Challenges before the new postmaster general....By Babajide Fadoju, Abuja.

Sir: In a ground-breaking appointment, Omotola Odeyemi assumed the role of the nation’s new Postmaster General bringing with her a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to public service.  With a career spanning the realms of technology, public policy, and governance, she is poised to usher in a new era of innovation and efficiency in Nigeria’s postal services. 

 Odeyemi has been at the forefront of implementing and regulating new technologies for the public good.  Her work has involved leveraging digital transformations to co-design innovative and inclusive public services, thereby bridging the digital divide that often plagues developing nations. 

 Before assuming her new role, she made significant contributions in the private sector. 

She served as the Head of Government Affairs at Binance, the world’s largest block chain and cryptocurrency ecosystem in Sub-Saharan Africa.  

 In this capacity, she played a pivotal role in shaping critical conversations around block chain technology and cryptocurrency, facilitating constructive dialogues with governments across the continent.  

 Her stint at Uber Technologies as Head of Public Policy for West Africa was no less impactful.

  She collaborated with policymakers across francophone and Anglophone West Africa, fostering enduring partnerships with political and community stakeholders.  Odeyemi supported efforts in major cities across Nigeria, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, and Senegal to transition towards smart mobility solutions. Her extensive experience in technology, public policy, and governance, both in the public and private sectors, positions her as a trailblazer in driving efficiency and inclusivity in the nation’s postal system.  

 NIPOST is equally faced with managing the NIPOST Property and Development Company, NIPOST Transport and Logistics Company, and NIPOST Micro Finance Bank, which was created by the former minister, Dr Isa Pantami  to help unbundle the agency while harnessing its fortunes. 

 Now, Odeyemi is faced with a herculean and monumental task that has to be surmounted considering the current state and perception of NIPOST across Nigeria.  

 There are expectations that she would create a plan that establishes a path forward to help the agency right its financial ship and improve service to the Nigerian people and business customers. 

 With a focus on leveraging digital transformations and her unwavering commitment to public service, Odeyemi is set to make a lasting impact on Nigeria’s postal sector, paving the way for a brighter and more connected future. 

 She holds an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from Morgan State University, Maryland, and a Master’s degree in Systems Engineering from George Washington University, Washington, DC.  

 In assuming the role of postmaster general, Odeyemi brings a visionary and innovative perspective to Nigeria’s postal services. Her appointment, coming on the back of a notable number of appointments of youth to parastarals and even at the federal cabinet comes as a double-pronged approach that promotes youth inclusion alongside gender equity. Kudos to the Renewed Hope vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.