Aderemi

PRINCE MOROUNFOLU ADEDAPO ADEREMI 

A Short Memorable Life

By

Prince Adegboyega Aderemi

Morounfolu Adedapo Aderemi was six years old when his father, Oba Adesoji Aderemi, was installed as the Ooni of Ife in September, 1930. His mother, Ileladewa Aderemi, was the daughter of Ooni Adelekan, Olubuse I (1894-1909). 

Being the heir of the great Oba Aderemi, upon whose shoulders an equally great dynasty was being placed, meticulous attention was given to the young Adedapo's tutelage. 

After his early education at the private royal school in his father's palace, he proceeded to the Kings College (KC), Lagos. At the KC, Adedapo began to exhibit tendencies that were totally at variance with his conservative upbringing. In 1944, a group of students at the KC organized anti-establishment demonstrations at a time such activities were prohibited. Leading members of Hexagon, the body that mobilized fellow students for action included the Prince Adedapo, Justice Adenekan Ademola, Victor Ologundudu amongst others. Young Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu was one of the 'storm troopers' that enforced the action. 

A government enquiry was set up with the students defended by E. James Alexander Taylor, eminent lawyer and master of court room theatrics, famously called the 'cock of the bar'. The incident resulted in the conscription of Adedapo Aderemi into the army to fight in World War II ad punishment. With the KC experience, the radicalization of the young prince was complete.

Prince Adedapo Aderemi with Arthur Prest, M.L Okorodudu and a British Diplomat

After his discharge from the army, he proceeded to the U.K. and attended Lincoln College, Oxford University. He was eventually called to the English Bar in 1951. During his student years in England, he became a very radical activist. Operating from his father's residence at Hans Crescent in Belgravia, he was a regular speaker at the Hyde Park: The subject of his protests was of course the evil of colonial rule. At a point, he became a prominent member of the World Communist Students Union, with headquarters in Prague Czechoslovakia. He attracted the attention of the British Intelligence Community and during a search of his residence, Stalinist materials were discovered in ample supply. A Royalist-Stalinist. It could not have got more confounding.

Father & Son (Adegboyega)

Upon his return to in 1952, the Prince quickly found his footing in the Action Group for whom he worked tirelessly with his friend, R.A Fani-Kayode until the 1959 elections. The story of the intrigues of those elections, which led to the emergence of am independent candidate in Ife, solely funded by Oba Aderemi against the Action Group of which he was a pillar of support, is material for another time. 

After the dust of the elections had settled, the Leader of the party gave Adedapo an assignment of leadership in the Action Group's campaign Blitzkrieg of the North. For 100 consecutive days, he was involved in AG's robust engagements in the north. When the Northern Peoples Congress began to intimidate, arrest and detain A.G party leaders, the Sardauna of Sokoto persuaded the Prince to return home. He insisted on not harassing him. He presented him with a  dozen exquisitely made Hausa caps as a gesture of respect for royalty.

Prince Adedapo Aderemi flanked on the left by Justice Kayode Eso

Prince Adedapo's worldview was transcendent of partisan politics as he had friends across party lines. His bosom friend, the T.O.S Benson tried unsuccessfully to persuade him to team up with the Federal Government coalition, with the promise of a ministerial appointment. 

Fondly and variously called M. A. Obadimeji and Prince charming by his colleagues, friends and admirers, he was the quintessential aristocrat as well as the ultimate people's champion. He was just as comfortable with caviar, blue cheese and goat milk as he was with 'isa emu' (fermented palm-wine) and dele (a native Ife cuisine made of blended beans and okra). What a contradiction.

The King and his heir at the Government House Ibadan

But that was his essence. He loved his father dearly, and his father loved him with equal measure. Theirs was an unusual relationship of mutual adoration. He was his father's son, friend, confidant and heir.

When on October 15, 1963, he died at the age of 39, in the prime of his life,  a monumental tragedy struck a family for which it is yet to recover. It is amazing how people still talk fondly about this man, 53 years after his demise.

Alex Ajayi

CELEBRATING HIGH CHIEF ALEX AJAYI AT 88 YEARS

By 

Seye Adetunmbi

Stating that I admire High Chief Dr Alex Ajayi, would amount to an understatement. I have been waiting for this day so that I can celebrate him in my blog with vintage pictures as earlier promised after Deji his son mentioned it in the Christ's Alumni interactive forum sometime in May 2018. It is a thing of joy that Chief of Odoba of Ado-Ekiti marked 88 years on June 28, 2018 to the glory of God.

 Two years ago, the highly respected chief of Ado-Ewi granted an interview during which he told his story of his family background, working career and contemporary issues most of which will be quoted here. He has this say about his growing up years:

"I was born on June 28, 1930. I was privileged to come from a literate family. My father worked with missionary priests who were Oxford-trained. Ado-Ekiti, as a metropolis and occupied by agrarian people, did not develop as fast it should be in the beginning. Many towns and villages near and far from Ado produced graduates decades before our own time. My father combined teaching with evangelism. He was in charge of three schools and three churches in Ikere in the 1920s. He and one other person established the first Olu Scout Troupe in Owo where I also became a member in 1941. My mother was also trained by the missionaries. My parents traveled to different parts of the country."

I am particularly fascinated by the pedigree of High Chief Ajayi and the Ajayi family generally because they predominantly cerebral with many recorded firsts. His father, Rev J. Ade Ajayi pioneered the formation Ekiti Progressive Union which later transformed to Ekitiparapo Association. His younger brother Venerable Dr Dapo Ajayi was among the first set of early PhD holders in Ekiti Anglican Diocese and his son Professor Adesuyi Ajayi became a professor at a relatively young age and perhaps the first in his set. Apparently, brilliance and distinction are attributes of the noble family. Yes, Excellence runs in the Ade Ajayi dynasty.

