Reality Life Magazine - June 2018 Edition by Francis Toke

RealityLife www.realitylifeng.com

Issue 3 Vol. 4

Smokin Hills Golf Resort: HOME OF ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES. ELIZADE UNIVERSITY: AN ENTERPRENEURALBASED INSTITUTION

YET SPIFFY

CHIEF MICHAEL ADE. OJO

GODâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SPECIAL GIFT TO HUMANITY

N2000

US$5.00

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CONT ENTS

42 Smokin Hills Golf Resort: HOME OF ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES.

128 11 32 36

I GREW UP TO SEE WORKING HARD AS A NORM - CHIEF ADE. OJO HE IS A MAN WITH INCREDIBLE VIRTUES - Barr. Ayodeji Omotoso HE VALUES HIS GOOD NAME MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE - Dangote HUMILITY IS THE FOUNDATION OF HIS INTEGRITY- PROF. ANYA

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HIS LIFE IS WORTHY OF EMULATION - REV. AGARA

AS A BUSINESSMAN AND FATHER, HE IS SUCH A WONDERFUL PERSON ONE CANNOT BUT APPRECIATE

HE IS A TOWERING FIGURE WITH PASSION FOR EXCELLENCE - UTOMI

SUCCESSES IS HINGED 114 HIS ON HIS AFFECTION AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE THINGS OF GOD - OTUNBA BALOGUN

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OUR FATHER NEVER SPOILT US WITH HIS WEALTH - KUNLE ELIZABETH WURAOLA ADE.OJO: LIFE AND TIMES OF A GOLDEN MOTHER

Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Notes This is Realitylife: An Edition Like Never Before

his edition is a master class collection titled: Michael Ade. Ojo: Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Special Gift To Humanity. Join us as we celebrate a man that has been variously described by family, friends, business associates, church members, his classmates, schoolmates and well wishers; as a man of impeccable integrity, a philanthropist, a colossus, a towering figure, a sublime persona, a celebrated icon in the business world, a detribalized Nigerian, a soldier of Christ, a captive of conscience and human solidarity and above all, an embodiment of intellect and the restless spirit for the groove of academia. Indeed, it is pertinent to observe that all these virtues that have been extolled by people who know him are in sync. What is more, Chief Ade. Ojo is a man who is worthy of emulation. His kind gesture and humble disposition towards us in the course of the production of this Magazine, is an attestation that Chief Ade. Ojo epitomizes all the encomiums showered on him on this special event of his 80th birthday celebration. From us at Reality Life, we wish Chief Ade. Ojo a happy 80th birthday. It is Reality Life Magazine like never before.

Oghenemairo Adegeye

Publisher Evafem Communication 200 Road, House 7, Festac, Lagos

Editor- in- Chief Oghenemairo Adegeye Managing Editor Adegeye Oluwafemi Associate Editors Walter Enoch Toddy Celestine Raymond Emeka Mbah Proof Readers Chukwudi Uruakpa Joan Odafe Kemi Adeniyi Adegeye Writers/ Contributors/ Columnists Siyabonga B. Samuel Okodidili Sholape Adesoye Designs and Layout Kelechi Okoro- Emmanuels Letters, comments and observations should be addressed to the Editor at Plot 49 Animasaun Estate Extension, Surulere, Lagos. Tel: 0805 655 5838, 0909 393 7727, 07066122290 E-mail: realitylifemag@gmail.com, adamairo76@yahoo.com REALITY MISSION Our mission is to constatntly promote and project Agriculture/ tourism, entertainment, culture, style, events, festivals, sporting to be the global community advertising and marketing of product and services, through highly motivated staff, rendering excellent services to the world. REALITY VISION To be a leading agriculture/tourism, entertainment and life style magazine with the best hands providing quality services to readers and clients around the world with great impact. Editorial Adisory King Sunny Ade (KSA) Olujimi Olusola 111 Gbenga Oyesanmi ( USA)

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CHIEF MICHAEL ADE. OJO GOD’S SPECIAL GIFT TO HUMANITY

IR (Chief) Michael Ade. Ojo, OON, KJW, FNIMN could pass as the man William Shakespeare had in mind when he made the famous statement that “Some people are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” His is a story of impeccable greatness. A look at the life of this quintessential industrialist and philanthropist is a summation of the

