The Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has picked Mrs Kudirat Abiodun Balogun (née Adegunwa) as its deputy governorship candidate for the 2027 election.
Mrs Balogun, daughter of industrialist and billionaire Chief Adebola Adegunwa, will be running alongside the party’s governorship candidate Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola in the upcoming election.
The nomination of Mrs Balogun followed the announcement by Governor Dapo Abiodun at the APC Stakeholders’ Strategic Meeting held in Abeokuta last Friday that the deputy governorship position had been zoned to the Ogun East Senatorial District. The statement signed by the Media Adviser to Senator Adeola, Kayode Odunaro, on Sunday, said: “The nomination of Mrs Balogun followed the announcement by Governor Dapo Abiodun at the APC Stakeholders’ Strategic Meeting held in Abeokuta last Friday that the deputy governorship position had been zoned to the Ogun East Senatorial District.
Governor Abiodun, while speaking at the meeting, disclosed that Mrs Balogun was the party’s preferred choice of governorship candidate among several qualified aspirants from Ogun East, the district designated to produce the deputy governor.
The APC governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, while presenting the deputy governorship candidate for endorsement by party leaders on Sunday, described Mrs Balogun as a worthy choice, and expressed confidence that she would add value to the APC ticket and contribute significantly to the party’s vision for Ogun State.
Yemi Sanusi, Ogun State APC Chairman and the official announcer of the nomination, said it was in line with the party’s zoning arrangement after wide consultations.
“Mrs Balogun is exceedingly qualified for the position given her impressive educational background, extensive corporate experience and track record in entrepreneurship development,” he said.
Party leaders said her leadership philosophy is based on integrity, accountability, excellence, service and long-term impact.
“Mrs. Balogun is a renowned corporate executive, strategic finance leader and industrial growth advocate with over three decades of professional experience across manufacturing, governance of enterprise, strategic finance, operational transformation and business expansion.
She is currently the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director, Finance and Information Technology of Rite Foods Limited, one of the leading indigenous Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies in Nigeria. She has been instrumental in expanding the company from a relatively modest operation to an entity worth more than ₦500 billion with a strong national presence and growing manufacturing capacity.
Mrs Balogun is academically a Bachelor of Science graduate in Computer Science from the University of Lagos and holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance from Bayes Business School (formerly Cass Business School), London.
“She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), and a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). She has also completed Executive Leadership Programmes at Harvard Business School and The Wharton School, which further bolster her leadership and strategic management credentials.
“Apart from her corporate work, Mrs Balogun is also known for her interest in economic empowerment, women’s progress, youth development and nation-building. She calls for better institutions, industrial expansion, responsible leadership and more economic opportunities for sustainable prosperity.
Mrs Balogun’s professional journey is a unique blend of technical expertise, executive leadership, strategic thinking and people-centred impact. She is known for her ability to navigate complex issues, build sustainable systems, mobilise stakeholders and drive organisational transformation across Nigeria’s corporate and socio-economic terrain.
She is committed to leveraging her experience, leadership capacity and institutional knowledge to catalyze sustainable development, economic transformation, industrial growth and shared prosperity in Ogun State and Nigeria.
“Mrs Balogun is a married woman with children, whose strong family values still influence her commitment to service, responsibility and legacy building,” the statement added.
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