Recalling the schools he attended, High Chief Ajayi said: "I attended many primary schools because my father was a headmaster and pastor. I started at St Luke’s Ikere and then St. Mary in Ode-Ekiti. I later had a stint at Emmanuel Primary School, Ado Ekiti and in All Saints, Ogbonkowo, in Ondo State. I was at St James Igbara Odo-Ekiti, when my father was the headmaster and catechist there. I was at St Patrick, Owo, in 1941. My headmaster was the D.O Fagunwa who authored Ogboju Ode Ninu Igbo Irumale and later became my class master at Igbobi College. I later went to All Saints, Owode in Abeokuta, Ogun-State, which my father upgraded to Standard 5 and 6 till October 1943 when I came to Ado after my father was transferred to Aramoko-Ekiti. I finished Standard 6 in Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti. 

I attended Igbobi College, Lagos from 1944 to 1949. At the time, the principal was the only member of the Headmaster’s Conference of England. I got sound education from the school. Because I belonged to a group of boys who were adventurous, we begged the school to allow us to sit for a high examination and school certificate when we were in final year. We also sat for the London matriculation examination and many of us passed. I was able to teach my own mates while they were still in school because I left school months before them. I later gained admission into Fourah Bay College, Sierra Leone, an affiliate of University of Durham in England. The college produced Bishop Ajayi Crowther and all the great men of letters at the time. The first Nigerian Vice-Chancellor of University of Ibadan, Kenneth Dike, attended the university. I skipped the first year and spent only three years and that gave me a lot of advantages. Many of my seniors in grammar schools started working and could not continue with their education. That was how I became the first graduate in Ado Ekiti.

      The chief gave insight into his teaching career and civil service years in his statement and I quote:

"I was the principal of Fiditi Grammar School, Oyo-State, at age 26 in 1956 and produced the first set of students in 1959. I ensured that the school was stabilised before I joined the West African Examinations Council. I also established a football team and the late Teslim (Thunder) Balogun came from Ibadan to train my boys. They went on to win all their matches in the western region and even defeated the University of Ibadan football team 12-0. With that level of achievements, I joined the West African Examination Council as a pioneer staff. I was the first substantive Nigerian Assistant Registrar. I took over the control of the examination from the University of Cambridge. I took examiners to Cambridge for training across 10 years and trained them in Nigeria. I had the opportunity of issuing WAEC certificates to three former Heads of State: Buhari, Abacha and Babangida in the 60s. When I was in WAEC, I was put on the council of the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1966 by the national government of Aguiyi Ironsi. I was put on three important committees. The vice-chancellor and others were interested that I became a full staff of the university which I was not really keen about. But I finally accepted out of pressure. When I was serving on the council of the University of Ife, I was among the three-member committee selected by Chief Obafemi Awolowo as the first chancellor. I was on the council that installed him in 1967. From the early days of my life, I never applied for jobs. I was just invited. I stayed at the University of Ife before I left for an examination correspondence college as a director and controller producing lectures for professional courses and involved with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Institute of Insurers and Institute of Bankers. I had the joy of launching these new lecture courses in the universities in Lagos, Ife and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka."

      Thereafter he went into private business with the then Oni of Ife of blessed memory and Leventis. he established a factory at Ibadan where he was a director and subscribing shareholder. He said: "In those days, we produced carpet used by the Senate, the Nigerian Stock Exchange and others. The carpet companies in Lagos then were just distributors; we were the real manufacturers."

   At some point he worked in the public service. Chief Ajayi served as Ado-Ekiti Local Government Chairman between 1973 and 1983. It was first under the military and was later invited to serve under the civilian government without receiving a kobo. This was when he gave out his house as Senate to the then Obafemi Awolowo University, Ado Ekiti (now Ekiti State University). The community leader is very passionate about giving to charity. He instituted a scholarship for the best final year student in Christ’s School since 1967. Those are just some flashes of his public and private life.

    The consummate family man has this to say about how he met his beloved wife: "It was during independence in 1960. We had a ceremony at a Race Course which later became Tafawa Balewa Square. A lot of my friends came all the way from Freetown to watch the independence ceremony in Lagos. So, I decided to take them out. They gave me an address. But when I got there, maybe they were not so sure of the address, there was no sight of them. I met a young lady in front of the house. I asked for direction and she tried to explain to me whether it was another street or so. That was how we met. The friendship flourished. We married six years later. She is a brilliant, healthy and virtuous woman. She was the captain of netball in her school and later captained all Lagos netball teams that toured the whole of the West."

   He also talked about his other passions as quoted here: "I enjoyed dancing a lot. In those days, we had jazz, jive, swig; these took us to different parties and restaurants in Lagos. In the university on Saturdays we had hops and dancing in the theatre. In my days in London we had Saturday hops. I am a life member of Lagos Island Club. I was a founding member of Ado Ekiti Inland Club. I was the launch chairman of scouting movement in the University of Ife in 1971. I am a life patron of Boys Brigade in Ado-Ekiti. I compose hymns and write poems. I am a life patron of the choir in St Francis in Lagos; a patron of the choir in All Saints, Yaba and in Emmanuel Cathedral in Ado-Ekiti. This gives me enough time to relax and enjoy hymns."