Shakespearean description of the three layers of greatness. From his life and times in his nearly 80 years sojourn on earth, Chief Ade. Ojo is unequivocally, an embodiment of everything greatness- he was born great, he achieved greatness, and he has greatness thrust upon him by mother nature. Chief Michael Ade. Ojo, a son of Ilara-Mokin was born on the 13th of June, 1938, into the family of late Chief Solomon Ojo and Mrs. Beatrice Ademolawe Ojo. He rose through the

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(L)Pastor ,E.A Adeboye. Chief Ade. Ojo and his wife, Taiwo cutting Cake business world to become one of Nigeria’s top and most respected business men. Known to many as Elizade or Mr. Toyota, Sir (Chief ) Michael Ade. Ojo OON, FNIMN is the founder/Executive Chairman and director of a number of companies such as Elizade (Nig) Limited, Classic Motors Ltd and Odua Creations Limited. Chief Ade. Ojo serves as the chairman and Director of Baun Limited, Imperial Telecommunications Limited, Crown Drinks Limited and Moorhouse Sofitel Company Limited. He serves as the Chairman and Director of Custodian and Alliance Insurance Limited. He founded Elizade Group of Companies in 1971 and serves as their Executive Chairman. He serves as the Chairman and Director of Toyota Nigeria Limited. Chief Ade. Ojo served as the Chairman and Director of Courtville Investments Plc. He serves as a Director of Meristem Securities Limited. He serves as a Director of First City Monument Bank Plc. He has been a Director of Eterna Oil & Gas plc. since October 7, 2005. He served as a Director of Ecobank Nigeria Plc. from September 15, 2006 to June 30, 2010. He serves as Deputy Chairman of Lagos Chamber of Commerce.

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Pastor, E.A. Adeboye, Chief Ade. Ojo (Celebrant) wife, Taiwo with his Chilhdren and Grand Children cutting Cake On leaving the University, he worked with some multinationals including C.F.A.O (which sponsored his last two years in the University) and the then British Petroleum (B.P) previously African Petroleum Plc now Oando plc. Chief Ade. Ojo is a recipient of a number of awards both home and abroad. He was awarded the National honour of Officer of the Niger (OON) in 2005. He has attended several top management

development courses including the Chief Executive Programme of the Lagos Business School. He graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in June 1965 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration. As part of activities marking the celebration of his 80th birthday, an evening of praise, worship and exhortation to kick-off SIR (Chief) Michael Ade.Ojo’s

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During Prayers for Ade. Ojos’ Family

Chief Ade. Ojo Dancing with his wife

Cross section of the Organising Committee

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birthday celebrations was held on Sunday, 3rd of June 2018, with praise lyric music, an opening prayer by Ms. Deola Sagoe, worship session, exhortation by Pastor E.A Adeboye, prayers for his immediate family and prayers to commit the entire 80th birthday programme of events into God’s hands. General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG),Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, a.k.a. Daddy G.O. paid glowing tributes to Chief Ade. Ojo, describing him as a personal friend and former schoolmate whom he has known since the 1960s when they were both at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He expressed gratitude to God for keeping him hale and hearty to mark his 80th birthday. ‘’I thank the Almighty God for the life of Chief Michael Ade.Ojo for the journey of life so far. I am happy that when he was 60 years old, I was there to celebrate with him. When he was 70 years old, I was also there with him, and now that he is 80, I am also here.” According to Pastor Adeboye, “You might be wondering what is so special about Chief Ade.Ojo. Well, it is important for everybody to know and understand that we both met at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in the 1960s and even at that time and age, we could see so many qualities in him which have strengthened him today both in business and life generally. He is a man that loves God and that is why we have been together since then even till now. “So, if you don’t see me at your own birthday, you need to understand because it is he that dwells in the secret place of the most high God that shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty God. And it is such an individual that the Lord will satisfy with long life and show His salvation.” Pastor Adeboye who handled the ministration at the thanksgiving as part of the activities heralding the 80th birthday celebration scheduled to hold on the 14th of June, 2018, in his characteristic manner, admonished everybody in attendance to always remember God their creator, and honour Him in all their ways as that is the only sure way to a secured, prosperous and peaceful life and guaranteed eternity.

