Oladipo Adewale Omotayo was born into the family of Mr. and Mrs. Omotayo at Ita-Olokan area of Osogbo, Osun State. He began his primary education at St. Saviour’s Primary School, Ikirun, in Ifelodun Local Government, after which he proceeded to Osogbo Grammar School, one of the most respected schools of its time. A brilliant and outstanding student, Oladipo represented the school in various academic competitions and made Osogbo Grammar School proud on several occasions.
During his secondary school years, he met the late Senator Ayo Fasanmi. Engr. Dipo Omotayo, alongside Ebenezer Babatope, was among the youths who frequently gathered at Bamidupe Chemist — a popular meeting point owned by Pharmacist Senator Ayo Fasanmi — to play table tennis and discuss ideas. Noticing his brilliance, Senator Fasanmi took special interest in him, and Engr. Omotayo remained close to him throughout his lifetime until Senator Fasanmi’s passing on July 29, 2020.
After completing his secondary education with excellent results, Engr. Omotayo briefly worked with the Nigerian Railway Corporation in Ibadan, Oyo State. Through the support and connection of Senator Fasanmi, he, along with Senator Wabara (later Senate President of Nigeria) and Dr. Oladimeji of Oroki Hospital, was among the privileged Nigerians awarded a scholarship to the USSR (now Russia) in 1965. He first studied at the Moscow Institute of Automobile Engineering from 1965–1966, where he learned to read and write the Russian language fluently. He later moved to the Moscow Institute of Chemical Engineering, graduating with both B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Chemical Engineering between 1966 and 1973.
Engr. Dipo Omotayo made immense contributions to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. He joined Gulf Oil Company Nigeria Limited (now Chevron Nigeria) in 1974 as a Production Engineer after completing his master’s degree. His 25 years of service with Chevron included managing the Escravos Base Operations, where he supervised drilling and production activities onshore and offshore. He also worked intermittently in various Chevron operations in Odessa, Texas; New Orleans, Louisiana; San Francisco; and San Ramon, California. In 1991, he served on offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. He later became Logistics Coordinator and subsequently Human Resources Manager. Engr. Omotayo eventually retired in 1998 as Drilling Manager, a role he held with distinction for over five years. He was deeply loved and respected by all during his career at Chevron.
Following his retirement in 1998, Engr. Omotayo founded the 100% Nigerian-owned Moscow Oil and Gas Services (NOSCO) without any foreign partnership. The company is an indigenous engineering and oil field services firm providing casing and tubing services, inspection services, and technical manpower supply (both local and expatriate). He later established Filco Drilling and Completion Services Limited, another indigenous engineering company specializing in equipment handling, recycling, wastewater recovery, drilling waste management, mud tank systems, and liquid plant design. As Chairman/CEO, he dedicated his heart and energy to building both companies into reputable names in the industry.
His past and present clients include Mobil, Chevron, Total, Shell/SPDC, Agip, Addax, Ocean Energy/Folawiyo, Elcrest, Schlumberger, among others. In recognition of his remarkable contributions to Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and to national economic development, he received numerous awards from various organizations.
Engr. Dipo Omotayo met the love of his life, Alevtina Aliona Omotayo (née Vasibevna), while studying at the university in Moscow, Russia. He often described her as his “inevitable jewel” and a precious gift from God. Their love blossomed into a beautiful marriage blessed with successful children.
Engr. Dipo Omotayo passed on peacefully on December 16, 2020.
Five years after his transition, his memory remains evergreen in the hearts of those who loved and cherished him.
May his gentle soul continue to rest in perfect peace.
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