L-R: Right Rev Michael Ipinmoye, High Chief Alex Ajayi, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi & Okan Seye Adetunmbi at the 2nd Public Lecture of Ekitipanupo at Afe Babalola University in 2015

Chief Alex Ajayi had a memorable relationship with the sage and renowned Yoruba leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his political family. In his recall he said: "My working relationship with Chief Obafemi Awolowo started with my father. In 1954, my father became a member of the House of Assembly in Ado-Ekiti. Then, Awolowo was about founding the Action Group. At the time, not many people knew the difference between Awolowo and Nnamdi Azikiwe. They saw Awolowo as co-runner to Zik. Many people in the West then were Zikists. When members of the assembly were elected, it was on the day the assembly was going to open that Awolowo announced Action Group and started calling people to join him. I advised my father to stay with the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons because I belonged to a group referred to as Zikists Movement. Although I had just left secondary school then, Lagos gave us much political maturity because as students, we were allowed to attend public lecturers by the likes of Nwafor Orizu Zik, among others. Awolowo put my father on a very important committee. As principal of Fiditi Grammar School, Awolowo wanted to land his helicopter on the school’s field, but I insisted that the Premier must write a letter of permission, which he did. He wrote the letter and we allowed him to land the helicopter on the school’s field in June 1959. And he campaigned. I started visiting his house. Later on, Awolowo gave the first set of 200 scholarships. Before that, he gave out 40 to graduates and post- graduates students whom I was among. He wrote us letters personally at different locations to congratulate us. I replied his letter and thanked him. He was very pleased. I later became his campaign director under the United Party of Nigeria (UPN) for the 1979 election."

Chief Alex Ajayi with his fellow Christ's School family members during 80th Founding Anniversary of the school in 2013

      He also spoke further on UPN and I quote: "The intention of the founding fathers was to build a national party with branches all over the country. I had my office in Maimalari in Maiduguri, Borno State. Awolowo had his men all over the country. It was just the reception that failed. There were people that wanted to work with him in the North but they were in the minority. They were people that were anti-establishment who would rather be on their own. There was acceptance but not enough to change the status quo. But we still won a seat in Biu Senatorial District. However, there was still rigging."

    Left to him if the 1979 election was not rigged Awolowo could still not have won the election because: "There was suspicion in the North that the first coup plotters of 1966 wanted to make him the prime minister. There was so much distrust of him in the North because many leading northern leaders were killed in the first coup. So, they didn’t want him to become the president. But some still believed in him and worked for him. We still won a seat in Biu senatorial district."

  That was the vintage octogenarian for you who will always say at it is. I long to listen to people like the Odoba of Ado-Ewi talk or tell their stories. When I saw him at the 10th anniversary celebration of Ekitipanupo Forum at Afe Babalola University, I gave him my word that I will visit him. My joy knew no bounds when I visited him at his residence in Ado-Ekiti behind the Ekiti Anglican Bishop's Court on 16/7/16 during which I took some pictures.

The best birthday gift this year for the distinguished High Chief is the award of PhD in Public Administration  honorary causa from Ekiti State University on June 23rd 2018. Congratulations sir.
Ajinde ara a ma je fun Baba Alex Ajayi ni oruko Jesu. A s'eyi s'amodun o, amin.
Happy 88th birthday to you sir.

Olufaki

OBA JOSIAH ADEOYE OJO Akanle III (1912-1978): A QUINTESSENTIAL KING 

By 

Seye Adetunmbi, 9/6/18

Subsequent to the meeting at Okeoja on the 3^rd of March 1970 where the nomination of Prince Josiah Adeoye Ojo for the Olufaki’s stool was formally consented to by the Elebis, Ifaki-Ekiti community applauded the decision. On January 18^th 1971, government ol Western Region approved his appointed as the new Oba. I was among the students of all schools in Ifaki that came to formally receive him with pump and pageantry on January 29^th 1972 when he finally came home. I led the band of St Michael’s Anglican Primary School, Ifaki-Ekiti to the carnival-like reception given to the king which remains indelible in my memory.

I remember the special song we all sang for him that day: Ku abo o Oba Olola (2ce)

Olufaki d’ade owo o, o tun wo ewu eye e

Ku abo o, olola julo.

The Oba being a quintessential and veteran teacher, he responded and sang for us an instructive song which we all reechoed and it continues to resonate in my memory. The song goes thus:

Bata re a dun koko ka (2ce)

Ti o ba ka’we re, bata re a dun koko ka

Bata re a wo werere n’ile (2ce)

Ti o o ba ka we re, bata re a wo werere n’ile

      His Royal Majesty, Oba Josiah Adeoye Ojo was born born in Ifaki Ekiti to the family of Pa Moses Akorowosi Ojo of Egun quarter and Madam Ojo from Ilogbe quater in 1912. Pa Moses Akorowosi was one of the early frontline Christians in Ifaki and he became the Baba-Ijo of Methodist Church, Iwore in Ifaki-Ekiti. Oba Ojo had his primary school education in Ifaki and attended Welsley College at Elekuro in Ibadan. He worked with Grade II Teacher’s Certificate in Lagos for many years. He was a teacher at Breadfruit Primary School and became Headmaster of Edward Blyden Memorial School at Sangross, Lagos.

        He married Miss Eunice Abimbola Ajala from Ilero quarter of Ifaki-Ekiti in 1942. They started their married life in Lagos and the marriage was blessed with six children, three of them survived: Princess Adesola Omisore, Princess Sunmbo and Princess Durojaiye; they  are doing well to the glory to God.

He was a devout Christian and was a member of Williams Memorial Church, Ago-Ijaye in Ebute-Meta Lagos. He worshipped there regularly with his family and became a 'local preacher' in that body of Christ. He was also the Captain of Boy’s Bridgade of the church.

He was very involved in the progress efforts on Ifaki. HRM and other Ifaki sons in Lagos started the Ifaki Progressive Union branch and met periodically at his Qoates Street, Lagos. He served at various times as the Secretary and Chairman of IPU. Members of the IPU then included Messrs Aderiye, Faturoti, Adelodun, Famoroti, Fayemi, Ibitoye to mention a few; all of blessed memory.

