President of the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), Chief Dele Ayanleke, was among the high calibre personalities honoured recently at the Champion Newspapers’ Annual Awards for the year 2024.
The event, held at the Convention Center of Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island was witnessed by State Governors, Banks CEOs, oil and gas magnates, gurus of industry and others.
Among the notable attendees were the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Deputy Governor of Lagos, HE Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat; Chairman of ZINOX Group Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh and Award Recipients.
Ayanleke was the proud recipient of the Champion Newspapers 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award.
In a letter conveying the nomination, the Board of Editors of Champion Newspapers said the award represents their “modest way of recognizing leaders in both public and private sectors of the economy who have made greater sacrifice in ensuring that the objectives and ideals of our nationhood ares ustained as well as promoting good corporate governance.
“On all scores, our findings, largely corroborated by that of our independent assessors, confirm that you have been exceptional with unusual passion and vision and have become the leading Nigerian who champions the cause of the development of the mining sector through your efforts and worthy contributions to policy development.
“We note with delight the uncommon zeal and commitment that you have shown in growing and supporting major reforms that constitute the engine of real change in the growth and development of the solid minerals sector.
“As the dog of society, it is our duty not only to track and document your performance but also to acknowledge your commitment to serve and your doggedness to transform the Nigerian society.”
The letter was signed by Mrs Nwadiuto Heakanwa, Group Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, of Champion Newspapers.
Ayanleke, in his acceptance of the award, said: I pledged to continue doing my utmost best to justify the choice of my worthiness to receive the award, in the overall best interest of our dear nation, Nigeria.”
Brief profile of Ayanleke
‘Dele Ayanleke was born on the 8th of March, 1961 in Komu in the present day Itesiwaju LGA of Oyo State, Nigeria.
He obtained the Master of Business Administration (MBA) from University of Ilorin in 2009, as well as Higher National Diploma (HND), 1988 and Ordinary National Diploma (OND)1985, all in Marketing from The Polytechnic, Ibadan.
He also holds a Teachers’ Grade 11 Certificate obtained from the famous St. Andrew’s College, Oyo in 1981.
He has Certificates in Gemstones Identification, Grading and Mineral Specimen, as well as in various Capacity Building Workshops for Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners.
He also has the Certificate of Completion in Advanced Studies in International Law and Diplomacy Course organized by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) and International Law Association (ILA) in July, 2024.
He had a brief stint in the teaching service between 1981 and 1983 after completing his Teacher Training Education in 1981.
He worked in the Sales and Marketing Department of Kaduna Textiles Limited (KTL) in Kakuri, Kaduna State, for his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme between 1988 and 1989.
He joined the services of the African giant in the Photo-finishing industry, Fototek Industries Limited in 1989 and rose to the Branch Management position, managing Lagos, Kano, Ilorin (Pioneer) and Benin branches between 1989 and 1994.
After venturing into many other endeavors afterwards, he entered into the mining industry in 1999, when he was appointed the Operations Manager of Topmost Minerals and Allied Resources Limited, an indigenous company gradually carving a niche for itself in the exploration and economic exploitation of Nigerian solid minerals. He has since risen to the position of Director of Operations.
As a member of Miners Association of Nigeria, he was the Assistant Secretary of its Oyo State Chapter since 2005 until he was elected the National Secretary in August 2014.
In August, 2023, he received an overwhelming mandate to lead the umbrella body of all operators in the Nigerian mining Value-Chain, when he was elected the National President of Miners Association of Nigeria.
By virtue of his position as the President of Miners Association of Nigeria, he is a member of the Mining Thematic Group (MTG) of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) as well as the leader in the Mining Group of NACCIMA.
In November, 2023, he was appointed the Co-Chair of the Companies’ Forum of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).
In April, 2024, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, appointed Mr ‘Dele Ayanleke, into the National Stakeholders Working Group (Board) of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).
As the Leader of the major stakeholders group in the Mining Sector, he is at the forefront of advocacy for policy formulation, reforms and implementation towards a conducive regulatory regime to accelerate the growth and development of our national mining ecosystem in tandem with global best practices, in collaboration and partnership with Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government, as well as all relevant stakeholder groups in the sector.
As an Affiliate Member of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS), which is the umbrella body for all professionals in the mining and geosciences field, ‘Dele Ayanleke is also an active participant, speaker and discussant in local and international mining seminars, conferences and technical workshops for global mining best practices.
His foray into the Nigerian political terrain earned him, among others, an appointment into the Caretaker Committee of Itesiwaju LGA of Oyo State between 2010 and 2011 by the then Governor of the Srate, His Excellency, Late Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala.
A consummate community leader, ‘Dele Ayanleke is a member of many development associations in his native town and locality, among which are Komu Eleven, Ibise Club ’91 and Itesiwaju Consolidation Front. He is also the pioneer and serving Secretary of Ibise Community Committee on Mining, which interfaces between the community and the mining companies operating in the vast mining areas of the community for the efficient management of the Community Development Agreements with mining host communities.
A holder of Post-Graduate Diploma in Theology and an ordained minister in The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Deacon ‘Dele Ayanleke is married and the marriage is blessed with children.
