By Femi Salako
Punlisher Triangle International Media
The ancient, storied town of Imeko in Ogun State overflowed with joy, reverence, and regal splendour on Saturday, June 14, 2025. It was a day unlike any other—a day that the people of Yewaland had long awaited with hearts full of love and gratitude. Beneath the golden sun and amidst vibrant chants of praise, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, fondly known as GNI, was formally turbaned as the Seriki Adinni of Yewaland—a title not just steeped in Islamic honour, but resplendent with communal significance.
The ceremony was more than a symbolic religious investiture. It was a soulful celebration of an extraordinary man whose life has been woven with the threads of unwavering devotion—to God, to humanity, and to the sacred call of public service. As dignitaries, Islamic scholars, traditional rulers, political associates, and thousands of jubilant admirers converged on Imeko, one truth rang louder than any drumbeat or prayer chant: the people had chosen to give their beloved GNI his flowers—not in retrospect, but in the richness of the present.
In an age where public trust often falters, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka has stood out like a lighthouse—radiating humility, integrity, and compassion. Born into a devout Muslim family on February 17, 1962, GNI’s early life was nurtured by discipline, community consciousness, and a deep-rooted faith. These values, planted by his late parents—Prince Tijani Adebowale Isiaka and Alhaja Adijat Agbeke Isiaka—have not only endured but blossomed into a life of uncommon excellence.
From the modest classrooms of Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School in Imeko to the distinguished halls of the University of Ife where he graduated with First Class Honours in Accounting, and later the University of Lagos for an MBA in Finance, GNI’s academic journey is one marked by brilliance and purpose. But beyond degrees and distinctions lies the story of a man who has continually sought knowledge, not for self-glorification but for the upliftment of his people. His further training at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and global institutions in investment banking and public-private partnership structures, stand as testimony to a lifelong hunger for competence in service.
To understand why the people of Yewaland gathered in their thousands to honour GNI, one must look beyond his political titles and appointments. They came to celebrate a man whose every step in leadership has been anchored on the needs and dreams of the people. His record in public service—from his groundbreaking tenure as the pioneer Group Managing Director of Gateway Holdings Limited, where he transformed dormant state assets into engines of growth, to his strategic interventions in the House of Representatives—speaks volumes of a rare leader who understands the delicate art of visioning and doing.
In Parliament, where political noise often drowns the people’s voice, GNI’s voice has been that of reason and resolve. As Chairman of the Committee on National Planning and Economic Development, and formerly as head of the Committee on Student Loans and Higher Education Financing, his legislative path has consistently reflected depth, empathy, and development-minded pragmatism. He has championed bills and motions that speak directly to the real needs of border communities, students, farmers, and everyday Nigerians. His voice in the chamber is not raised to be heard—it is lifted to effect change.
Yet, it is perhaps outside the chamber—in the streets of Ayetoro, the schools of Iwoye Ketu, the roads of Imeko, and the boreholes in forgotten hamlets—that GNI’s greatness shines brightest. His infrastructural projects are not vanity gestures, but thoughtful interventions that heal decades of neglect. From equipping schools and health centres to constructing roads, police stations, CBT centres, and installing solar-powered streetlights, his presence in the constituency has not been occasional—it has been constant, like the sun that rises daily, quietly nourishing all beneath it.
Beyond physical projects, he has transformed lives through empowerment programmes that have trained over 1,600 youths and women in vocational trades and entrepreneurship, while providing medical outreach for thousands more. He is that rare leader who does not wait for election seasons to engage; he is present, involved, and ever responsive.
And so, the turbaning of GNI as Seriki Adinni is not a surprise—it is a deeply earned accolade. It is the Muslim community’s way of honouring a son who has never strayed from the path of piety, charity, and humility. But it is also the people’s way of saying: “We see you. We honour you. You have given us your life, now we give you your flowers.”
His giving is not occasional—it is elemental to who he is. Whether quietly offsetting medical bills, funding education for indigent children, or offering spiritual and moral support across faiths and social classes, GNI has lived the Qur’anic injunction to be a benefit to others. His life reflects the noblest traditions of Islam—compassion, leadership through service, and moral courage.
Despite his towering accomplishments, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka remains strikingly grounded. He walks without airs, speaks with measured grace, and listens with a humility that draws admiration even from political opponents. In his wife, Deaconess Oluwatoyin Isiaka, he has a partner whose warmth and strength mirror his own. Together, they have raised children anchored in faith, knowledge, and service—true heirs to a noble legacy.
As the sun set over Imeko that June evening, the chants of Allahu Akbar mixed with songs of joy, and the newly turbaned Seriki Adinni of Yewaland smiled with quiet gratitude. This was not merely a ceremonial transition; it was a communal affirmation. A declaration that in Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, the people have found a beacon—of faith, of excellence, and of boundless love.
This title is no resting place; it is a new chapter in a life already rich with meaning. The people have spoken—and in their voices echo the enduring truth: when a man lives not for himself, but for God and others, his name becomes more than a name—it becomes a legacy. And in the heart of Yewaland, the name Gboyega Nasir Isiaka will remain etched in gold.