     He along with others through IPU was instrumental to the establishment of Ifaki Grammar School. The established grammar school and Methodist Girls High School blossomed. He was called to ascend the throne of his fore fathers in 1970 and was traditionally installed by Olokun Dada on February 3^rd 1971. It was yet another landmark in the history of Ifaki and it was a privilege to witness the the early morning ceremony. Ifaki people were so happy because for almost 10 years there was no Oba after the last one passed-on. Also the then new king was the first well educated monarch in the community.

L-R standing: …Messrs Owoeye Adelodun, Samuel Ogundare, Fadiya, Dada of the Scout fame, Chief J.N.A. Aderiye & Engineer Oluyemi Sitting: Mr Olorunfemi, HRM Oba Josiah Ojo Akanle II (Olufaki), Chief J.O. Adeoya, Sir Olofinkua…
I recall that he started an evening school for the interested illiterate adults in Ifaki community to give those who didn’t have the opportunity to attend formal primary school a second chance to read and write. The venue of the programme was St Michael’s Anglican Church Sunday school building behind the old church. It was during the period that I had my closest encounter with him. I was on one of the odan trees between the main church and Sunday school building with my fellow restless friends playing when one of them said kabiyesi has arrived for the evening class for elders. In a jiffy I came down and jumped to land in his front, unlucky me because my co-tree climbers ran away. There were moulded concrete blocks laid under the trees and the king couldn’t imagine any of us falling on those blocks apart from not approving of our clmbing trees like monkeys! He held me firmly and dealt with me in a manner I could never forget. He was a disciplinarian.

HRM Oba Ojo 3^rd from left with family members during a celebration in the 1970s

I also remember him as a very neat, handsome, decent, cosmopolitan and suave king; a sharp dresser with good diction. I admired him a lot. Ifaki-Ekiti generally prospered and peace reigned during his era to the glory of God. On the 22^nd of December 1978, Oba Ojo Akanle III joined his ancestors and Ifaki people mourned him. He was survived by all his children and many relations.

Fagunwa

Chief D. O. Fagunwa: His life, story and the myth surrounding him

Daniel Olorunfemi Fagunwa MBE (1903 – 9 December 1963), popularly known as D. O. Fagunwa, was a Nigerian author who pioneered the Yoruba literature. He was born in Oke-Igbo, Ondo State. Holder of the chieftaincy title, Bogunbolu of Okeigbo, Fagunwa, in his days, wrote many novels which dealt on folktale traditions and idioms, including supernatural elements. Hakeem Gbadamosi visited his home in Okeigbo to unravel the complexity on the circulated myth about the great writer’s death.

“My husband was buried in this town, his corpse was brought to his family house in Okeigbo and was buried in the church, St. Lukes Anglican Church cemetery on December 10, 1963. The records are there in the church. His resting place is still there, so the myth about his body disappearing was only an imagination of some people. My husband was a good Christian.”

These were the words of the widow of the late great Yoruba writer, Daniel OlorunfemiFagunwa, Mrs Elizabeth Adebanke Fagunwa while speaking on the circulated myth about the foremost and renowned author of Yoruba literature, Daniel .O Fagunwa disappearing from his grave after his death some 50 years ago. With this affirmation, Mrs. Fagunwa thus cleared the air over the myth that beclouded the circumstances surrounding the death of D.O Fagunwa.

The widow while giving reminiscences of the death of her husband, said the author never had any premonition about his death and confirmed that her husband actually drowned in a river in Niger State known as Wuya River while returning to Ibadan from a book tour of Northern Nigeria and his body was found at the bank of the river the third day.

Mrs. Fagunwa recalled that her late husband was appointed as the representative of the Heinemann publishers in Nigeria after having written about four books which were published by the publishing company. She said her husband’s mission to the northern part was to discover more writers for the publishing company before he met his untimely death.

Her words “My husband was the person who initiated the establishment of Heinemann publishing company in Nigeria. Heinemann published his last official book. I called it official because he was writing one which he couldn’t complete, so I regarded “AdituOlodumare” as his last official work. Now Heinemann published “Aditu Olodumare” and through that, the company decided to come to Nigeria so that they could have many writers and authors from Nigeria and published their books and my husband was appointed as the manager of the company in Nigeria.”

She said D. O .Fagunwa travelled around the country advertising Heinemann books to schools and also searching for great writers like him. Describing his last moments, she said, “He went to the northern part of the country and left home on November 16, 1963; he travelled to the north and was away until that fateful day December 7, when he wanted to come back home where we lived in Ibadan, Oke Ado in Ajanla Street. When he was coming back, he stayed the last night on earth at Bida in a hotel

She explained further that according to his late husband’s driver who was with him when he died, Fagunwa and the driver were waiting to be ferried across the river in the early hours of that fateful day. And that while they were still waiting for the ferry’s sailor at the river’s bank, the late author decided to take a walk and unfortunately, got drowned in the process.

The octogenarian widow continued, “The driver who took him to the north, James, a native of Ibadan said they were the first to get to the river bank that day so that their car will be the first to be ferried. He said they left their hotel at about 5am and the people to ferry them didn’t come until around 6am. So when they got there, Fagunwa decided to take a walk around before the people would be ready.

“So while he was strolling, and it was not yet daybreak , he (James) said he just heard a sound in the water and looked at the direction and his master was nowhere to be found. So he ran there and before he got there, he had spotted a canoe which had turned upside down; so he guessed that it was not unlikely that Fagunwa had a slip as he walked too close to the bank of the river.

