By Catherine Martinez
Meet Dr. O.J. Oleka, the newly hired CEO of the State Financial Officers Foundation (SFOF). Dr. Oleka comes to SFOF with a wealth of experience in the public and private sectors, including working in the Kentucky Treasurer’s Office under Allison Ball’s administration as Deputy Treasurer, playing a pivotal role in the development of the Kentucky Financial Empowerment Commission and serving as the President of the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities (AIKCU). When the opportunity to lead SFOF arose, Dr. Oleka and his wife turned to prayer to seek guidance.
“We thought if this is something that God wants us to do, then he’ll provide a pathway to open it up,” he said. Those prayers were answered, and both the SFOF Board of Directors and Dr. Oleka felt it was a good fit since his values and passion matched the goals of the organization.
“I deeply care about the importance of having local elected officials, statewide level elected officials, making decisions on behalf of the people,” he explained. “I think federalism is important. Free markets are important. Economic freedom is important. It is valuable and also important for us to care about the rule of law.”
He’s looking forward to working with SFOF’s members to fight for principles that bring economic prosperity to families and communities.
“Our [SFOF] members do a good job of fighting for free speech, fighting for the First Amendment on a regular basis, particularly as it relates to pushing back on ESG [Environmental and Social Governance] and DEI [Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion] and how those things show up in public policy in a way that becomes unequal for the American people,” adding that these policies have been costly to the American taxpayer in recent years.
“I want to get away from a push towards government dependency and move towards freedom and liberty in living out your God-given potential,” he said. Financial literacy is an important part of achieving that goal.
“You can do a lot with a little bit of money if you understand how money works and how money moves,” Dr. Oleka said. “My interest is making sure that people have the deep knowledge and foundational understanding of money, of investments, of interest of loans, how to make big decisions like buying a house, what to do after high school, or the importance of getting married before making other difficult financial decisions as it relates to a family.”
Living Out the American Dream
As the son of Nigerian immigrants who worked hard to start a new life for themselves and their three children in Kentucky, Dr. Oleka has firsthand knowledge of what it’s like to achieve the American dream.
“My parents came here seeking a new opportunity, and it was here that they found it. They worked hard and played by the rules,” he said. “What my parents taught me [… ] is that hard work is key. Faith is even more important, and family is important. If you have a strong foundation, you try to live by the values that are in scripture that God gave you, and you adhere to those in a way that helps you advance your family and your community goals.”
These values motivate him not only to achieve success in his own life but to help others achieve these same dreams and ambitions through hard work and service.
Girl Dad With a Mission
Dr. Oleka and his wife, Jamie, live in Frankfort, Kentucky, where they work to pass on the values of faith, hard work, and service to their two young daughters.
Being a dad has given Dr. Oleka a unique perspective to bring to Smart Women Smart Money. His desire for his girls is, first and foremost, that they come to faith in Jesus Christ and that their faith becomes their identity. When the time is right, he and his wife pray that they can start their own families. He wants them to understand how much they are capable of by gaining an education and becoming financially independent.
“Confidence is important, literacy is important, and it starts from the age when kids are old enough to make big financial decisions to when they start their family,” he said. “It is really important to me that my girls are in that position to be able to make decisions for themselves because it’s going to be necessary. As a conservative, I want my girls to be able to make voluntary decisions on how their lives end up based on their finances.”
Making an Impact
Dr. Oleka advises that women looking to impact the public policies that improve personal finance start with understanding their own personal beliefs and values and how those relate to pertinent financial issues.
“What do you believe and why? Then, [learning] how that impacts policies like inflation, educational opportunity, and clean pension so that you have the best possible return and then vote,” he said, noting that sharing this knowledge with friends and family members can be the catalyst for making a difference in local communities. Dr. Oleka looks forward to all the future holds working with both SFOF and Smart Women Smart Money. The future is bright with possibilities!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Catherine is a full-time copywriter for a nonprofit organization and a freelance writer. She spends her days writing, chasing toddlers and learning how to master her money. Catherine lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and their two young children.
