A quintessential humanist at 50

DOTUN Sanusi’s story is not suitable for telling on ordinary days or for routine reasons. Rather, an account of the series of events in his life should be reserved for special occasions. And by all means, today is one of those distinct events. Fifty years ago today, on the 17th of October, 1968, a child was born to the family of Alhaji Ganiyu Oladosu Sanusi from Oja’ba, Ibadan. The child christened Dotun Jubril Sanusi was given birth to by Madam Musili Abegbe Sanusi (nee Adedeji), who hailed from Ile-Ilaji, Idi-Arere, Ibadan. The joy of his father, Alhaji Sanusi, from Ikija village in Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State but whose family house is situated in Oja’ba, knew no bounds with birth of little Sanusi.

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Sanusi grew up in the Elekuro area of Ibadan and it was not long before he was enrolled into Wesley Primary School for his primary elementary education. After the completion of his primary education, Dotun Jubril Sanusi went to CAC Grammar School, Aperin, Oniyere, Ibadan, for his secondary education. His thirst for more education, coupled with the fact that he passed his Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) of the West African Examination (WAEC) in flying colours, earned him admission into Department of Petroleum Engineering, University of Ibadan. Once again, Dotun Sanusi did not disappoint his parents and himself as he approached his university education with all seriousness, hence, he completed his discipline within the stipulated time. Sanusi’s contact with the corporate world began with Aliburton Nigeria Limited, an American oil and gas company. Having risen through the ranks of the company, his professional competency was keenly sought and it was not long before Agpem Drilling, an Italian oil and gas company, snapped him up. The situation repeated itself and before Sanusi knew what was happening, his immense skills and professional brilliance had taken him to five different companies within a short period of time, namely, Beckfield Drilling Services from Hanover, Germany; Measurement-While Drilling, Directional Drilling Services; Kasolute Nigeria Limited and Gyro Precision Survey Services.

In 2014, Sanusi decided that he had served people enough and it was time to start serving himself, thus, he established his first-ever company registered as TNL Drilling Services, which grew in leaps and bounds and soon became a technical partner with Sinopec Services, the richest oil and gas company in China. Sanusi went on to establish Henan Petroleum Drilling Services and Oil and Gas Land Drilling Services and Rigs. The latter is a consulting outfit for Shell Petroleum, Agip, ExconMobil, Adax, Zeblat, just to mention a few. Besides being a foremost consultant to an array of companies in Nigeria, Engr. Sanusi consults for companies in Abu Dahbi, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Being someone who craves quality education, he established the International College of Arts, Science and Technology (ICAST), a world-class primary and secondary school, both in Port Harcourt, River State and in the Elebu area of Ibadan, Oyo State. His penchant for making life easier for his people propelled him to establish borehole drilling services and Ilaji Farms, a multi-billion naira agribusiness. Engr. Sanusi’s love for the downtrodden has made him establish Ilaji Soccer Academy. The academy provides a fertile ground for talented children of underprivileged members of the society in Ona-Ara Local Government Area with a view to making them football stars who can ply their skills in Nigeria or anywhere around the world.

A fervent believer in the popular adage “all work and no play, make Jack become a dull a boy,” Engr. Sanusi has rekindled social life in Ona-Ara Local Government Area through his company, Ilaji Stadium and Resorts Centre, a multi-billion naira sporting and entertainment outfit. Through Ilaji Stadium and Resorts Centre, various concerts and grassroots sporting activities have become commonplace in Ona-Ara Local Government Area in the past couple of months. Dotun Sanusi’s philanthropic activities have been lauded by all and sundry. The people of Elebu area of Ido Local Government Area, Amuloko-Akanran axis of Ona-Ara Local Government Area and Elewura area of Ibadan South West local Government Area have benefited immensely from the uncommon philanthropic gestures of Dotun Sanusi in the areas of road construction and rehabilitation. Dotun Sanusi philanthropy has also been extended to physically challenged people. He donated wheelchairs generously to them. Just recently, Engr. Sanusi put smiles on the faces of over 50 electricity-deprived communities when he singlehandedly sponsored the project geared towards their reconnection to national grid.

The news of the flag-off of the resuscitation of the electrification project in these communities has since gone viral. What some people may not know is the compassion that led him to the sponsorship of the project. “When people came to plead with me to save them from the shackle of darkness that had enveloped them for over 14 years, I didn’t have any choice but to give in to their request. I had to look at other sources of my income to finance the project. This electrification project was not in my plan but I can’t turn my back on my people. My covenant with God is that inasmuch as He continues to give me the means, I will never turn my back on any projects that border on my people’s well-being,” he saidHe also has this to say about a company he has established to uplift the downtrodden, a place for recreation and vacations, which provides accommodations and entertainment: “Our vision for the establishment of Ilaji Stadium and Resorts Centre was not solely for the attraction of the elite class. We want the children of the downtrodden, the commoners in our society, to make use of the facilities here too.”

Dotun Jubril Sanusi is happily married to a God-fearing wife and they are blessed with lovely children. Attaining the age of 50 is a significant event in somebody’s life. Age 50 is known as a golden jubilee and one of the finest milestones of a person’s life. This age is factory-fitted with experience, wisdom and hope of wonderful years ahead. Engr. Sanusi, Happy 50th Birthday!!!

• Ayansola, a journalist, is Sanusi’s media assistant.