By Moses Akaigwe
The Deputy Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Kayode Olagunju, was on Thursday, at the FRSC National Headquarters in Abuja, pulled out of the corps with a parade to mark his official retirement from active service.
Olagunju was earlier presented with a letter appointing him the new rank {Deputy Corps Marshal} of the FRSC ahead of his retirement.
Born on was on March 13, 1963 in Ilesa, Osun State, Olagunju graduated from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile Ife in 1987, and later acquired a Master’s of Science Degree in Transportation Studies from the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State in 1995 and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Transport Geography from the University of Lagos, Lagos in 2009.
His educational pursuits also took him to Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), both in the USA. He was also at the California Highway Patrol Academy, Sacramento, USA, and attended several other courses, workshops and conferences globally.
He attended the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) and became Member, National Institute (mni) in 2018.
Olagunju was one of the corps members who started the Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria in 1988. His appointments in FRSC include Head of Public Enlightenment and Research Unit, in the then Zone 2, Benin (1988-1990; Senior Instructor, Training Department, (1990-1991); Head, Patrol Operations and Signals Unit at the Operations Department, RSHQ (1991-1992); Sector Commander, Oyo State (1992-1996}; Unit Commander, Badagry 1996-1998; and Head, Technical Section, MVA Deapartment RSHQ (1998).
He was twice the Lagos State Sector Commander (1999 – 2002 and 2007-2009); Head, Media and Publishing Section at the RSHQ and also served briefly as the Corps Public Education Officer RSHQ in 2007; Sector Commander in Adamawa and Kogi States; Pioneer Corps Transport Standardization Officer (CTSO) (2009-2012); River State Sector Commander (2012-2013); Head of Department, Policy, Research and Statistics Department (2013 -2018); and Zonal Commanding Officer, RS10, Sokoto and RS4 Jos, between 2019 and 2021.
His last appointment in the Corps was the Commandant, FRSC Academy, Udi, Enugu State (May 2021-February 2023).
His numerous assignments took him to all the states of Nigeria and numerous countries worldwide. Kayode Olagunju has over 34 years of experience in Law Enforcement, Transport Management/Administration, Safety and Logistics.
He has travelled to many continents of the world, participating actively in road safety activities, and is also an Adjunct Lecturer as he helps develop new generation of transportation, logistics and road safety practioners in the university.
Olagunju was the National Data Coordinator for Nigeria for the WHO Global Road Safety Reports for 2015 and 2018. In 2017, he was appointed a member of the Federal Government Committee to review the Draft National Transport Policy. A delegate to World Trade Organizations for the review of Nigerian Trade Policy and a member of the Federal Government of Nigeria Task Force on Trade Facilitation.
He represented Nigeria on the International Traffic Safety Data and Analysis Group (IRTAD) and also the West African Road Safety Organization (WARSO), among other international organisations.
Olagunju was the pioneer Head of the Special Monitoring Unit policing and arresting bribe takers on Patrol to ensure integrity of our Operations. He was an examiner for the FRSC promotion exams for several years.
He belongs to many professional groups and received several awards and recognitions. He won the Corps Marshal Merit Awards, and as the HOD PRS, he won the Best Head of Department Award three consecutive times and also three Gold Merit Awards of the Corps. He is also a recipient of the FRSC Road Safety Meritorious Award and Corps Marshal Award of Excellence for Excellence and Exemplary/Excellent Service to the Corps. Olagunju’s commendations actually started with the Prof. Wole Soyinka, First Chairman of the Corps’ recognition for his suggestions to the Board on initiating Offenders’ Lectures, Use of accident pictures and videos as shock treatment for arrested traffic offenders and for public enlightenment activities as an NYSC Member in 1988. Over 50 other official awards and commendations followed.
On Sports, he birthed the evening games in the Corps and was the Chairman, Organizing Committee of the Corps Marshal’s Championship between 2016 and 2018. On the social scene, Kayode Olagunju was the President Mess Committee (PMC) of the FRSC National Mess between 2 Jul, 2009 and 1 Mar, 2013.
He has also authored some books and other publications.
He is married to the multiple award-winning broadcaster, Seun Olagunju, and the union is blessed with four children.