Olayinka Olaoye is one of the youngest Chief Executives in the Oil and Gas industry in Nigeria. The Ibadan born businessman is the CEO of Fanfaro Oil in Abuja. He’s also the co-founder Pediforte Coding Academy. In this interview ,Olaoye revealed to us how he became a businessman at a tender age, his political career among other interesting issues. Excerpts

Can you talk more about your business

FANFARO is one of the brands of the SCT Lubricants Group. All products are produced in two factories in Lithuania (Klaipeda on the Baltic Sea) and in the Republic of Belarus (Minsk).

The company was founded to meet the requirements of the European and Eurasian automotive industry as well as those of the largest engine manufacturers in Europe, Asia and America. The production facilities comply with the latest international standards, including the ISO 9001 standard of the international quality system which guarantees high product quality. I owned a franchise of Fanfaro Oil, so my company is Fanfaro Oil Abuja.

Why did you venture into Oil and Gas

I was originally into Tech, I co founded Coding Academy, Pediforte Coding School which I’m the CEO. There is this saying that goes Tech is the new oil. I’ve my own saying that Tech is the new oil but why not do the two,so here we are

Since you started, how would you describe the journey? 

When you step into a business you’re not familiar with, it’s never easy, but at the same time, I wouldn’t say it’s been rough. We’ve had up and downs as a company which is normal, from hiring the wrong set of people to finding it hard to break into the market, to the rising and rising of US dollars against the Naira. We’ve had so many ups and downs, but I never for once regretted that I invested in oil. It’s been a fantastic journey, and we’ve grown as a company. Our days of struggling as a company are behind us now.

How did you now break into the market?

We changed our marketing approach. we did door to door marketing, we involved the drifting community. We actually did a lot in that front which I’m not sure I can explain everything here. Breaking into the market, we had to hire the right set of people.

Away from this, what else do you do?

Just Tech. I also own a home security app called DNI(Do not intrude).

Do we see you going into politics in the nearest future?

Of course yes. I was born into PDP, my Dad has always been a PDP member. At the moment, I am into politics but not fully yet, by 2027 I am coming fully to run for the post of the Federal House of Representatives.

If you are to advise president Buhari things to do to fix Nigeria, what would it be? 

Federalism is the only way that can move this nation forward. Federalism is a system of government in which two levels of government controls the same territory. Generally, the national government is responsible for the broader governance of larger territorial areas, while the smaller subdivisions, states, and cities govern the issues of local concern.

BARING any last-minute changes, former governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, may pick the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms, on Friday, to contest the 2023 governorship race on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Ambode was governor of Lagos state for one term. He lost the APC ticket in the build-up to the 2019 elections to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, current governor of the state.

But a close ally of Ambode told Vanguard that the former governor has concluded plans to pick the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms to contest on the APC platform, this week.

The source, who spoke in confidence, said: “I am talking to you as a friend that he (Ambode) may likely come out this week on the platform of the APC.

From what I know, he may likely contest against Sanwo-Olu at the governorship primary.

“Before the close of the sale of forms, oga (Ambode) will pick the Nomination and Expression of Interest Form. There is a likelihood that he will buy the forms on Friday.”

His intentions‘ll be revealed soon —Oluwo

Similarly, a former Commissioner of Energy and Mineral Resources and Chairman of the Akinwunmi Ambode Campaign Group, Mr Olawale Oluwo, said the former governor’s intentions will be revealed soon.

Oluwo, who spoke to ARISE News about Ambode’s intentions for the upcoming election, noted that structures are in place to challenge Governor Sanwo-Olu for the APC governorship ticket.

The Chairman of the Akinwunmi Ambode Campaign Group said that Ambode will “announce his political ambitions by Friday”.

He also dismissed reports that the Ambode campaign group has been banned.

“Governor Ambode will announce his plans within the week. I think the closing for the sale of forms is Friday.

“Even the president of Nigeria, can he ban an association? When the constitution of Nigeria says that there is freedom of association, we are all members of the party (APC).

“To be able to ban an association, there is a process and there must be probable cause that the association is engaging in criminality or treason or bad things that threaten the security of the state. The president himself or the authorities will have to go to court and get an order to proscribe.

“Nobody can use saliva and ban any association because it is guaranteed by the constitution. That statement by the APC PRO that AMGO has been banned is a completely reckless statement.