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Interview

I GREW UP TO SEE WORKING HARD AS A NORM -CHIEF ADE. OJO

At 80, CHIEF MICHAEL ADE. OJO can best be described as a man that has seen it all. From a very humble beginning patched with the vicissitudes of life, to an obvious fulfilled life of affluence and influence, Chief Ade. Ojo is a study in perseverance, determination, hard work, love for God and humanity, honesty, philanthropy and entrepreneurship. In this exclusive special interview in commemoration of his 80th birthday celebration, the Aremo Kunrin (first son of the town of Ilara-Mokin) went down memory lane, recalling his early days, school days, his venture into the world of business, his wealth, and how he has used this blessing to impact on humanity and his town, Ilara-Mokin and Nigeria at large. This is an interview that is not only inspiring but provokes entrepreneurship, philanthropy, hard work and honesty. It is a no-holds-barred interview. Enjoy……. www.realitylifeng.com

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What can you tell us about your life, especially your humble beginning and your huge successes? I was born on the 14th of June, 1938. Whereas some people are born with golden, silver, bronze and all kinds of spoons, in my own case, I was born without a spoon at all, except the grace of God that I have always enjoyed. I am the 5th of the 6 children of my mother My father is Chief Solomon (5 males and 1 female). Ademolawe Ojo and my mother is I am from a polygamous home; my father had 3 Chief (Mrs.) Beatrice Ademolawe wives. Ojo. She died in December, 1991 at My father is Chief the age of I00 years whereas my Solomon Ademolawe father died in 1956 when I was 18 Ojo and my mother is Chief (Mrs.) Beatrice years old. Ademolawe Ojo. She died in December, 1991 at the age of I00 years whereas my father died in 1956 when I was 18 years old. My parents were, to say the obvious, poor. I was not able to go to school, because of lack of resources; that tells you the level of poverty in my family. But it is important to

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note that they were only poor financially, not in terms of character. As a result of the scarcity of resources, my father structured it in such a way that from the three (wives), only one person per wife had the opportunity to go to school. And being the fifth child, obviously going to school was totally out of the picture for me. But as I was made to understand, there was a man who was a native police who was then residing in my Uncle’s house who called and encouraged my mother to endeavour to send me to school, that I was a brilliant chap and it would be good I go to school. Being convinced about the importance of education, my mother decided to register me at St. Michael’s Anglican Primary School, Ilara-Mokin. One very remarkable thing about my mum is that she was a great disciplinarian and I was very obedient to my mother, she won’t take no for an answer anyway. I was the one that used to run all the errands in the house; I did the fetching of water, the sweeping and all the house chores

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Interview

both before going to school and even after school. In fact, my going to school did not exempt me from the usual hard chores. My elder brothers would have gone to the farm except the only junior one that was going to school. My mother would never spare you for any act of misdemeanor. She was such a hardworking woman; she used to make pap and sometimes when I come out at night to ease myself, I would see the old woman grinding corn. I will go round and sell what the Yorubas call “Eko” that she made over night. Later in the evening, I would go and sell kerosene and matches as my personal business. In those days, people were not able to afford one full box of matches and as such I would tie them in 5 sticks or 10 so that they would be able to afford it.. Indeed, growing up was an unforgettable experience. Because of the untold hardship in my family, I was subjected to some kind of deprivation and ridicule. I can recall in those days, we used to listen to stories in the evenings during moon-

