• Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
  • Login
E3P Motor Insurance
  • Home
  • Insurance
  • Pension
  • Business Unlimited
  • OIL & ENERGY
  • Feature
  • News
  • Home
  • Insurance
  • Pension
  • Business Unlimited
  • OIL & ENERGY
  • Feature
  • News
No Result
View All Result
Business Post
No Result
View All Result
Home Feature

Zacch Adedeji @ 47: Celebrating a Man of Exceptional Grace, Excellence

Staff Reporter by Staff Reporter
January 8, 2025
in Feature
0 0
0
Zacch Adedeji @ 47: Celebrating a Man of Exceptional Grace, Excellence
0
SHARES
42
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsApp

Ecclesiastical evidence abounds to affirm that God does not look at people or issues through the same prism from which human beings perceive matters. As mortals, we give primacy to mundane parameters as appearance or outward adornments, height or whether the person is oozing opulence or simply look at nobility of a person’s birth before ascribing value or judgment to such a person.

The story of David’s ascension to the throne of Israel summarises how God make His choices. Prophet Samuel beheld the firstborn of Jesse named Eliab and, looking at his outward qualities, concluded “here comes the Lord’s anointed king who will govern over Israel.” But just before that thought could settle in the prophet’s mind, God told him that is not the man for the job.  

The story of Zacch Adedeji, executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) is the story of a young, wise and brilliant man who has enjoyed exceptional grace of God. His father (of blessed memory) was a cocoa farmer from the mainly agrarian Iwo Ate town, in Ogo Oluwa Local Government Area of Oyo State. His mother is a trader-cum-farmer. It was thanks to Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s matchless leadership and quality governance that the town at that time boasted some basic municipal amenities like school and a dispensary.  

I can imagine the joy on his father’s face when the news was broken to him that his wife was delivered of a bouncing bonny baby boy later christened Zacchaeus Adelabu Adedeji. While his father desired functional education for Zacch, the first child of the family, the greater joy for the cocoa farmer would be that the birth of Baby Zacch means an extra hand on the farm, heir apparent to the cocoa farming business. This perception perhaps prevented Zacch’s father from noticing the unique stars in the sky that heralded the arrival of a special child to the family, the humble background notwithstanding. The family did not realise they have been gifted a global talent whose brilliance and expertise will be acknowledged beyond the shores of Nigeria. While his father was looking at a child who will grow to become a helping hand on the farms, God was looking at a precious gift that will bring honour to the family name.

Growing up for Zacch was not easy as there was no silver spoon in his mouth at birth. But with the grace of God upon his life, he was determined never to allow the circumstance of his birth dictate how far he could go in life. 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 book-keeper 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 flying with a distinction. Rather than return for his HND, he opted to further his studies at the prestigious 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.  

Zacch’s special talent as a brilliant accountant quickly singled out from the new recruits at P&G. He saved the company hundreds of millions of dollars in needless expenditure and deploys 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 while making his mark at the firm that he met a great leader, Senator Abiola Ajimobi (of blessed memory), 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. Ajimobi appointed him Finance Commissioner for Oyo State at age 33. Notable among his achievements include: raising Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from about N600m monthly to about N2bn 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.

As executive secretary of the National Sugar Development Council, 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).

As an evangelist in the Anglican Communion, Zacch believes in the scripture that the power of life and death is the tongue. As the one whose duty it was to interface with FIRS tax officers while at P&G, he had said during one of his frequent visits to the Agidingbi office of the agency that “someday, I would like to work in this organisation and contribute to its transformation.” Today, not only is Zacch the executive chairman of FIRS, he has brought unprecedented transformation to the agency within a short period. FIRS, under Zacch, surpassed tax revenue target in 2023, leading to a higher revenue benchmark of N19.4 trillion set by government for 2024. Later this month, Adedeji will announce to Nigerians what the agency was able to collect in the year just ended. The agency has done well again and has exceeded the target from available information.

To all who know Zacch and have had interactions with him, one special attribute stands him out: his humility. He relates with the young and the old quite well and the big success that God has given him does not get into his head. Many people have spoken so glowingly about this character trait in Zacch. In 2017, he and I returned to Nigeria from a trip to the US. He had gone on holiday and I had gone to cover the annual meetings of the World Bank/IMF. We were to lodge at a popular hotel in Ikeja on arrival. After dinner, the receptionist said only one room was left. “Give it to us. Dare and I will share it,” said Zacch. That was how we slept on the same bed that night.

If there are so many positive things to say about Zacch who is 47 years today, then the future holds even a brighter future for the number one tax man in the country today. Our boss believes in Simon Sinek’s submission that leadership is not just about being in charge, but also about taking care of those in your charge. I join admirers and well-wishers to wish ZA many more happy years of his trademark brilliance and wisdom. May God continue to strengthen him in good health.