He said the canoe turned upside down and covered him, he shouted for help and people came to rescue him but Fagunwa was nowhere to be found until the third day. While the people were still searching for Fagunwa in the river, message was sent to Ibadan about the ugly incident.

The wife still believed her husband would be brought home alive because according to her, the late writer was a great swimmer. But to her surprise, her husband never came home alive. Mrs. Fagunwa said this made her to subscribe to a Yoruba adage that says “ Iku ogun ninpa akinkanju, iku odoni pa omuwe.” (The brave dies in the battlefield while a greater swimmer is killed by drowning) as Fagunwa corpse was found floating on the third at the very spot where he got drowned some 72 hours earlier. But there was another mystery.

Fagunwa was found in the river with his cloth and cap intact and his pair of glasses in his hand. His wife said, “What surprised us is that he had his shoes on, with his cloth on, intact, and the cap, and had his pair of glasses in his hand. This was told by people who saw him at the river and people who saw his corpse when he was brought home.” Asked if the family suspected any foul play, she waved her hands and said “No, no and no.

It was natural. But if it were now, we might suspect that maybe somebody pushed him but in those days, there was safety. No kidnapping; murder wasn’t as bad as this, and the country wasn’t bad as this in terms of security. So it was natural.”

Mrs Fagunwa, however, debunked the myth over the disappearance of her husband’s corpse. She said the writer was buried at the St. Luke’s Church cemetery, in Okeigbo and said the family will always be ready to allow the remains of the late writer to be exhumed to let ‘the doubting Thomases’ believe that D. O. Fagunwa was interred and did not disappear as being speculated. Mrs. Fagunwa also revealed that the writer was from a Christian home and would not have anything to do with cult practices.

She said though most of his writings laid much emphasis on demons and fairies, all the characters in Fagunwa’s books were products of his imagination.

She said, “D. O. Fagunwa did not believe in native medicine; he was a Christian to the core and from a Christian home, his father was the Baba Ijo (Church’s patriarch) of St. Luke’s Church Okeigbo and the mother also became the Iya Ijo (Church matriarch) of the church too. He didn’t believe in belonging to any cult. He believed in his God but his books as you said, are based on fairies known in Yoruba as ‘Iwin’, and demons; you are right

“I am happy you are in Okeigbo now. Okeigbo was surrounded by hills and forest and the town has extensive land, though there were not as many villages as we have now in those days. They have villages and at weekend school children would go to their parents in the farms after school lapse on Friday. Some of them would go to farms which was about six to twelve miles away from the town. They normally visited the farms during weekends to help their parents in the farm and at night they will hear the sound of animals, birds and so many others. 

So from those things that he saw, he had his inspiration and he started writing. What he wrote was what one will expect when going into the thick forest, strange things and as I said earlier, he was highly gifted and many of the things he wrote were made up stories but there are some from stories passed down, So he got his inspiration from there too.

The Octogenarian who will be 81 in September said she met her husband in Okeigbo where they both hailed from and fell in love with him and later got married, though the late Fagunwa had been married to his first wife then.

When asked why she decided not to remarry after the death of her husband especially when she was still young, barely 31 when she lost her husband, Mrs. Fagunwa smiled, saying there could never be any man like D. O. Fagunwa again her life. What else can I get from any other man?

He was always there to shower me with love and affection; he made me laugh because he’s humorous. He pampered me with love, he was always there even when I didn’t need him, always providing a shoulder for me, encouraging me, Fagunwa meant love to me.

The only honour that I think I can give to him is to forget another marriage and to God be the glory, I have been able to do that for the last 50 years. She, however, said if there were chances to come back to the world and marry again, she would choose Fagunwa.

At the Fagunwa family house in Sawo compound, Okeigbo, one of his nieces, Esther Ogunrinde, eulogised the late writer. Madam Ogunrinde described Fagunwa as man of the people and as a man after the welfare of his people. She said Okeigbo would have developed more than this if he were alive because he valued education more than anything.

“The woman, however, appreciated the late Fagunwa’s wife for being the link between all family members.

Fagunwa died many years ago but his contribution towards the development of the hilly town will not be forgotten in a hurry as his name is synonymous with the mentioning of the town, Okeigbo,” she said, looking ahead in deep contemplation.

MGHS Ifaki

METHODIST GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL, IFAKI-EKITI

ALUMNI ACTIVITIES

HOMECOMING AND REUNION OF THE ALUMNI IN 2017

The old students of Methodist Girls High School, Ifaki-Ekiti had a remarkable Homecoming and Reunion in a 3-day memorable programe, June 2nd - 4th, 2017. The Secretary of the alumni association, Mrs Yemisi Fasanni nee Olorunfemi wrote:
QUOTE
May God's name be praised who granted us journey mercy to Ifaki-Ekiti and back to our destinations.
On Day One, the activity took off as scheduled on Friday 2nd June with registration of members. The Vice-President, Chief Mrs Arogundade led us to Olufaki's palace (we were all dressed in T-shirt top). We were chanting "All we are saying,restore our school back to girls school. We don't want Ifaki Grammar School in our compound". The Olufaki addressed us and promised to hasten their relocation to their new site.
We visited the Lord Bishop of Methodist Church, Ifaki Diocese; we lodged a complaint too and he intimated us of the efforts been made by the head of the Methodist church (The Prelate). We also visited a member of the governing council, in person of Mr Fadare who also promised to see that our request is granted.
The activity took off with deworming of students and registration. A total of 291 students and about 20 adults were dewormed. The remaining worm expeller were handed over to the Principal for use in the clinic
On Day Two, a total number of 163 alumni registered. The dignitaries that graced the occasion include the Elekole of Ikole with his olori, the Olufaki of Ifaki was represented by his olori and 2 High chiefs, the representative of Oluyin of Iyin.
The current Principal played a good hostess. The chief launcher sent one of his commissioners and the co-launcher too was represented. The welcome addresses were read by the School Principal and the Alumni President. Dignitaries were led to the site of the school sick bay where the official opening was carried out.
Other events of the day were cultural display, wining and dinning, dancing and fund raising. The event came to a close late in the evening
Day Three: Thanksgiving service was held at the Methodist Church Cathedral, Ilogbe quarter, Ifaki-Ekiti. To Princess Duro Ojo who provided menu for our journey, thanks for this gesture. More blessings in Jesus name.
Thanks to our dear sisters, Ainti mi Funmi Alake Apata, Abike Fadimu, Funmi Agbato and my own Princess Duro who prepared about and 100 packs of food as our lunch, Toyin Ajakaiye etc
UNQUOTE