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light . Unfortunately, about two of my uncles then would deprive me of enjoying the stories with my peers, because it was at the heart of the stories that they would send me on an errand, even when their children who were even younger than me were there sitting comfortably and enjoying the stories, I would have no option than to run the errand. An uncle of mine who was relatively very comfortable then would abuse me as if I came from heaven with poverty. He would talk to me in a manner that remind me that the roof of my father’s house was made of thatches and those things meant a lot to me. These were parts of the things that spurred me to be determined to change the narratives about my family. As a pupil, I did very well in my studies at the primary school level and I was desirous to study further. In 1953, I took the Entrance Examination into Oyemekun Grammar School Akure, Christ School Ado-Ekiti and Imade College Owo. I will say the first two didn’t take me, rather than saying I didn’t pass, because I did not see the results, which is not the same thing as ‘I failed’ and I was very convinced that I did well. Having missed the first two, I became very apprehensive knowing that it was only one more option left, As a pupil, I did very well in my Imade College. studies at the primary school I just could not sleep, I was just level and I was desirous to study rolling on the further. In 1953, I took the Entrance floor; we used to sleep on the floor. Examination into Oyemekun Grammar School Akure, Christ There was this aunty of mine School Ado-Ekiti and Imade College then by name, Owo. Cecilia Gbojo that was staying with us who observed that I was not able to sleep and she then asked me why I wasn’t sleeping, I then told her two schools have concluded their admission exercise and I wasn’t taken and it remains only Imade College and I don’t know whether I will be taken. But she encouraged me to be calm, that I will be taken and wished me the very best of luck. That night I managed to sleep and also dreamt that I was admitted into that school, only to wake up and discovered

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Interview it was a dream; I felt bad. The following morning, as we were coming back from the farm, my aunty by name, Cecilia Gbojo, called me by my full name Adeniyan, asked whether I have heard about the result and I said no, she then told me that I passed the exam into Imade College. I asked her whether it was a joke or not, but she confirmed to me that it was true. Out of excitement, I ran with load on my head to the Headmaster’s place who actually confirmed that it was true. I was in the school for 5 years. My ambition was to become a doctor, but Physics subject refused to embrace me, though I was good in other subjects; I finished in Grade 2. The experience was not an easy one as money was a huge chal-

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lenge. Soon after I was given admission, I had to travel to Lagos to see my elder brother at the Police College who eventually bought my school uniform and some other things needed at that time while my mother managed to pay the fees for the first term. That was in 1953 and it was my first visit to Lagos. After the first term, the experience was such that I had to miss p classes sometime because I have to fetch my school fees. During holidays I would go to do menial jobs such as weeding people’s farms or work with brick layers. At a point, there was a recruitment exercise into the Nigerian Army and I participated in the exams, passed and later came to Yaba, Lagos for interview, but I was not taken. Unfortunately too, my mum was not in support of my joining the army, because for her, joining the army means going to die. In fact, she asked me: “this boy, after spending all that I have on you, you mean you wanted to go and die? Thank God they did not take you.” After my secondary education, I went to the Federal School of Agriculture, Akure from 1959 -1960. I had a working stint as a laboratory technician in the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Moor plantation, Ibadan from 1960 - 1961; then Ibadan was a bigger city than Lagos. It was while at Ibadan that I got admitted into the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) to study Business Administration in September, 1961 and I graduated in June,1965 with a Second Class (Upper Division). The university spelt

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Interview another round of suffering and mixed feelings. Going to the university the first time, I had one hundred and one pounds, ten shillings on me. Of this amount, one of my female cousins gave me one pound and the second one gave me ten shillings while the remaining was what I saved. With that, I boarded the army transport, one of the main carrier then to Benin from where I boarded another army transport to Asaba; it was the first time I crossed the River Niger. My first year at the university was a very beautiful one as it was full of excitement. That year, as I told people, the school forgot to ask us for fees, we were just eating and learning. But the second year, as we were resuming the first semester the story was different; it was a case of your school fees or nothing. School fees became a new challenge for my mum. But the Head of Department and some lecturers were concerned and tried to help me. I was given an opportunity to work in the department while schooling where I was given some stipends which kept me on. The most exciting experience at the university was in my second year when I met the love of my life, my late wife, Elizabeth at an evening devotional service. It was a very remarkable and funny moment. I was sitting next to her friend. I noticed that as singing was going on, the two of them started laughing and this happened whenever we were singing. I felt they were laughing at me and I said in my mind that they didn’t know who they were playing with; I was a popular student. I was known all over the campus as Ade.Ojo Lumumba, because I looked like Lumumba the first president of Congo, with the way I shaved my beard like his own. As soon as we finished the prayers, both of them ran out and I wanted to go after them, but I didn’t get up in time to be able to meet them. But surprisingly, after getting out of the hall, they were outside waiting for me and her friend said she wanted to talk to me. She then told me that she felt they embarrassed me, but that it wasn’t about me they were laughing, that it was about the man next to her friend whom she said was singing off key and therefore, apologized to me.

