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Zacch Adelabu Adedeji, the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), is a man of unusual brilliance and native intelligence. He is an industrious, brilliant, vibrant, result-oriented and accomplished professional, committed to efficiency. Additionally, he is a tax expert with a strong philosophy. Adedeji’s tax philosophy is centered around fairness and simplicity. His mantra, “We tax the fruit, not the seed,” reflects his commitment to taxing prosperity, not poverty. This approach has made tax processes clearer and more cooperative, benefiting taxpayers across the board.

He has been a game-changer in Nigeria’s tax administration since his appointment. His leadership has transformed the FIRS into a beacon of efficiency, transparency, and innovation, making him a treasure that is no longer hidden.

One of Adedeji’s first major moves was the comprehensive restructuring of the FIRS. He envisioned a system that would work seamlessly for both the government and the people. Under his guidance, the agency has become more cohesive, adaptable, and driven by cutting-edge technology. This restructuring has re-defined how tax operations are conducted, bringing in unprecedented efficiency and transparency.

Prioritizing staff welfare is crucial to Adedeji wherever he had worked. At FIRS, he also recognized the importance of staff welfare in achieving the FIRS’s goals. He invested in the well-being of employees, understanding that a thriving workforce is the backbone of any successful organization. By valuing his staff, Adedeji created an environment where employees felt motivated and valued, leading to improved performance and a new standard of excellence within the agency.

Innovating for a better tomorrow is part of Adedeji’s culture. So, has also been instrumental in integrating innovation into the FIRS’s operations. He led the introduction of some new modules into the TaxProMax system, automating over 80 percent of previously manual processes. This move has significantly reduced inefficiencies and made life easier for taxpayers. Additionally, Adedeji’s “One Stop Shop” approach has streamlined tax office operations, providing fast, transparent, and efficient services.

Adedeji is also concerned with combating corruption and promoting integrity. His commitment to these is evident in his launch of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) with the backing of the ICPC. This initiative aims to combat corruption and uphold integrity in tax administration. Furthermore, Adedeji is leading the National Single Window Project (NSWP), which promises to transform Nigeria’s trade sector with a unified digital platform for import and export activities .

A leader with vision and expertise, Zacch’s story should be a model for Nigerian youths who want to do well in society. Due to his power of character and exceptional brilliance and experience, at age 33, he became commissioner for Finance in Oyo State between 2011 and 2014.

Zacch hails from Iwo Ate town, a mainly agrarian community, in Ogo Oluwa Local Government Area of Oyo State. His father was a cocoa farmer while mother is a trader-cum-farmer. He spent considerable time assisting his father and tilling the ground with his mother in the farm. But while doing that, he made up his mind that the quest to acquire education was a battle of his life. That quest for education took him to the Federal Polytechnic in Ede. While going to school, he was also assisting his father in his cocoa farming. Zacch could not have chosen any other course in his post-secondary educational pursuit other than accountancy. He was his father’s bookkeeper for the sale of cocoa produce.

At the Federal Polytechnic in Ede, Osun State, where he studied Accountancy for his Ordinary National Diploma, Zacch came out with a distinction. Rather than return for his HND, he opted to further his studies at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, where he read management and accounting and finished with First Class honours. He did not allow the death of his father at about the time he was starting at Ife to extinguish his hope of having functional university education. Those who knew him in school said he was an embodiment of the humble background he hailed from. Yet, he paraded a brilliance that is rare among youths of his age.

After his national service, he worked with P & G, an American multinational, until 2011. Then former Oyo State Governor, late Senator Abiola Ajimobi recruited him upon coming in contact with his deposit of human intelligence. At age 33, he was appointed head of Oyo State’s Finance ministry till 2015,

Before serving in Ajimobi’s cabinet, Zacch was already at the management level at P&G. He saved the company hundreds of millions of dollars in needless expenditure and deployed his financial wizardry to catapult the company’s profit to new heights. For this exceptional display, the company dispatched him to one of the best business schools in Switzerland to share his experience with them. This feat earned him a seat at the management cadre of the American goods company earlier than any young recruit by the firm. He rose to become the Corporate Finance Manager for West Africa.

It was at that time that he met a great leader, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, sometime in 2009. He was just attending to what he would ordinarily consider a routine payment query when they met. Ajimobi was happy to meet a young chap from Oyo State making waves at such a company. From that time, a journey of mentoring, love and support that would remain with Zacch for a lifetime started. It was a meeting that also changed his trajectory from the private sector to the public sector. So, Ajimobi appointed him Finance Commissioner for Oyo State at age 33.

