Former Finance Minister, Onaolapo Soleye, is dead

James Sowole in Abeokuta

A former Minister of Finance, Dr. Onaolapo Soleye, has died at 90. 

Soleye died in the early hours of Wednesday, four days after he celebrated his 90th birthday on Saturday.

A statement by the family, read, “with heavy hearts, but with gratitude to God Almighty for a long, impactful and positively eventful life, the family announce the passing of Pa Dr. Onaolapo Soleye, the father of our late brother, Maj. Gen. O. O Soleye (rtd). He turned ninety years only last Saturday.

“Papa served the country and humanity in various capacities rising to the position of an Associate Professor in the University of Ibadan, Commissioner for Works in Ogun State and Minister of Finance of the Federal Republic of Nigeria amongst others.

“He was a true lover of God and humanity and this translated into his unwavering commitment to church activities as well as ready support and assistance to all who came across him, in anyway that he could.

“The loss of Dr Soleye is surely not that of the Soleye family alone. It’s our father that has just passed and we must all prepare to be part of his rites of passage.

The former Finance Minister is survived by his wife, Mrs. WMS Soleye, children, grandchildren and a great grandchild.