Abisoye Fagade, CEO of one of Nigeria’s leading marketing comms agencies, picks APC Senate form for Oyo Central
Abisoye Fagade, the CEO of Sodium Group, one of Nigeria’s leading marketing communication agencies, has picked the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senate nomination and expression of interest forms to represent Oyo Central Senatorial District in 2023.
Fagade, who had declared his intention to run for governor on his birthday in March 2022, announced in a video shared on his social media page on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, that he will now be running for Senate “after much consultation with state-men and elders.”
“My elders and leaders have given me their time and their thoughts, which have led me to this all-important announcement,” he said in the 83-second long video. “I Abisoye Fagade would be contesting for Senate, Oyo Central Senatorial District under the platform of the All Progress Congress.”
His declaration is coming a few hours before the close of sale of the APC nomination and expression of interest forms for the 2023 general election, and shortly after the Senator presently representing Oyo Central, Teslim Folarin, declared his intention to run for Oyo Governor under the APC, leaving the Senate race open to new aspirants.
“About two years ago, I took a deliberate step towards participation in politics. I believe it’s a crime to allow the worst of us to keep ruling the best of us,” Fagade said.
Born and raised in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Fagade holds a degree in Demography and Social Statistics from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). He started his journey in the marketing communication industry in 1999 with De-United Foods, the manufacturers of Indomie noodles, just after his National Youth Service Corp (NYSC). He later moved to the Tequila Event of Immersion Marketing Strategies (IMS) Group as a Client Service Manager and SO&U Saatchi and Saatchi Group before founding Sodium Brand Solutions in 2009.
In over a decade, Sodium has grown into a group of companies with multiple business interests in hospitality, Oil and Gas, consumer goods, Media solutions, and agribusiness.
In a 2021 interview, Fagade told Neusroom that at the heart of his faith in creating a better Nigeria, starting from Oyo State, is his political philosophy that a muddy cup needs a lot of clean water to purify it.
“Politics is like a muddy glass cup,” he told Neusroom. “If you add a few drops of clean water, it will never have any effect, but the more you pour clean water, the clearer it would become. At some point, it will become crystal clear if you were able to get out all the muddy water from the cup.”
Through Oyo Si Ma Dun (OSMD), a foundation he founded 11 years ago, Fagade rallies young people and adds value through training and empowerment. He believes they are the engine to drive the Oyo state he envisions.
