May 2006, he built and commissioned a 37-bed Hospital, complete with state-of-the-art medical facilities called Oko Medical Center.

In 2007, Engr. Adewumi together with his wife Gloria, started an NGO called Rural Youth Empowerment Project. The project which is solely funded by the couple has benefited many people around Irepodun LG including serving NYSC members.

He was installed on 1st October 2008 as the first Asiwaju of Oko community in recognition of his services to Oko community.

This quintessential man built two community libraries complete with internet facilities for Oko community and a Building comprising two classrooms and Headmistress office for ECWA Demonstration School, Oko.

Other philanthropic gestures of Engr. Adewumi includes – Rehabilitation of Oko-Omuaran road in Irepodun LG; Interest-free Business Loan to indigenes of Oko community; Scholarships for Primary, Secondary and Tertiary education for his community members; and Establishment of seven Cooperative Societies to provide loans for commercial activities in Oko community.

Engr. Adewumi is happily married and blessed with lovely children.

The appointment of Engr. Adewumi as KWASU Chancellor by the Executive Governor of Kwara State, His Excellency, AbdulRahman AbdulRahman is laudable.

I am confident that this achiever par excellence will utilize his wealth of experience in both the public and private sectors to reposition KWASU and take her to lofty heights.

Aregbesola Glory writes from Ilorin.

Note: This is not a sponsored post.

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