Dele Momodu Biography & Career

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Dele Momodu Biography & Career

Dele Momodu is a skilful journalist/publisher, a businessman, a motivational speaker and politician. He is the CEO and publisher of Ovation International, Ovation TV, The Boss Online Magazine and the founding editor of leaders and company now “ThisDay newspaper”.

Dele Momodu Background

Chief Dele Momodu was born on the 16th of May 1960 in Ile-Ife, Osun State to a family of five. He lost his father when he was 13yrs old and was raised by his mother who died on the 18th of May 2007.

The death of his mum left him devastated because she had been his major source of strength and inspiration. He is married to Mobolaji Abiodun Momodu and they are blessed with 4 children.

Dele Momodu had his early education at local authority primary school, Ile Ife in Osun State. He then proceeded to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife for a degree in Yoruba. He furthered his education by going back to Obafemi Awolowo University for a Masters in English Literature.

Early Career of Dele Momodu

After graduating from the university, Dele Momodu was posted by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 1982 to 1983 to Oyo State College of Arts and Science in Ile-Ife as a library agent. He got a job as the private secretary to a former Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Chief Akin Omoboriowo after his service. He worked with the governor from 1983 to 1985.

After Dele stopped working with the deputy governor, he got a job as the manager of Motel Royal Limited. The Motel was owned by Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II, who was the Ooni of Ife at the time.

How he started off as a Journalist/Publisher

Dele Momodu left the job at the motel to pursue his masters in English Literature. While studying for his masters, he wrote articles for newspapers like The Guardian, Sunday Tribune and other Nigerian-based publications.

At the conclusion of his course in May 1988, Dele Momodu got a job as a Staff Writer at African Concord magazine owned by late Chief M.K.O Abiola. After a while, he was promoted to the lead staff position for the weekend concord.

As a weekend concord staff, Dele still wrote for other publications like the National Concord, Sunday Concord, Business Concord and “Isokan” – a Yoruba newspaper. Dele worked so hard and was good at what he did. As a result, he was promoted to the Literary Editor position of weekend concord in May 1989 and in six months he became the News Editor of the paper.

Venturing into business

He emerged as the highest paid editor in Nigeria in September 1991 after he edited May Ellen Ezekiel’s Classique – a magazine for superstars. Following this great feat, Dele Momodu left the magazine and went into business as a bread distributor with “Wonderloaf” owned by M.K.O Abiola.

After Dele’s venture as a bread distributor, he began a public relations business called ‘Celebrities-Goodwill Limited’. The firm handled the accounts of Chief Moshood Abiola, Dr Mike Adenuga, Mr Hakeem Belo-Osagie and other prominent Nigerians.

Dele Momodu’s Exile

Dele Momodu was detained at the Alagbon Police Station by the Ibrahim Babangida regime for being part of the Moshood Abiola Presidential campaign. He was released on bail after 6weeks of detention.

The injustice Dele experienced under the authority of the Babangida regime was just a tip of the iceberg when compared to what both him and M.K.O Abiola suffered under the rulership of Sani Abacha.

Dele was accused of trying to overthrow the Abacha regime, therefore was declared wanted. He knew fire was on the mountain so, he ran for his life in disguise through Seme Border, Togo and Ghana and finally the UK. For 3 years, he could not return home.

London was his home for those three years until the death of Sani Abacha. It was his exile days in the UK that M.K.O Abiola was killed.

Chief Dele Momodu as a Politician

Dele ventured into politics at the age of 22, he started off as the campaign manager for Moshood Abiola under the Social Democratic Party (SDP). In 1999, he became the campaign manager for Olu Falae under the coalition of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and All People’s Party (APP). And in 2011, he unsuccessfully contested for the presidency under the National Conscience Party (NCP).

Ovation International

Chief Dele Momodu established Ovation International in 1996 during his exile in London, United Kingdom. The magazine was birthed with the intention of showcasing African culture, to promote Africa as a tourist center and correct the negative views the world has about Africa.

Thus far, Ovation International has experienced tremendous growth and the magazine is now one of Africa’s most popular celebrity magazines with presence in over 60 countries. Editions of the magazine are available in both English and French. The magazine is recorded as the only Bi-lingual magazine in Africa.

Ovation TV

Building on the growth of Ovation Magazine, Dele decided to create a TV version of the magazine. Ovation TV has been a huge success. Ovation TV airs in Nigeria, Ghana, United Kingdom and the United States.

Recognitions and Awards of Chief Dele Momodu

• He was given the Vigor Unsung Heroes Award in 2015.

• The University of Professional Studies, Accra – Ghana awarded him an honorary doctorate degree (PhD) which earned him the title of the “Doctor of Humane Letters” in 2016.

• Sheroes Global Initiative honored Dele Momodu with the Global Ambassadorship Award in 2018.

• He received the Glam and Essence Awards in 2018.

• Daar Communications awarded him as the Media Icon of the year in 2019

Net Worth of Dele Momodu

Dele Momodu has done exploits both as a businessman, politician and media personality. He is popular and is known across the world so, we can say that his social capital is huge. In terms of net worth, sources have estimated his net worth at $40 million.