Thank God for a wonderful reunion and homecoming. Kudos to the ladies.

Reunion in USA with Mrs Chopde

Commissioning of the Laboratories of MGHS in 1968 byMajor-General Adeyinka Adebayo, the then Military Governor of old Western Region

Mrs. Olufunmilola Badejo ( nee Aderemi). She was the assistant Senior Girl in 1968. She was demonstrating an experiment in the Physics Lab

M. A. Araoye

THE ORACLE: EMERITUS PROFESSOR MATTHEW AKINYEMI ARAOYE (1940-2018)

By

Seye Adetunmbi

After I received the sad news of the transition of Professor M. A. Araoye, my memory raced back to around 35 years ago when I saw how he took interest my beloved father and was always looking out for him medically. I noticed that most of the times he drove through Ifaki either on is way to University of Ilorin where he was based or on his way to Ekiti from Ilorin, he would make out time to check Baba to see how he was fairing. He would ask after his medications and sometimes prof came with some the prescribed medicine for my beloved father, Chief D. O. Adetunmbi. It was after I asked my father that I got to know that he was a brother of Chief Ademola Araoye who held Baba in high esteem as his senior colleague in the Nigeria Union of Teachers activism. Apparently, prof met Baba, Chief Adetunmbi through prof's brother, Chief Araoye and thereafter they bonded with one another until the transition of Baba in 1990.

Professor Araoye was a nice kindhearted person and a disciplined gentleman. I remember going to his office in at University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, to complain about an ailment to him after introducing myself to him. My surname was my passport. He went where he kept medicines and gave me the drugs that healed the ailment. He said as a son of Baba I must be well behaved on the campus and this I appreciated a great deal.

I was very happy to see him at the Bishop's Court Ado-Ekiti on the 25th of April, 2016. It was during the inauguration of the Board of Governors of Ile-Abiye College of Health Technology on invitation of Chief S. B. Falegan, the Chairman of which Prof Araoye was a member. I made sure a I got him a copy of the special publication of Ekitipanupo Legacy book which he commended after going through it. And that was the last time I saw him though I called to speak with him after we met in Ado-Ekiti.

   The emeritus professor indeed lived a remarkable life of service to God and humanity. He was a product of Christ's School, Ado-Ekiti where belonged to the 1956 set with the school number 54/010. In 1979, he was appointed Lecturer and Consultant Physician at the University of Ilorin. He later served at University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital as a Professor of Medicine and Dean of the College of Medicine. He was the pioneer Provost of the College of Medicine, Benue State University and also the Provost at the College of Medicine in the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital. 
   His students called him oracle! Some of the alumni of University of Ilorin that passed through his tutelage and those who had encounters with him have the quoted statements below to say about the resourceful and brilliant scholar:
    Dr Dele Abegunde wrote:
I read Seye Adetunmbi's eulogy to Professor Matthew Akinyemi Araoye and could not agree more with his capturing of the essence of the definitive Araoye, who we popularly but fearfully called - the Single Majority.
I was privileged to have been thought medicine and the character that should go with it by Prof Araoye (I wish I can capture the emphasis which which he pronounced his name personally). Araoye was indeed medicine and character personified. He was hot across all subspecialty of medicine and taught with definitive authority. Araoye demonstrated sound and leadership kind of knowledge on even non medical topics appearing to acknowledge the lesser knowledge of everybody else with a gentle knowing smile that he wore always. According to his own admission, he went to Europe to Study Mathematics, he came back home with a strong training in Medcine!
I never got along as well as tried and loved to. Baba was too focused on medicine and teaching medicine to notice any admirers. I - and a lot of us wanted to be a sound as he was.
For Baba, medicine was too sanctimonious to accommodate some off use who fraternized with Kegites, Unilorin Theatre.! And I did a tiny little bit of those even to the chagrim of some of my lecturers who saw me on stage acting role during the annual convocation plays. To cap it worse, my name appeared on a fake cultist list that was bandied on campus in 1984 - if it was during a fight between some cultist in unilorin and another in the college of Tech. Together with 4 other medical students and the Single majority was alleged to have declared that Medical students on the list were not graduating. I was preparing for my graduating exam and all the other meds on the list were not. I rushed to baba's office to protest and declare my innocence (proven latte by a probe instituted by the authorities). Baba had little time to listen to me - he was on his way to his ward round, but listened anyways (you can imagine the fear I felt, 4 years in the University on OO1, O11 when the going was good and one silly list was putting all those in jeopardy). Though I had barley seconds to defend my innocence, Baba, looked at me and delivered his judgment. "well, any medical student found wanting will not graduate!" The Oracle has spoken. Oracle was the other name we called him. I don't know if he knew. In the end the University authority probe, cut through the cheese and I was spared.
One day we were waiting for our lecture to bi=egin and were in class making so much noise that got to him in the office. Those offices in those days were small cubicles, with no air-conditioning and lectures sometimes kept their doors open for improved ventilation.  He apparently came to investigate what was happening. As soon as he peered through the door, a great silence and comportment engulfed all of us in the class (Peter Ikuabe, Ebun Bamgboye and many more,  might remember this day). Baba just looked at us is our pretenses for about 30 seconds and gestured with his hand to cut a small circle through the class declaring "by the time we graduate this number, we would have done a good job". This circle cut majority of us who were back benchers out precipitously, but before he finished the statement and drawing this imaginary circle, we in the back had carried those metal chairs (can you still remember them?) and not only moved into the frontal circle that was going to be "graduated", we were in front.
We believed he was serious, but looking back years latter, baba was only just enjoying himself at our expense, telling us to behave like doctors that we were going to be in a few months. Well 25 of 67 graduated at the first go and I can assure you, he worked tirelessly that it should be more than that.
The oracle was well respected by all including the VC then and we knew it, purely the way he applied himself and did what he had to with purpose and character.
Rather interestingly, I will miss him, like many doctors and patients alike in the field of practice. Sun re o.
     Dr Joseph Kolawole Ariyo wrote:
Seye, thanks for sharing. He was my teacher in Ilorin medical school from 1979 to 1985. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace with the Lord. The medical profession will miss him    Dr Gbenle Silas wrote:
We called him the 'Oracle'. He was also referred to as the 'single majority.'
Some of us were lucky to have had him as our lecturer.
What a fine gentleman. May his gentle soul rest In Peace. Amen. - Silas
Sunmola Bakare wrote:
One of the greats of UNILORIN. Rest well in the bosom of the Lord.
      Akin Falodun wrote:
Nice man and very close family friend, we met at the American embassy Abuja few years back and reminded him of my last encounter with him. My late uncle was breathing his last breath and we swiftly called his attention being the family physician, he responded in a jiffy but we lost him. Olubayode Daramola, the pioneer Registrar of University of Ilorin. Prof was a good man and may God grant him eternal rest.     Indeed, Professor Araoye was a distinguished academic and an honorable gentleman. The Emeritus Professor rested in the Lord on Sunday 1st of April, 2018 at the age of 78 years. May his gentle soul rest in peace, amen.

