Kitoye Branco-Rhodes

Akitoye Olumide Branco-Rhodes (born 27 April 1963) is a Nigerian politician, businessman, energy expert and economist. He is currently a member of the ruling (PDP). He contested the gubernatorial elections in Lagos State in 2003 under the platform of the Nigeria Advance Party (PDP).
Early life
He was born in Lagos, Nigeria to late Chief Olayinka Rhodes, the Baamofin of Lagos and Baagbimo of Ile-Ife and Chief (Mrs) Elizabeth Abimbola Rhodes (Nee DaSilva).
His ancestry is triangulated around the famous wealthy Lagos families of Orobiyi-Rhodes, Branco and DaSilva with Brazilian aristocratic and English colonial ties. His father, Olayinka Rhodes was one of the famed 'Board Members'. In 1989, his mother, Chief Elizabeth Abimbola Rhodes was given the Iyalode of Lagos chieftaincy title, one given to the most prominent and distinguished lady in the town. She held the title till her death in 2013.
Education
Kitoye Branco-Rhodes studied Economics at the University of Rhode Island and returned to Lagos in 1986 to join the family business, Rosabol which was at that time a leading marble and granite firm in Nigeria.
Career
Business
Branco-Rhodes registered Ziklag Group in 1995, as a wholly indigenous Nigerian company specializing in the design, supply and installation of construction finishes. It has since grown into a group of Strategic Business Units SBUs with interests in energy, mass housing, hospitality and agriculture.
Politics
He started his political career as the Youth Wing Leader of the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, GRA Ikeja ward at age 18.
When the then head of state, General Sani Abacha announced his transition to democracy program in 1997, he and others teamed up to form the Grassroots Democratic Movement, one of the five political parties eventually registered by that regime.
At the age of 34, he was Lagos State Chairman of the Grassroots Democratic Movement(GDM) during the same Abacha regime, the youngest person in Nigerian political history to hold such a post. Under his leadership, the party soared to heights hitherto unknown to the political landscape. Despite the fact that he was not seeking political office at the time, he initiated several poverty alleviation programmes including GDM Bulk Purchase Program and other evonomic empowerment programs.
He led the South West delegates of the party (GDM) to Maiduguri to resist the fraudulent imposition of the late dictator as the party's presidential candidate. He resigned with all his executives and the Lagos state candidates when Abacha was imposed on the party.
Fondly called KBR, he is currently a governorship aspirant on the platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2015 polls in Lagos.
Personal life
KBR is married to his wife, Laolu and they have seven children.

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