Away from the official engagements, public responsibilities and the busy pace of public life, there is a simpler side to Hon. Adedeji Dhikrullahi Stanley Olajide, popularly known as Odidi Omo.
In a brief and relaxed conversation, Odidi Omo opened up about the things that make him tick — from food and music to golf, travel, technology and the values he believes young people need to succeed.
Asked to describe himself in one word, his answer was immediate:
“I’m a very simple human being.”
And the conversation certainly reflected that.
For starters, his favourite Nigerian meal is a classic: amala and ewedu. His preferred local snack is epa, while the Ibadan location that instantly feels like home is Aafaani.
When he is not working, he enjoys playing golf and travelling. Give him a choice between the beach, mountains or a quiet countryside escape, and the beach wins.
He is also naturally an early bird, with coffee as his preferred drink before work.
Still a Technologist at Heart
For someone now deeply involved in public service, it is interesting to imagine what life might have looked like without politics.
His answer?
“I will be practising my IT.”
Technology remains clearly close to his heart. He identifies artificial intelligence as the technology he is most excited about today and believes its impact on Nigerians could be particularly significant in education.
Asked whether AI will ultimately replace jobs or create new opportunities, his response is confident:
“Absolutely, new opportunities.”
And if he could deploy AI to solve one problem in Oyo State today, he would focus on medical data.
His thinking is that better collection of medical data could open the door to many useful possibilities for the state.
His Advice to Young People Is Simple
When asked about the one habit every young person should develop, Odidi Omo does not offer a complicated formula.
His answer is simply:
Discipline.
He also points to documentation as one of the productivity habits that helps him stay organised.
There is a consistency in those answers — discipline, organisation and preparation — that says quite a bit about how he approaches work.
Then Came Fela
The conversation took an even more relaxed turn when music came up.
His favourite Afrobeat artist is Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, while his favourite song is Animal in Human Skin.
Then came the obvious follow-up:
Can you sing it?
He did.
And just like that, the serious interview became a brief Fela moment.
A Man Rooted in His Own
Asked what invention he wished Nigeria had created, Odidi Omo turned the question towards local content, expressing the need for Nigerians to develop stronger habits of patronising their own products and solutions rather than constantly looking abroad.
It is a perspective that connects with his wider interest in technology and the future — the belief that Nigeria should not only consume innovation but also develop and support solutions of its own.
Even his digital life offers a glimpse into the man.
If his phone could retain only three apps, his choices would be Facebook, TikTok and WhatsApp.
From amala and ewedu to golf and Fela, from early mornings to technology and public service, the conversation reveals a side of Odidi Omo that formal events rarely capture.
There is the lawmaker.
There is the technologist.
But beyond the titles and responsibilities is, by his own description, a very simple human being
[Source: Odidiomo.com]
