Many Nigerians know him simply as Ademola Adeleke, but his full name is Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke. The “Jackson” in his name often surprises many people.
Although he attended Jacksonville State University in the United States years earlier, Adeleke returned to school and earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Atlanta Metropolitan State College in 2021, demonstrating that learning has no age limit.
Before becoming a senator and governor, Adeleke worked in several private companies in the United States and Nigeria. He served as Vice President of Origin International LLC in Atlanta and later became Group Executive Director of Pacific Holdings Limited, his family’s conglomerate.
Adeleke did not initially plan to become a frontline politician. He stepped into politics after the death of his elder brother, Isiaka Adeleke, the first elected governor of Osun State, and won the 2017 Osun West Senatorial by-election.
His father, Raji Ayoola Adeleke, was a Muslim, while his mother, Nnena Esther Adeleke, was an Igbo Christian. This mixed religious background is not widely known.
While most people know him as Davido’s uncle, Adeleke is also the father of singer B-Red (Adebayo Adeleke) and has mentored several talents in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
His energetic dance videos earned him the nickname “The Dancing Senator.” What many don’t know is that he deliberately embraced the image as a way of connecting with ordinary people, making him one of Nigeria’s most recognizable politicians.
Adeleke first contested the Osun governorship election in 2018 but lost after a controversial rerun. Four years later, he returned to the ballot and defeated the incumbent governor to become Osun State governor in 2022.
Members of the Adeleke family have long been known in Osun State for sponsoring education, community projects, and humanitarian causes. Adeleke himself was involved in charitable activities years before entering elective politics.
One of the biggest controversies of his political career involved allegations over his academic credentials. The issue dominated the 2018 governorship election and eventually prompted him to return to university and complete his bachelor’s degree, strengthening his academic profile.
