By joshua 
DAVID ADEBANJI JIMOH DESERVES A NATIONAL MERIT AWARD
Pastor David Adebanji Jimoh is someone who needs no special introduction as far as his contributions to the socio-economic and political well-being of Kogi State are concerned, his name has become a household brand in every part of the state and even beyond.
Adebanji is an astute ex-banker, advocate of development, top politician, renowned philanthropist, community developer and spiritual leader. His impact in various communities across the state is heart-warming and commendable.
Our organization, the Nigeria National Volunteer Service, Kogi State chapter has observed him from far and closely too and got attracted to him based on his tenacity to assist and work for the people of Kogi State and it is the collective decision of the group to give our unalloyed support and recommendation for the inclusion of Pastor David Adebanji Jimoh in the next National Merit Award by the Federal Government of Nigeria which is under the office of the Secretary to the Federal Government. Adebanji, honestly deserves such very important award due to his past and present superlative contributions to national interest and growth especially in the last three decades. He has empowered several youths and women through his financial support and skills acquisition programme. He always joins forces with the government and people of like-minds to wipe out poverty among the poor, artisans, aged and widows across Kogi State.
Mr. David Adebanji Jimoh is a caring, trusted father and a friend too. His patriotism for his fatherland, his unquenchable love for a disciplined lifestyle, his insatiable appetite for challenges, his spirit of perseverance and endurance and his tenacity of purpose, all combined to make him a great personality. He is incorruptible, always displaying skills, dexterity, brisk, competence and he is very humane. He is a proven achiever with an irresistible charisma and a track record of leadership qualities which have made many people to see him as a true leader.
It is noteworthy too, to state that Adebanji is a multi-talented, distinguished Nigerian, and a dedicated personality with his modest calling in helping people, he identifies the needs of the people and acts as a catalyst. He is a dynamic, resourceful and goal driven individual saddled with the responsibility of bringing values to the lives of every Kogite. Banji as fondly called is eloquent, brilliant, social, courageous, affable, stupendous, humane, patient, humble, prudent and frank.
He is a man full of life, energy and focused. The vast experience he has in resource management has aided him to bring the much desired progress and development to Kogi State. He is not influenced by any sentiment but rather believes in performance and not just performance but high performance. He strongly believes that competency should take precedence over any other consideration. That is, competency should not be sacrificed for any parochial or trivial issue.
Pastor David Adebanji Jimoh is also a benefactor, mentor and iconic personality to many Kogites. He is an embodiment of all the good qualities found in a leader, he has strength of character and possesses a tremendous self-control. His style and person have been defined by his background and good upbringing. He is an astute politician whose major calling is to serve the people.
He has excelled in all spheres of life and he has contributed his bits to the development of her home town, Kabba, Kogi state and Nigeria in general.
One thing that works for Adebanji is his ability to think fast and envisage problems before they become eminent, this gives him an edge in the process of resolving difficult tasks affecting his work place as well as the people around him. He will never be satisfied until the best is achieved for the people he vows to serve. His extraordinary courage has captured the respect of many of us from Kogi State especially this our organization. His commitment to the vision of the people where growth and development spread across all sectors and all parts of Kogi State is as strong as ever.
Banji is a deep-rooted thinker with an elevated mind. He is greatly respected for his unique dignity coupled with high public rating and loved for his personal character integrity. His quick intervention in the welfare of the people around him makes him stands out among his peers and this has made many people to compare him to a parent who will go to the extent of inconveniencing himself to make sure that the needs of the people and catered for. He is with a profound sense of humility, a flaming passion to serve and has a burning zeal to make a fundamental difference in the lives of his people.
Adebanji’s impacts are well-felt in almost all facets of the state development, and he has always offered responsible, credible and purposeful leadership that has brought some progressive developmental strides to the state. His initiative and innovative ideas are highly remarkable which have been geared towards rebuilding the state, sustainability and self-reliance.
On a serious note, some people work with all body movements and pyrotechnics, some others work quietly, unobtrusively, Prince Adebanji David Jimoh is of the latter mould. Without fanfare, devoid of noise, he carries on his duties to reposition Kogi State and Nigeria as a whole. He is a quiet performer, our organization, the Nigeria National Volunteer Service Kogi State chapter is delighted that Banji is just doing what he knows to do best for his State with much passion.
His legacy is one of bravery, professionalism and unwavering dedication to serving Kogi State. His meticulous attention to detail commitment to the welfare of Kogites, and relentless pursuit of excellence set him apart as a true hero worth honouring.