By Dare Adekanmbi, Special Adviser on Media to the chairman, FIRS, Zacch Adedeji.

Previous Post

Sovereign Trust Cutting Edge Service Clinches 2024 ‘Most Outstanding Auto Insurance Company of The Year’

Next Post

Leadway Advocates Safety First as Nigerians Embrace The New Year

Staff Reporter

Staff Reporter

Related Posts

S’ Court Affirms Halliburton’s $6.9m Tax to Fed Govt
Feature

When Oversight Becomes Overreach: How House Probes Could Derail Nigeria’s Insurance Reforms

July 28, 2025
Feature

How an Insurance Company is Using Entertainment to Promote Insurance Education in Africa

June 13, 2025
Premium Perspective: Insurers Earn Trust, Premium Spirals Up
Feature

Features of Insurance Make Insurance Rescue Made to Fit Obligation

June 2, 2025
Next Post
Leadway Advocates Safety First as Nigerians Embrace The New Year

Leadway Advocates Safety First as Nigerians Embrace The New Year

Please login to join discussion
NEM INSURANCE NEM INSURANCE NEM INSURANCE
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Loss Adjusters Receive Charge To Match Speed Of New Developments

Loss Adjusters Receive Charge To Match Speed Of New Developments

April 27, 2024
tope smart NIA former chairman

Insurance Milestone: A Beacon To Follow

April 3, 2022
Custodian Investment To Acquire 51% Stake In UACN Property

Penetration: Operators Call For Insurance-In-Action

November 2, 2022
NCRIB And Universal In Pictures

NCRIB And Universal In Pictures

May 4, 2024
Reinsurance Rates May Increase Into 2022, But Momentum To Wane: Fitch

Reinsurance Rates May Increase Into 2022, But Momentum To Wane: Fitch

April 13, 2021
ncrib logo

NCRIB Sets The Stage For Adaramola’s Tenure

June 7, 2023
Preferred PenCom Logo

PenCom Board Crafted To Hedge Setback

February 1, 2021
Linkage Assurance Aligns With Brokers For Growth

Linkage Assurance Aligns With Brokers For Growth

December 6, 2021
PTAD Wipes 21,227 Parastatals Pensioners From Payroll

PTAD Wipes 21,227 Parastatals Pensioners From Payroll

January 31, 2021
Preferred PenCom Logo

PenCom Board Back-To-Work Pass, Gets Tick Over

May 4, 2025
Anchor MD Loses Father

Anchor MD Loses Father

2
Regulators Clear Guinea Insurance  For Private Placement

Regulators Clear Guinea Insurance For Private Placement

2
NAICOM Helmsman Thomas Leads African Insurance Supervisory Authorities

NAICOM Inaugurates Discount Rate Committee To Ease Insurance Contracts Under IFRS 17

2
Insurance Mastercard Joe Irukwu Passes On

Insurance Mastercard Joe Irukwu Passes On

2
AIICO Head office

Car Insurance Takes A New Turn With AIICO, ETAP ‘Redefine Partnership’

2
Authenticity Of Motor Policy, Technology Crowns Policyholders Verifying Partners

Authenticity Of Motor Policy, Technology Crowns Policyholders Verifying Partners

2
NAICOM Helmsman Thomas Leads African Insurance Supervisory Authorities

NAICOM Helmsman Thomas Leads African Insurance Supervisory Authorities

2
Ebere Nwoji Makes It Back To Back As 2023 Print Media Reporter

Ebere Nwoji Makes It Back To Back As 2023 Print Media Reporter

2
Loss Adjusters Receive Charge To Match Speed Of New Developments

Loss Adjusters Receive Charge To Match Speed Of New Developments

2
NAICOM Helmsman Thomas Leads African Insurance Supervisory Authorities

Federal Government & NAICOM Working On New Guidelines For Insuring Government Assets

2
Leadway Group Nurtures 33 Young Talents to Transform Nigeria’s Tech Pool

Leadway Group Nurtures 33 Young Talents to Transform Nigeria’s Tech Pool

September 1, 2025
Fintechs Can Turn Challenges to Opportunities But Not Until They Upgrade Their Domain in Independent Silos To Connected Wallets – Economy Expert

Fintechs Can Turn Challenges to Opportunities But Not Until They Upgrade Their Domain in Independent Silos To Connected Wallets – Economy Expert

September 1, 2025
SanlamAllianz, Leadway Others Hold IMT 4.0 High

SanlamAllianz, Leadway Others Hold IMT 4.0 High

August 30, 2025
PenOp

Jolted by Global Prevalence of Liver Disease PenOp Hosts Session on Damage, Prevention and Management

August 29, 2025
Preferred PenCom Logo

PenCom Expresses Concern Over Absence of Balanced Growth in Expansion of Micro Pension Plan

August 29, 2025
CAC Pledges Smooth Transition For 12Month Insurance Industry Recapitalization Timeline

