The story of Hon. Elder Leke Abejide, Asiwaju of the Yoruba People in Kano and Asiwaju of Yagba Land, is one of enterprise, opportunity, generosity, cultural identity and national relevance.
Long before venturing into partisan politics, Leke Abejide had established himself as a successful businessman in Kano. Arriving in the city in February 1993 as a young man from Alu, Yagba East, Kogi State, he spent decades building businesses, nurturing relationships and establishing networks that now extend across Nigeria.
His business journey has gone beyond personal achievement. Through business relationships, mentorship, support and opportunities, he has helped many people find their feet, establish businesses and grow into successful entrepreneurs. Some of those who benefited from his support and business connections have gone on to become prominent and financially successful businesspeople across the country.
Kano became more than a business destination, it became a home, a place of opportunity and a defining chapter in his life’s journey.
His longstanding relationship with the Yoruba community and contributions to its affairs earned him the traditional title of Asiwaju of the Yoruba People in Kano, a recognition of his place in the community and his connection with its traditional institution.
EMPOWERMENT, CULTURAL HERITAGE AND A LASTING LEGACY
His recent engagement in Kano further illustrates the depth of his relationship with the people.
On October 31, 2026, through the Leke Abejide Foundation, he unveiled a ₦500 million interest-free revolving loan initiative for women and widows in Kano, alongside financial and material assistance designed to strengthen businesses and support vulnerable households.
The programme was extended to Yoruba communities from different parts of Nigeria, as well as Igala, Ebira, Bassa and other Kogi State indigenes residing in Kano.
Another significant aspect of the occasion was the unveiling of a ₦3 billion fundraising initiative for an ultra-modern palace for the Oba Yoruba in Kano.
Importantly, Leke Abejide’s contribution to this historic project did not begin with the public fundraising ceremony. Before the launch, he had already secured the land for the proposed palace, purchasing the property at a cost running into hundreds of millions of naira, alongside other contributions towards making the project possible.
His subsequent pledge of ₦220 million at the fundraising event was an additional financial commitment to a project in which he had already invested substantially.
Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, also pledged ₦100 million towards the project, joining Leke Abejide and other supporters in advancing the vision of a befitting palace for the Yoruba traditional institution in Kano.
Beyond his personal contributions, the project has attracted substantial financial support from his political and business associates, friends and other well-wishers, with contributions running into millions of naira. This reflects the confidence, goodwill and relationships he has cultivated over the years, bringing people together around a shared cultural and community project.
His role in the palace project therefore extends beyond financial pledges, it encompasses securing the land, making substantial personal investments, mobilising support and encouraging others to contribute towards a lasting traditional institution.
FROM BUSINESS INFLUENCE TO NATIONAL POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT
Having built extensive business and community relationships over the years, Leke Abejide has also become a recognised figure in Nigeria’s national political landscape.
As a federal lawmaker representing Yagba West, Yagba East and Mopamuro Federal Constituency, and Chairman of the House Committee on Customs, his public engagement now extends beyond his immediate constituency.
At the Kano empowerment gathering, his political message centred on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, expressing support for their respective political ambitions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He called on Yoruba people, Igala, Ebira, Bassa and other Kogi State indigenes living in Kano to participate actively in the political process. He also emphasised the importance of mobilising communities across Kano’s 44 local government areas.
His engagement reflects the intersection of his business history, cultural relationships and political involvement in a state where he has spent more than three decades.
A STORY BEYOND POLITICS
Leke Abejide’s Kano story cannot be understood simply as that of a businessman who ventured into politics.
It is the story of a young man who arrived in Kano with business ambitions, built relationships, created opportunities for others, established himself commercially and maintained a connection with the community that became an important part of his success.
Today, his involvement spans business development, traditional institution building, community empowerment and national political engagement.
From helping entrepreneurs find their feet to investing in a permanent palace for the Yoruba traditional institution, from empowering women and widows to mobilising financial support from political and business associates, his Kano journey has several dimensions.
His story connects business with opportunity, influence with responsibility, cultural heritage with investment, and political engagement with community development.
From Alu in Yagba East to the commercial and cultural landscape of Kano, Leke Abejide’s journey is a story of enterprise, relationships and an expanding national presence.
SIGNED:
HON AYO MAYEGUN
2nd Nov. 2026