Notable among his achievements include: raising Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from about N600 million monthly to about N2 billion in a short period, blocking leakages by streamlining government bank accounts through which a lot of money was haemorrhaged from about 100 to about 10.

Apart from his professional achievements, Zacch is also a kind and compassionate person. While in Ajumobi’s government, Zach’s name was a refrain on many people’s lips. He helped the needy with a baffling resolve that speaks to his desire not to forget where he came from. A story was told of a woman he once encountered on the Oyo/Ogbomoso road whose baskets of tomatoes were flung off the moving taxi one morning. The woman was said to have thrown herself on the road, literally asking death to come and finish her up as all her investments had been incinerated by those mangled tomatoes. Having driven past, Adedeji was said to have asked his driver to reverse the vehicle. He reportedly uplifted the benumbed woman with a cash gift which, till date, the distressed woman must have concluded came from a benevolent angel sent from heaven. His quip was said to have been, if his mother had been faced with such fatality while he was in Iwo-Ate, he probably would not have risen to where he is today.

Towards the last days of December 2017, Zacch was appointed chairman of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, ATBU, Teaching Hospital, Bauchi by President ‎Muhammadu Buhari.

Later on Buhari also appointed him to head the National Sugar Development Council. As executive secretary of that agency, Zacch left an indelible mark, raising standards and re-engineering processes to deliver better quality service and increased productivity. When tapped as Special Adviser on Revenue by President Bola Tinubu, a lot of people speculated he would ultimately head the country’s tax agency, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

Zacch,  as the executive chairman of FIRS, has brought unprecedented transformation to the agency within a short period, making a record-breaking revenue collection.

Under Adedeji’s leadership, the FIRS has achieved remarkable revenue collection milestones. FIRS, under Zacch, surpassed tax revenue target in 2023, leading to a higher revenue benchmark of N19.4 trillion set by government for 2024. These achievements demonstrate Adedeji’s exceptional ability to drive revenue growth and set new performance standards.

Dr. Zacch Adedeji’s impressive track record at the FIRS is a testament to his exceptional leadership, vision, and expertise. His ability to drive reform, innovation, and revenue growth has positioned him as a key player in Nigeria’s economic development. As he continues to steer the FIRS towards greater heights, one thing is certain – the treasure is no longer hidden, and Zacch Adedeji is leading the way.

Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq-Yelwa, Managing Director of the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) is a study in leadership, with a great sense of responsibility and empathy leadership. Commitment, resilience, passion for service delivery and development are what drive him. According to him, leadership is more than just sitting down in office.

“Leadership is about being present with the people,” Sadiq-Yelwa shares, “You cannot solve issues from afar. I make sure to visit communities, meet with local leaders, and understand their needs before implementing any project. This approach has allowed HYPPADEC to address the real challenges people face and not merely the ones we assume.”

As HYPPADEC continues its mission to transform lives in Nigeria’s hydroelectric power-producing regions, the commission’s Managing Director, Alhaji Sadiq-Yelwa, stands out as a visionary leader whose passion, resilience, and deep understanding of rural development have significantly reshaped these often-overlooked communities.

Under Sadiq-Yelwa’s stewardship, HYPPADEC has been undertaking a range of initiatives aimed at addressing the unique challenges facing communities in Nigeria’s power-producing regions. These are marked by groundbreaking achievements that have directly benefited thousands of people, creating sustainable development opportunities in education, healthcare, infrastructure, economic empowerment, and environmental preservation.

Under his watch, HYPPADEC enlisted Kaduna, Nasarawa, Taraba and Gombe states into its membership in 2023. Abubakar- Yelwa made the disclosure during a five-day capacity-building workshop on a social standards short course held in Kaduna State at that time.

The objective of that training workshop included the enhancement of participants’ skills and knowledge of the global best practices for community engagement. The theme was ‘Social Standard Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes Necessary for Effective Community Engagement and Sustainable Rural Development’.

According to the HYPPADEC chief executive officer, the admission of the four states into the membership of the commission followed President Bola Tinubu’s recent assent to the New Electricity Act.

Sadiq-Yelwa said: “The essence of establishing HYPADEC is to bring succour to those people residing around River Niger who are affected by the construction of dams generating electricity to Nigeria.