ABUAD

Phenomenal ABUAD: Product of Excellent Vision and Creative Thinking

By, Seye Adetunmbi, 16/7/21

It was a time well spent on Thursday July 15th, 2021 with the 91 years old Aare Afe Babalola, the Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD). It was not my first time with him in the phenomenal ABUAD city. As a matter of fact, my first time was in 2015 when he sponsored the hosting of Ekitipanupo 2nd Public Lecture delivered by Emeritus Professor Michael Omolewa. I have also been there on his invitation to other events in ABUAD including the formal commission of the huge Teaching Hospital Complex. What made my courtesy visit of July 15 different is that it took me over two hours to be taken round the expansive front-line and unique private university in Africa.

    I was particularly overwhelmed seeing the rich large farmland of integrated products and various agro-allied factories. Tree crops include fruits (mango and cashew plantations with a juice processing plant), orogbo (bitter-colar); moringa plantation complemented by a factory where moringa cream, soap and integrated herbal supplements are produced; food crops - maize, feregede, cassava, yam, maize and too many green houses for vegetables, peppers 🌶, tomatoes 🍅; mushrooms: livestocks - poultry (adiye, awo), piggery, fish ponds etc. Some of their harvests are sold to Shoprite.

As someone passionate about agriculture and commercial farming, it was an amazing experience for me. The farm had gone bigger and more robust than my last visit in 2015, the tree crops I saw in their early stages have grown and started beating fruits. I was too happy and had to take some pictures to complement my essay and message.

In addition to the vast cultivated land is a sawmill and a furniture making section. ABUAD is now set to generate its own electricity, I saw the recently commissioned place dedicated for the plant. I must also mention the feed mill for the poultry and Youth Empowerment Centre where young people can be trained to acquire skill in various vocations with residential facilities and have practical touch to their training.the latest addition to the unequalled strides of Baba Afe is the cleated large area for ABUAD Industrial Park. The college of postgraduate studies has a separate entrance gate with everything needed to function in their section without being exposed to the restrictions associated with the undergraduate campus.

After posting my courtesy visit picture on my social media handles with an intro on my tour of ABUAD community, it generated a lot of comments from a wide range of people some of which are quoted thus:

QUOTES

“Baba Afe Babalola is a special case study in; determination and resilience. Remember that his dream of establishing a University only came up after turning 70 years of age! See him still standing erect and agile besides you at 91! May God grant him many more years in good health and everlasting happiness. May we his prodigies be so blessed too. Well done Şęyę.” - Sir Kayode Otitoju

“My niece just graduated from the university but your description of the agriculture sector makes me want to visit now“ - Mrs Monisola Oloruntoba

“Visionary leaders are blessed with forsight, he is one of them“ - Olusola Ojo-Omoniyi

“That's awesome! Congratulations! An icon of our time. He is silently touching lives in the medical, academic, agriculture etc. May the Lord continue to strengthen and uphold him for the nation in Jesus mighty name, anen..” Sola Akeredolu

A very patriotic Ekiti man. I worked with him as a student's Unionist in Akure he was the Chairman of the Governing Council after the break of the Accord between the NPN/NPP in 1982. Very pleasant and very detailed when counselling. We are lucky to have him” - Femi Bobade

“I was privileged to work with Baba Afe Babalola for the creation of Ekiti State. Late Chief Ogundele, the owner of Davies Hotel in old Bodija Ibadan was our Chairman and Chief Mrs Bodunde Aduloju was our Honorable Secretary. Baba Afe Is a blessing to Ekiti land and to humanity. May almighty God continue to grant our blessed Baba long life and good health Amen” - Princess Durojaiye Ojo

