Ado-Ekiti Trustees Committee Mourns Olu Ajayi

By Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

The Ado-Ekiti Trustees Committee commiserated with the family of the late former chairman of the group, Chief Alex Olu Ajayi, who transited to glory last week. Ajayi was also the Odoba of Ado-Ekiti.

In a press statement jointly signed by the Chairman of Ado-Ekiti Trustees Committee, Dr. Adepoju Ajayi, Secretary General, Dr. Jadesola Taiwo Babatola and the Public Relations Officer (PRO), CSP Dolapo Badmus, the group described the demise of the late sage as an irreparable loss to Ado-Ekiti people in particular and Nigeria in general.

The committee noted that the legendary and accomplished Ado-Ekiti born chieftain was a distinguished frontline administrator among his generations in his lifetime.

According to the statement, “He served in various positions with a heart full of transparency, accountability and excellence. He was a very reliable source of national pride in various positions he held at the West African Examination Council and the University of Ife in his early years.”

“In the same vein, he made a lot of efforts in the industry as an entrepreneur to give back to the community and stimulate corporate social responsibility. He served dutifully and with relevance in the affairs of proper management of the Ado-Ekiti monarchy and its chieftaincy matters and did his best to protect the interest of Ado-Ekiti wherever he had the opportunity to do so without blemish,” the statement said.

Late Ajayi, who was born to famous missionary parents, Hon. Canon Joseph Adesuyi Ajayi and Princess (Mrs) Marian Ademubiola Oyegoriade Ajayi of Ado-Ekiti until his passage to the great beyond on Thursday, 25th May 2023, was a community leader in his hometown, Ado-Ekiti.

He had his formal education at different Anglican mission schools in Ekiti before he entered Igbobi College, Lagos in the early 40s. He also lived in Ibadan during World War II where he joined in farm

work as a schoolboy to collect palm kernels and extract seed nuts towards raising Nigeria’s 20,000 pounds contribution to the British fund to win the world war.

He later passed his London Matriculation examinations and took a Bachelor of Arts degree at Fourah Bay College, Sierra Leone and post-graduate studies at the University of London.

He became the Principal at Fiditi Grammar School, Oyo, at 26 years old and taught in many institutions. He was employed by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) in 1959, and served as an Assistant Registrar and Head of Nigerian Office taking over the conduct of examinations across the country.

He later had a stint as the Deputy Registrar and Acting Registrar at University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife). Ajayi was a talented and well-grounded scholar, a Yoruba patriot, linguist, historian and church organist. Indeed, he was a historian and Administrator of repute, to readily promoted Yoruba culture in his generation, having visited more than 100 countries around the world.

In his career path, Ajayi was involved in teaching, examination and administrative work at all levels of education from primary to tertiary institutions. In the private sector, he made his mark in the manufacturing sector at A. G. Leventis and sponsored the Leventis United Football Club which became a National Champion.

In governance, he served as Local Government Chairman under military and civilian administrations and other public positions for nearly 60 years. His 342-page autobiography published in 2021 described his accomplishments as the first surviving Ado-Ekiti graduate.

In his lifetime, he was a great confidant of many traditional rulers in Yoruba land and was honored with chieftaincy titles in Ile-Ife, Owo, and Ado-Ekiti where he was a member of Ewi Traditional Council as the Odoba Ahunsi of Ado-Ekiti.

He was also a lieutenant of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and late Oba Okunade Sijuwade among others. As an elder statesman, he mediated in party differences during the Second Republic and was for many years, the benefactor of Ekiti State University, AdoEkiti when he donated his building to the University for administrative purposes. The University later honoured him with a Doctorate degree in Public Administration.

The committee extolled the attributes of Chief Ajayi Odoba as a gentleman and uncommon political and community leader who remained a role model that spurred many notable indigenes to

support Ewi’s Palace and contribute towards various projects for the community development.

In praying for the repose of his soul, the committee called on all prominent Ado- Ekiti sons and daughters to make it a duty to celebrate the legend during activities lined up for his funeral.

The committee prayed that the wife and children he left behind will continue to lift the banner of good leadership that the community emulates.