CAC Pledges Smooth Transition For 12Month Insurance Industry Recapitalization Timeline

August 27, 2025
West Africa Insurance Market Prepares For Climate Change Risks at Upcoming Nigeria WAICA 2025 Education Confab

West Africa Insurance Market Prepares For Climate Change Risks at Upcoming Nigeria WAICA 2025 Education Confab

August 26, 2025
Buyer Power Grows Ahead of 2026 Reinsurance Renewals

Buyer Power Grows Ahead of 2026 Reinsurance Renewals

August 25, 2025
Financial Stability: Insurance Uniqueness Makes Contribution to Economy And Society Broad, Exceptional

Financial Stability: Insurance Uniqueness Makes Contribution to Economy And Society Broad, Exceptional

August 25, 2025
IMT 4.0 Conference Secures NIA Chairman Speaking Participation

IMT 4.0 Conference Secures NIA Chairman Speaking Participation

August 22, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT

Recent News

Leadway Group Nurtures 33 Young Talents to Transform Nigeria’s Tech Pool

Leadway Group Nurtures 33 Young Talents to Transform Nigeria’s Tech Pool

September 1, 2025
Fintechs Can Turn Challenges to Opportunities But Not Until They Upgrade Their Domain in Independent Silos To Connected Wallets – Economy Expert

Fintechs Can Turn Challenges to Opportunities But Not Until They Upgrade Their Domain in Independent Silos To Connected Wallets – Economy Expert

September 1, 2025
SanlamAllianz, Leadway Others Hold IMT 4.0 High

SanlamAllianz, Leadway Others Hold IMT 4.0 High

August 30, 2025
PenOp

Jolted by Global Prevalence of Liver Disease PenOp Hosts Session on Damage, Prevention and Management

August 29, 2025
Preferred PenCom Logo

PenCom Expresses Concern Over Absence of Balanced Growth in Expansion of Micro Pension Plan

August 29, 2025
CAC Pledges Smooth Transition For 12Month Insurance Industry Recapitalization Timeline

CAC Pledges Smooth Transition For 12Month Insurance Industry Recapitalization Timeline

August 27, 2025
West Africa Insurance Market Prepares For Climate Change Risks at Upcoming Nigeria WAICA 2025 Education Confab

West Africa Insurance Market Prepares For Climate Change Risks at Upcoming Nigeria WAICA 2025 Education Confab

August 26, 2025
Buyer Power Grows Ahead of 2026 Reinsurance Renewals

Buyer Power Grows Ahead of 2026 Reinsurance Renewals

August 25, 2025
Financial Stability: Insurance Uniqueness Makes Contribution to Economy And Society Broad, Exceptional

Financial Stability: Insurance Uniqueness Makes Contribution to Economy And Society Broad, Exceptional

August 25, 2025
IMT 4.0 Conference Secures NIA Chairman Speaking Participation

IMT 4.0 Conference Secures NIA Chairman Speaking Participation

August 22, 2025
NAICOM logo

NAICOM Launches Allcomers Enhanced Website For Transparency and Efficiency

August 21, 2025
NAICOM, Nigeria Police Swing Into Action Raid Suspects over Sale of Fake Motor Insurance Policies

NAICOM, Nigeria Police Swing Into Action Raid Suspects over Sale of Fake Motor Insurance Policies

August 20, 2025
NAICOM Driven Insurance Sector Reform Gets SEC Revolving Endorsement

NAICOM Driven Insurance Sector Reform Gets SEC Revolving Endorsement

August 19, 2025
PenCom DG, Kogi Governor Make Commitments to Improve Workers And Retirees Welfare

PenCom DG, Kogi Governor Make Commitments to Improve Workers And Retirees Welfare

August 18, 2025
NEM Insurance NEM Insurance NEM Insurance
Business Post

We connect brands with buyers and sellers of insurance, pension and also project insurance and allied Businesses to the trending generation. We help the various public to adapt to the constant changes as it would impact, and also enable advertisers to connect, engage and target opportunities on line , in print and in person.

Browse by Category

  • Business Unlimited
  • Feature
  • Insurance
  • News
  • OIL & ENERGY
  • Pension
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized

Recent News

Leadway Group Nurtures 33 Young Talents to Transform Nigeria’s Tech Pool

Leadway Group Nurtures 33 Young Talents to Transform Nigeria’s Tech Pool

September 1, 2025
Fintechs Can Turn Challenges to Opportunities But Not Until They Upgrade Their Domain in Independent Silos To Connected Wallets – Economy Expert

Fintechs Can Turn Challenges to Opportunities But Not Until They Upgrade Their Domain in Independent Silos To Connected Wallets – Economy Expert

September 1, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 BusinessPost

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Insurance
  • Business Unlimited
  • OIL & ENERGY
  • Feature
  • News
  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy

© 2023 BusinessPost

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In