“May he live more purposeful life for we his people to tap more from his fountain of knowledge” - Adesola Adewumi

God bless Baba richly and grant him good health Seye you have seen ,God will conquer for you. - Abiodun Akindahunsi

“Baba Afe is one in a million. Baba has a genuine love for Ekiti.” Bode Ajayi

“The contributions of Aare Afe Babalola to improving the quality of education in Nigeria is worthy of note just as his efforts at empowering his community and young Nigerians with agricultural skills. May God reward his efforts with great success. The man is living his life as a legacy of philanthropy for our men of means to emulate if only they will learn from his good example. Thank you very much Okanlomo Eletolua for your sacrifice in documenting this.” - Tayo Popoola

“ I admire the man greatly, though never met him.” - Ayo Fadaka

“Olorun a tubo lora emi yin o Baba Afe Babalola. Amin. You have done beyond expectations for humanity.“ - Ayan Kolawole

Baba Afe is a gem any day - Prof Adesuyi Ajayi

“Baba Afe"s set up is a mini example of how a state, indeed, a country should be run. Awesome place” - Olu Aluko

UNQUOTE

Baba Afe is certainly in a class of his own! The way he is on top of ABUAD affairs and all his other businesses as a nonagenarian, is confounding! Another remarkable dimension to all his exploits is his uncommon philanthropic disposition with a distinct milk of kindness. He continues to give without ceasing to people in need and the society. He encourages hard working people in their respective vocations by supporting them with his substance at every opportunity. In the Nigeria of today, he is one of the few exceptionally blessed citizens who speak the truth to the government of the day on constructional matters, wrong policies, security and other disturbing issues of global concern.

    I have since come to the conclusion that Baba is a gift to mankind. The long life God has granted him with a rare good health at old age is for a purpose and a special grace. He is a blessing to us in Nigeria and I am extremely proud that he is a fellow Ekiti man. You only have a very few of such phenomenon in a generation. It would amount to an understatement that I admire his accomplishments a lot. “Ki Oluwa lo ra emi fun won.🙏🏾 K’eku wi un ba ni, urin a mu. Ajinde ora a aje l’ase Edumare”. Aare Afe Babalola is an elder statesman of substance who inspires me and many others a great deal. Keep up the good job sir.

Induction Ceremony of 43 Pioneer Medical Doctors of Afe Babalola University

On September 13^th 2018, Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), the fastest growing University in Africa inducted 43 pioneer medical doctors; 8 of them graduated with distinctions, the equivalent of 1^st Class honours degree in order disciplines. This is a feat because ABUAD is the first university in Nigeria to produce such a 100% result of graduating students in the medical school within the first six and half years of its establishment as a front-line private university in Nigeria. It was a professional examination monitored by Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and conducted by external examiners. The Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ife was the Chairman of the occasion. The event was witnessed by Ekiti royal fathers, Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom, and many other dignitaries. Congratulations to the graduating students, the Founder and Chancellor of the University, Aare Afe Babalola; the academic and non-academic staff of the great institution that remains the pride of university system in Nigeria.

ABUAD COMMISSIONED 400-BED ULTRA MODERN TEACHING HOSPITAL

Afe Babalola University commissioned 400-Bed Teaching Hospital in the Ado-Ekiti campus on October 20th 2017. The hospital is built on 60 hectares of land and consists of 9 blocks, the central block has five floors while the remaining eight have four floors each making total of 37 expansive floors. 

The formal commissioning ceremony was preceded by a lecture titled: The Place and Continued Relevance of Private Universities by Professor Peter A. Okebukola.

In order to give the teaching hospital complex an international touch in health care, teaching, training and research, ABUAD has entered into partnership with organisations which include:

• World renowned Abbot laboratories in conjunction with Afriglobal Diagnostic Services to provide modern laboratory equipment.
• Aster Hospital Group, Dubai and India is providing healthcare of international standard for which they are internationally acclaimed especially in surgery. To mark the commissioning, Aster will carryout 50 free operations.
• Project C.U.R.E. United States of America provided modern hospital equipment installed in the new ABUAD hospital.
• Naruia Export , India provided and installed five Modular Theaters as well as Pneumatic Tubes.
• JNC International provided CT scanners, MRI and other radiology and diagnostic equipment.
• Trigenesis India provided dry wall partitioning and cubicle track
• Protech Gas supplied medical gas and oxygen
• Adler England provided steam boilers
• College of Pharmacy, Howard University, USA will set up a joint pharmacy department and factory to manufacture drugs
• Bridge of Life (BOL) USA will supply kidney dialysis machine
• Care 4 You Association of Demark will supply equipment and gadgets
• Perfect 32 of India will supply, install and operate a modern dental centre in collaboration with other Nigerians and transfer advanced dental technology services to the country
• Manipal Hospitals, India will provide health care services of international standard

The teaching hospital complex was constructed with an accompanying Helipad for the convenience of patients being brought in from any part of Nigeria.




Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Ewi Ado and Alhaji ado Ibrahim

The objective of ABUAD Teaching Hospital is to bring quality health care of international standard to Nigerians at affordable cost and make ABUAD the ultimate destination quality health care delivery thereby reducing the quantum of foreign exchange Nigerians expend on medicare abroad in the short and long run.

Rear side view

Federal Minister of Health flanked by the surgeons from Dubai and India

Medical hostel, opposite it is the staff quarters

L-R: Oba of Efon Alaaye, Olojido of Ido-Ekiti, King Ado Ibrahim, Alaramoko of Aramoko, Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti & Seye Adetunmbi