Deji Tinubu is a Nigerian entrepreneur and former radio and television sports analyst. He was also the Special Adviser to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Commerce. Deji Tinubu was also the former Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission. He is the son of late Alhaji Kabiru Tinubu who is a renowned Nigerian police officer and lawyer. Deji Tinubu died on the 25th of January in 2018. He had slumped while playing a novelty football match with some members of the Lagos State Executive Council at the Jubilee Chalets in Epe, Lagos state. Doctors and nurses had rushed to give him first aid but he could not be revived. He was taken to the General Hospital, Epe where he was confirmed dead.
Deji Tinubu Biography
About Deji Tinubu
Deji Tinubu was born on the 31st of July, 1964. Deji and his family lived with his aged mother, Alhaja Bintu Fatima Tinubu who is popularly referred to as the Iyalode of Lagos, his wife, Yemisi Tinubu and two children, a girl, and younger boy. Deji Tinubu is also the son of Alhaji Kafaru Oluwole Tinubu, the late former Commissioner of Police in Lagos. Kafaru Tinubu is also regarded as the patriarch of the Tinubu family. Deji is also a nephew of All Progressives Congress national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Deji has a younger brother, Adewale Tinubu. Deji’s father had never liked his enthusiasm for football. However, this did not deter Deji. Deji had lots of Nigerian fans because of his game in the midfield.
However, the foremost recognition of Deji Tinubu goes beyond his career as a footballer but more important is his impact on the sport. Deji had a huge impact on the development of sports life in Lagos state. Deji Tinubu was a radio and TV sports analyst. He was also one of the founders of the sports broadcasting agency called SportsVision Nigeria. Deji Tinubu’s morning sports topic on Cool FM in Lagos state was one of the most loved call-in programmes on radio. Despite the fact that Deji Tinubu later changed his profession, he was a big fan of football. Deji Tinubu’s favorite club was Nottingham Forrest from England. DT (as he is fondly called by fans) was one of the owners of the Lagos Athletico Football club.
Career
From the year 2000 to 2004, Deji served as the Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Council. He took place in administration as a special adviser to the Lagos State Governor on sports. He was at the same time an executive committee member of the Nigeria Football Federation. After that, Deji Tinubu was a chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission until he was called to the Nigeria Football Federation executive committee in the year 2010.
From 2010 to 2014, Deji Tinubu was the chair in Aminu Maigari administration as a head of the marketing and sponsorship committee. Deji Tinubu also played a huge role in holding the second CAF Beach Soccer Cup of Nations in Lagos in 2016.
Deji gained even more recognition as a radio and television sports analyst. He was also one of the founders of the sports broadcast organization, SportsVision, with his business partners and friends, Deji Omotoyinbo and Bode Oguntuyi. He was also one of the owners of Lagos Athletico Football club
Deji Tinubu had a smooth and flawless delivery on his analysis on sports matters, especially football. This endeared him to viewers for years. The cast of SportsVision also ran a late-night show of 90 minutes on Africa Independent Television (AIT). The show was well-packaged and excelled.
Political career
Deji Tinubu is often referred to as an openhearted, hardworking, and beautiful soul. Deji Tinubu was the Special Adviser to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Commerce. He was also the former Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission.
During the tenure of Akinwumi Ambode, Deji Tinubu had served as chairman of the Lagos Sports Commission. Mr. Tinubu had doubled as chairman of the sports commission as well as a special adviser to Governor Ambode on sports. In 2017, he was removed from his position as chairman of the Lagos Sports Commission. He however retained his job as a special adviser on sports.
Mr. Tinubu was at the helm of affairs of sports in Lagos state since the inception of the Ambode administration. Kweku Tandoh, a former Director of Sports, Lagos State Sports Council became his successor as the new chairman of the Commission. Before his death, Deji Tinbu was recently transferred to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. This was due to a cabinet reshuffle exercise by Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode. Deji Tinubu became Special Adviser on Commerce, Industry, and Cooperative to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
About Deji Tinubu’s death
Deji Tinubu died on the 25th of January in 2018. He died while playing football at the Lagos state government retreat in Epe. He slumped and died while playing football at the retreat, which was organized for Lagos state commissioners and Special Advisers. The governor was also present at the event.
This incident came as a rude shock to many of his sports fans and his family because Tinubu had been certified healthy during the screening process carried out before the start of the game.
Family life of Deji Tinubu
Despite the fact Deji Tinubu took part in many projects, both sports and politics, he was described as a family man. He always made time for his family. He took care of his aged mother, Bintu Tinubu, his, wife, Yemisi, and his two children, a girl, and her younger brother. Deji’s wife, Yemisi once served as a special adviser to Mrs. Kemi Nelson when she was commissioner for women affairs and poverty alleviation in Lagos. Deji Tinubu also has a younger brother, Adewale Tinubu, Chief Executive of Oando PLC
Deji is described by many as a very reliable, active, and humble person. He was always at the forefront of any project he wanted to take upon. Deji Tinubu’s death is a very big loss not only for the sport in Lagos state but Nigeria as a whole.