Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja (born 25 September 1944) is a Nigerian businessman and politician who served as the governor of Oyo State from 2003 to 2006, and again from 2006 to 2007 after being reinstated following an impeachment.

Early Life and Education

Ladoja was born on 25 September 1944 in Gambari village, near Ibadan. He attended Ibadan Boys High School from 1958 to 1963 and then Olivet Baptist High School from 1964 to 1965. He furthered his education at the University of Liège in Belgium, where he studied chemical engineering from 1966 to 1972.

Career in Business

After completing his education, Ladoja joined Total Nigeria, an oil company, where he worked for 13 years in various capacities. In 1985, he left the company and ventured into private business. His business interests span several industries, including shipping, manufacturing, banking, agriculture, and transportation.

Political Career

Ladoja’s political journey began in 1993 when he was elected to the Nigerian Senate during the short-lived Third Republic, as a member of the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) under the military regime of General Sani Abacha. By 2000, he had become a director at Standard Trust Bank Limited.

Governorship

Ladoja was elected governor of Oyo State in 2003. However, his tenure was cut short in January 2006 when he was impeached. His impeachment was overturned in December 2006, and he was reinstated as governor. Ladoja’s time in office was marked by significant political turbulence, but he remained a notable figure in the state’s politics.

His influence in both the business and political spheres continues to shape Oyo State and Nigerian politics.