Those who have worked closely with him have described him as an enigmatic technocrat, an astute policy analyst cum politician with a liable persona, a thoroughbred professional, visionary and unassuming leader. Banji is a man who has brought his valuable wealth of experience and drive to bear, leading to many reforms and terrific performances in the banking sector and Kogi state.
What else can we say about a man of substance that has given all his best to the rebuilding of Kogi State, absolutely nothing. He is apt and good, this is not an exaggeration at all, but rather too factual and verifiable.
He is by nature a very good listener, a dogged fighter for the individual and collective interests of his people, a passionate humanist, an un-assuming performer and a lover of community and communality.
He enjoys creating wealth as an entrepreneur and always encourages other to get themselves devoted to whatever profession they find themselves. He is truly fired up by the possibility as well as the enterprise nature of his people.
Whatever anyone may feel towards Adebanji, no one is likely to accuse him of a lack of competence towards the task of developing his area. If anything, his critics are more likely to charge him for being too workaholic and committed to national reconstruction through good governance. He is a rare gift to the polity, an intelligent politician, strategist, crowd puller, a trader in ideas and reality, his strength lies in his powers of ideas and commitment to the lofty goals of life.
He has borne out the truth in the aphorism that a golden fish has no hiding place. His name stands for so many things – administrator, policy analyst, a great mind with an incredible blend of depth and breath. He is an activist that loves Okun land, Kogi State and Nigeria enough to engage his failings and his possibilities and committed elite, who does not shy away from rigorous analysis about good governance in Nigeria. His boundless energies and intellectual expansiveness place him in the same critical space with some great Nigerians.
BRIEF PROFILE- PRINCE ADEBANJI DAVID JIMOH
Crown Prince Adebanji David Jimoh was born on 8th September 1966 into the Ilajo Royal Family, Kabba Kogi West Senatorial District. He attended St. Paul’s Primary School between 1971 and 1978. After his first school leaving certificate, he proceeded to St Augustine’s College Kabba, where in 1982, he won the Year 4 Overall Best Student. He completed his O Level GCE at St Barnabas’ Secondary School 1983-84. In 1984, he got admission into the Federal School of Arts and Science Ondo and completed his “A” Level GCE with award winning prices in Geography and History in 1986. Between 1987 and 1990, he was at the Premier University of Ibadan, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree (Second Class Upper Division) in Economics in 1990. Between 1990 and 1991, he served The Nation in the Old Anambra State, played a leadership role in camp, and completed his NYSC at the Nigerian Bottling Company Onitsha in October 1991.
For over three decades, he has worked in the finance sector and in several banks and rose to executive positions. At Access Bank, he was the Regional Sales Director and became a Board member in 2022 in Access Insurance Brokerage Limited. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of DCL Finance Limited and in the Board of Techs & Concrete Limited as Non- Executive Director.
Prince Adebanji David Jimoh is a leading philanthropist and an active member of the All Progressive Congress APC who sponsored the Tinubu/Shettima Religious Leaders and Ethic Nationalities Congress in Jos Plateau State to gather support for the Renewed Hope Agenda of Tinubu administration. Banji worked tirelessly to see that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu got elected into office in 2023, as well as Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo in 2024 and other All Progressives Congress leaders from Kogi State. He has been an individual that uses his God-given wisdom and knowledge to stabilize Kogi State politics in the last couple of years. He was a governorship aspirant in Kogi State in 2019 in pursuit of his desire for good governance.
In 2023, while in Access Bank as Director of Sales, he was awarded a certificate of commendation by The Federal Government for his outstanding contribution to the MSME sector. He has attended several courses within and outside Nigeria, including the S.A. Mckinsey Executive Leadership Programme.
Prince Adebanji David Jimoh is happily married to Pastor (Mrs) Angelina Adebanji blessed with children.
Conclusively therefore, let it be known to all Nigerians that our decision to back Prince Adebanji for this prestigious award is not politically or financially motivated at all, but rather to let Nigerians and the Federal Government of Nigeria know that Banji has done his best to up development across Kogi State with his personal resources. We passionately appeal to the federal government to kindly listen to our plea on this subject matter of National Merit Award for a distinguished Kogite, Prince David Adebanji Jimoh.
The Nigeria National Volunteer Service is a rainbow or coalition of people of divergent opinions, faith, ethnic, political view and social class helping to promote national interest and development and also trying hard to identify individuals with impeccable characters to be supported and recommended for awards at the national level. And this is what we have just done with the recommendation of Prince David Adebanji Jimoh for the next National Merit Award of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Written by:
Hon. Gabriel Ibrahim Itodo