In an exclusive interview, Sadiq-Yelwa reflects on his journey, achievements, and vision for HYPPADEC. “For me, every day is an opportunity to make a positive impact,” he says. “Our communities are at the heart of Nigeria’s energy production, yet they bear the greatest burden. My mission is to ensure they also enjoy the benefits that come with it.”

“As a commission, we are doing our best but to me the projects we embarked upon is not enough considering the negative effects caused by the dam construction, so, this is just the beginning, and we will continue with it by the grace of Almighty God.

He expressed satisfaction that the president has given us all the necessary backing and encouragement to carry out vital projects that will transform the lives of people living around these areas.”

Yelwa explained that with the addition of four states into HYPPADEC, the number of its members increases to 10, comprised of over 1,800 communities spread across Benue, Plateau Kogi, Kwara, Kebbi and Niger states.

The HYPPADEC boss also announced the management’s decision to create a new Agricultural Division in the Directorate of Community, noting that the development was a significant increase in the scope of work and responsibility for the Directorate which he described as the backbone of the commission. Sadiq-Yelwa listed some of the constraints face by the residents to include scarcity of portable water and incessant floods that usually destroy houses and ravage farmlands; hence the need for drainage construction to mitigate the menace.

The MD assured that the commission would not relent until it achieves the mandate for which it was established.

“We are grateful that both the governor and the benefitting communities are appreciative of what we are doing to bring succour to them, actually this is an encouragement to us. We will continue to discharge our responsibilities until the mandate for which the commission is established is achieved,” he said.

What is the genesis of this visionary leader?

Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq-Yelwa’s journey with HYPPADEC is one of resilience and passion. Born in Kebbi State, he developed a keen sense of responsibility and empathy for communities in marginalized regions from a young age. With a background in economics and public administration, he amassed over two decades of experience in public service before taking on the role of Managing Director at HYPPADEC. His expertise and knowledge have proven invaluable in tackling the unique issues facing Nigeria’s hydroelectric power-producing areas.

His achievements at HYPPADEC speak to his dedication, compassion, and unyielding commitment to the welfare of Nigeria’s hydroelectric power-producing communities. Through a combination of infrastructure development, economic empowerment, health, education, and environmental conservation initiatives, he has set a new standard for sustainable development in the region.

One of the primary challenges in power-producing areas is the state of infrastructure, where communities often suffer from a lack of basic amenities like accessible roads, clean water, and stable electricity—ironically, given their role in power production. Alhaji Sadiq-Yelwa has championed several infrastructure projects to address these needs.

“Under Alhaji’s leadership, we’ve seen the construction of new roads and the rehabilitation of old ones,” says HYPPADEC Project Coordinator Musa Jibrin. “These roads are vital for connecting communities to markets, schools, and healthcare facilities.”

Moreover, Sadiq-Yelwa spearheaded projects to bring clean water to remote communities affected by frequent water-borne illnesses due to river contamination. The commission launched several borehole projects, ensuring that rural communities have access to clean and safe drinking water.

“Our goal is to bridge the gap,” explains Sadiq-Yelwa. “For too long, these communities were left without the very infrastructure that should accompany their contributions to the power grid. We’re here to change that.”

A particularly significant achievement of Sadiq-Yelwa’s tenure is his commitment to economic empowerment. With a focus on youth and women, HYPPADEC has introduced programs designed to develop skills, offer training, and create jobs in power-producing communities.

The “HYPPADEC Youth Empowerment Initiative” is one such program that has received widespread acclaim. Over 5,000 youths have been trained in various vocations, from welding and carpentry to digital skills like coding and graphic design. The commission also provides micro-loans to support small businesses and agribusiness initiatives.

In his interview, Sadiq-Yelwa emphasized the importance of providing young people with opportunities. “Young people are the backbone of these communities. If we want a sustainable future, we must empower them. It’s about giving them the skills and resources they need to support themselves and contribute positively to society.”

Halima Ibrahim, a beneficiary of HYPPADEC’s micro-loan program, shares how her life has changed. “Before, I had little means to support my family. Now, with the loan I received, I have a small poultry business. My children are in school, and I feel hopeful for the future,” she said with a smile.

Health and education are core pillars of HYPPADEC’s mission, and Alhaji Sadiq-Yelwa has made significant strides in these areas. Through HYPPADEC’s Health Outreach Program, the commission has organized free medical camps in several rural communities, providing critical services like vaccinations, maternal health care, and treatment for common diseases.

