By KP Reporter
Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, the Chairman Senate committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions on Thursday received a rousing reception at the Ikorodu Town Hall as he got inducted into the Ikorodu Division Hall of Fame.
Senator Abiru’s admission into the prestigious Hall of Fame, came on the heels of the outstanding contributions he has made to the overall development of Ikorodu division and Lagos East Senatorial District at large. The event was organized by the Ikorodu Division Resource Development Group (IDRDG).
He was admitted into the hall of fame, alongside other illustrious personalities that have equally contributed their quota to the Ikorodu division. They include: HRM Oba Engr. Kabiru Adewale Shotobi, Adegorushe V, The Ayangbure of Ikorodu Kingdom, HRM Oba Ajibade Bakare-Agoro, FCA, The Ranodu of Imota, High Chief Adewunmi Ogunsanya, SAN,Hon. Babajimi Adegoke Benson, Chief (Mrs) Wonuola Folami, OON, Mrs Folorunsho Alakija, Bashorun Babatunde Rotinwa, Dr. Oladega Adebogun, Alhaji (Prince) Jamiu Adio Saka, Professor Emeritus Michael Ajetunmobi, Prince Adesegun Ogunlewe, Late Dr. Jacobson Oladele Odulate (Posthumous Award), Late Chief Noah Oyekanmi Adebayo Arole (Posthumous), Late Captain Harrison Adekunle Kuti (Posthumous Award), Miss. Azeezat Oshoala, MON and Mr. Adeseye Akinola Ogunlewe, Jnr.
It is imperative to note that the father of Senator Abiru, Honourable Justice Mubasheer Akanbi Olatunji Abiru (1928-1996) who was elected into the Senate in 1979, was admitted into the Ikorodu Hall of Fame in 1993. History was made today in the entire Ikorodu division as Senator Abiru made it into the revered Hall of fame on the account of his professional pedigree, accomplishments in both private and public service and his immense contributions to the development of Ikorodu. This gesture was demonstrated today as he donated N5million Naira for education, human capital development initiatives of IDRDG.
Abiru was the pioneer and former Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Polaris Bank Limited. He led the turnaround of erstwhile SkyeBank Plc, as Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, under a CBN-induced take-over of the Bank, in a bid to avoid its collapse and also preserve the stability of the overall Nigerian Financial System.
His banking career was in top Nigeria Financial Institutions such as First of Bank of Nigeria (2002–16), where he rose to the level of Executive Director, Corporate Banking; and Guaranty Trust Bank (1991-2000).
He also served on other notable boards as Non-Executive Directors: FBN Capital Limited (now FBN Quest Merchant Bank Limited); FBN Bank Sierra–Leone Limited; Airtel Mobile Networks Limited; and Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS).
During the course of his professional career, he also has the privilege of serving as the Honourable Commissioner of Finance, Lagos State (2011 -2013), under the transformational leadership of Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN).
Senator Tokunbo Abiru holds a B.Sc. Economics from Lagos State University, and he is a Fellow of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and an Honorary Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (FCIB). He is an alumnus of both Lagos Business School (LBS) and Harvard Business School (USA).
He retired from banking on August 31, 2020 and decided to go into Public Service. This culminated into his contest for the bye-election for Lagos Senatorial East under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) Party. He won the election on December 5, 2020 with 89% of the total votes cast to become The Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In a space of about two and half years, Abiru redefined governance in the entire Lagos East Senatorial District with his top-notch legislative representation, facilitations of projects/ empowerment and endowment, which the iconic SAIL Innovation Lab headlines. On the strength of his sterling performance, on Saturday, 25, February, 2023, the electorate of the Lagos East Senatorial District overwhelmingly re-elected him for another four-year mandate at the National Assembly.
He is happily married to Mrs. Feyisola Abiru and they are blessed with children.