Major General Oladayo Popoola was born on26th. February 1944 in Ghana to Pa Samuel Lawuyi Popoola of Ile Aipon, Isale Ora and Madam Mariam Oyegbenle Popoola née Laosebikan of Ile Fedegbo, Isale Afon both Ogbomoso, Oyo State. Both of blessed memory.

He began his educational career  at the famous Baptist Day School, Ijaiye, Abeokuta, Ogun State and proceeded from there to African Church Secondary Modern School, Ibadan, OyoState after which he attended Ayedade Grammar School, Ikire, Osun State and sat for the WestAfrica SchoolCertificate Examination in1965.  He obtained LL.B degree at University Of Lagos in 1991 and was called to the Bar  in 1992. He is an alumnus of National Institute of Policy and Strategic  Studies, Kuru. He also attended military courses such as the Young Officers Course, and Battalion Support Weapons Course in India. Personnel Management in the UK. Army Command and Staff Course, Jaji.

As a trained soldier, Major General Oladayo Popoola rtd  held many enviable and challenging positions which included the following:

• Commisioned to Nigerian Army as 2nd Lieutenant after training at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna in  1968.
• Posted as 2nd Lieutenant to Federal Guards Lagos as Platoon Commander.
• 2 Guards Battalionas Adjutant and Company Commander.
• 11 Brigade as Brigade Major.
• 6 Battalion as Commanding Officer.
• Nigerian Military Training College, Jaji ,  Kaduna as Instructor.
• 15 Brigade as Brigade Major.
• Nigeria High Commission, New Delhi, India as Deputy Defence Adviser.
• Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna as Directing Staff.
• Oyo and Ogun States as Military Governor 1984-1986.
• Army Headquarters severally as Director Personnel Service, Director. Manpower Planning, Director Legal Services.
• Army Headquarters as Chief Of Administration  and also  Chief Of Logistics.
• 82 Division Nigerian Army Enugu as General Officer Commanding.

During his tenure in the Army Headquarters, he coordinated and pioneered the establishment of the Nigerian Army Welfare Insurance Scheme(NAWIS), the Nigerian Army Small Scale Drugs Manufacturing Unit(NASDMU), and the Nigerian Army Housing Scheme.

Since retirement in 1999, he has been the Managing Director of Daybis Limited a commercial printing Company employing about 40 staff in Ibadan. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the defunct Trans International Bank. Member Board of Directors Vanni International Security Services. Chairman Board of Trustees Precious Cornerstone University. Leader, Ogbomoso Community Foundation to mention a few.

In 2005 he served as a member of a Panel set up by the Federal Government to look into the clash between the Military personnel and civilians in Lagos. In 2007 he was appointed as a member of the 22-member Electoral Reform Committee by the President, Commander in  Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He was awarded national honors of the Order of the Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) in 2004. He became a Fellow of the International Institute of Professional Security in 2010. He was honoured with a Doctor of Civil Law by Ladoke Akintola University of Technology ( Lautech) in April 2022.

Major General Oladayo Popoola Rtd is happily married and blessed with children and grandchildren. He plays a little of golf, lawn tennis, and squash. He is a member of the Retired Army, Navy, and Airforce Officers Association (RANAO) of Nigeria. He was the Zonal Coordinator of Zone 1 from 2001 to 2006. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Association for 5 years. He is also a member of the BOT of Ogbomoso Recreation Club which was founded in 1988 through his initiative. He is also a member of the Ogbomoso Pivotal Club. He is also a member of the Ogbomosoland Consultative Council.