One of the most notable programmes is the “HYPPADEC Free Medical Mission,” where volunteer medical professionals travel to rural communities to deliver healthcare services. These missions have been a lifeline for areas without functional healthcare facilities, bringing much-needed medical services to thousands.

Dr. Suleiman Usman, a volunteer with the mission, shares, “We’ve treated patients with ailments they’ve had for years because they couldn’t afford treatment or access a hospital. Thanks to Alhaji Sadiq-Yelwa’s commitment, we’re able to make a real difference in people’s lives.”

In education, HYPPADEC has constructed several school buildings, provided scholarships for deserving students, and trained teachers to improve the quality of education in these communities. Sadiq-Yelwa also prioritized initiatives for the rehabilitation of dilapidated classrooms and the provision of learning materials.

One particularly touching story is that of Yusuf Bala, a high school student who received a scholarship from HYPPADEC. “With this scholarship, I don’t have to worry about my school fees, and I can focus on my studies. I want to become an engineer so that I can give back to my community,” Yusuf says, his eyes shining with determination.

Environmental conservation and community resilience are of serious importance to him. Alhaji Sadiq-Yelwa is worried that environmental degradation is a recurring issue in power-producing areas, where communities experience frequent flooding, soil erosion, and other ecological problems due to dam operations. And he has led HYPPADEC’s efforts to address these issues, launching programs to build community resilience against environmental hazards.

Through HYPPADEC’s “Environmental Management and Flood Mitigation” project, the commission has conducted flood prevention studies, built embankments, and engaged local communities in conservation activities. This program aims to minimize the adverse impact of hydroelectric power production on the surrounding environment and communities.

“We cannot afford to ignore the environmental impact of our operations,” says Sadiq-Yelwa. “It is our responsibility to help these communities build resilience and adapt to environmental changes.”

The commission also runs an “Environmental Awareness Campaign” that educates community members on sustainable practices like tree planting, waste management, and protecting local biodiversity.

Building partnerships to roll future plans is part of Alhaji Sadiq-Yelwa strategy. He believes that collaboration is essential for the success of HYPPADEC’s mission. To this end, he has forged partnerships with local governments, international development organizations, and private sector stakeholders to fund and implement programs.

“Our resources are finite, but by working with partners, we can expand our reach and impact,” Sadiq-Yelwa explains. Recently, HYPPADEC collaborated with the World Bank and the Nigerian government to roll out a rural electrification project, providing solar-powered systems to rural communities not yet connected to the national grid. This initiative has brought electricity to thousands of homes, schools, and health facilities.

Looking to the future, Sadiq-Yelwa has ambitious plans for HYPPADEC. His vision includes scaling up infrastructure projects, expanding healthcare and education programs, and deepening the commission’s focus on environmental sustainability.

“In the next five years, I want HYPPADEC to be recognized as a model for sustainable rural development,” he states passionately. “We have a long road ahead, but I’m confident that with the right commitment, we can change the lives of millions.”

The impact of Sadiq-Yelwa’s work is not only reflected in the commission’s achievements but also in the stories of the people whose lives have changed. In his words, the joy and gratitude expressed by the beneficiaries motivate him to push harder.

A village leader from Kainji, one of the primary beneficiaries of HYPPADEC’s flood prevention efforts, says, “For years, we have lived in fear of the rains. Alhaji Sadiq-Yelwa and HYPPADEC have given us hope. Our farms and homes are safer, and our children no longer have to abandon school because of flood disruptions.”

Similarly, Maryam Sani, a young woman trained under HYPPADEC’s youth empowerment program, describes how the skills she gained have allowed her to become financially independent. “For the first time, I can contribute to my family’s income. Alhaji Sadiq-Yelwa is a blessing to our community,” she says.

The support from community members, local leaders, and public figures highlights Sadiq-Yelwa’s exceptional leadership qualities. Community leaders appreciate the consultative approach he has taken and have continuously praised his commitment to transparent and inclusive governance.

In his own words, Sadiq-Yelwa reflects, “It’s not just about providing resources; it’s about instilling a sense of pride and hope in people’s hearts. The work we do at HYPPADEC is about creating a future where these communities feel respected and valued for their contribution to the nation.”

As he continues to lead HYPPADEC into a new era of progress and opportunity, there is no doubt that Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq-Yelwa’s legacy will be remembered as one that transformed lives, empowered communities, and bridged the gap between marginalized regions and the rest of Nigeria.