Quick Facts
Biography
Alhaji Sarafadeen Tunji Isola (born 25 November 1960) became Nigeria's Minister of Mines and Steel Development on 26 July 2007, and was released from his duties by President Umaru Yar'Adua on 29 October 2008.
Background
Sarafa Tunji Isola was born on 25 November 1960. He obtained a Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, London. He became a lecturer at the Federal College of Education, Katsina in 1983. In 1986 he joined the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation, Abeokuta. In 1990 he was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive, of TAIST Nigeria. From 1997 to 1998 he was Chairman of the Abeokuta North Local Government Council. He was appointed Special Assistant to the Minister of State, Finance (1999–2003) and was Secretary to the Ogun State Government (2003–2007).
Isola was among Ogun State leaders who fell out with the state governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel. In March 2007, shortly before the next national elections, the governor was looking for help in resolving difference with former Minister of State for Finance Jubril-Martins Kuye, Ogun Central Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello and State Secretary Alhaji Sarafa Tunji Ishola.
Minister of Mines and Steel Development
President Umaru Yar'Adua appointed Sarafa Tunji Isola as Minister of Mines and Steel Development on 26 July 2007.
In August 2007, Sarafa Tunji Isola said Nigeria would soon become a leader in production of coal and bitumen. In October 2007, during a visit to Nigeria by Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, he met with his counterpart T. Subbarami Reddy and agreed to encourage Indian entrepreneurs to mining coal, gold, iron ore, chrome ore, lead and other minerals. In June 2008, Isola received a delegation from the Chinese Mining Investment Company looking to partner in development of seven coal fields for electrical power generation in Nigeria. Isola said a transparent and competitive process would be followed in selecting companies for the project.
In June 2008 ThisDay reported that the Ogun Central Senatorial District was considering two candidates for the 2011 Ogun State governor race, one of whom was Sarafa Tunji Isola. In July 2008, the Chief of Staff to Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State asserted that Ishola had given 20 jeeps to people in the state. Umaru Yar'Adua dismissed Isola on 29 October 2008.
His ouster may have been due to the disputes with Gbenga Daniel.