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It was at that point I asked of their names and they both introduced themselves and I walked them back to their hall. It was that same evening I got to know the second girl was my friend’s girlfriend whereas Elizabeth was still available. I then asked if she wouldn’t mind my saying hello to her when possible. That was how we became friends and eventually husband and wife. In that same year 2, the university introduced what was referred to as the ‘Almighty meal ticket’; it was the University of Nigeria, Nsukka that first introduced meal ticket. Things became more complicated as there was no money to pay my school fees let alone meal ticket. As you know without food, studying becomes more frustrating. Meanwhile, my late wife was lucky then, because she was enjoying Methodist Church scholarship and as such, she was able to take care of practically all her bills. But something remarkable happened one day; she came to see me on that fateful day (as at that time we were already relating as friends) and to my greatest surprise, she gave me 40 pounds, which was all she had as pocket money. The level of risk involved in that kind and philanthropic

gesture was for me a rude shock and it conquered and captured me totally such that without thinking twice, I made up my mind that this is the woman I was going to marry. I graduated before her, but as God would have it, I actualized my desire and decision to marry her and I am very happy I did. We got married on 26th February, 1966 at Enugu when she was still an undergraduate. There were about 14 people in attendance and yet we lived happily and the marriage was eventually blessed with two children, one boy and one girl (Deola my first born and Demola). It is instructive to note that my last two years in the university were completely different as I was given a scholarship by CFAO Motors; it made things easier for me. After graduation, I decided on my own to work with CFAO Motors as a way of appreciating their kind gesture.. I was with them for one and half years but I left due to my disagreement at the end of 1966, with their placing me on contract. I then got another job with the Inland Revenue where I worked for less than 6 months before later joining British Petroleum (BP) Nigeria Limited. My experience at the Inland Revenue

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The oldest Toyota Vehicle Bought from Elizade in June 1978

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was a funny one. It was funny because I am not used to idleness or laziness. But at the Inland Revenue, I used to finish my task or job assignment for the day within two hours. In fact, it was there I realized that government was a house of laziness and I was not used to that. So, I then thought of how best to utilize the remaining hours left. I decided to be going to our registry to gather the names of those who were not insured and would not only introduce life insurance to them, but also convince them to pick up a policy. I made mad a huge success in that even more than those who were doing it full tha ttime. I have reasons for telling you all that: so that you can learn from it. That was how I was able to make some savings with which I eventually started my business later. The kind of free time I had while with the Inland Revenue was never wi there when I joined British Petroleum. In fact, my time was fully engaged such that for one full year I couldn’t market insurance

at all. But clearly, I recognized my marketing skills; if you are not careful I can sell shit to you and would think it is moi moi you are buying. For the four years I spent with British Petroleum, I was the highest sales person. At a point in the early 70s I was transferred to Benin to relieve somebody for 3 months and within the 3 months, I increased the sales by 25 percent. On my return to Lagos, to my surprise, the man I went to relieve in Benin was brought to Lagos to be my direct boss. It was this posting that annoyed me that I have to ask for my leave. Instead of leisure hunting, I took up freelance Motor agency ”dealership” with R.T. Briscoe, Intra Motors and CFAO, within the four weeks that I was on leave I was able to sell 40 cars. At the time I did my calculation of what I made within the four weeks as against what I was being paid by BP, I realized it was more than my salary for one year. That was how my business started and that was how I decided to leave BP and do my own business and that also was how I

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Chief Ade.Ojo ﬁrst House Modernised came about my wealth. Though in my early life one native doctor told me I was going to be great, but I didn’t believe him, because I don’t believe in them. When I was in the elementary school, I dreamt one day that I built a very big house and it was bigger than my uncle’s house that was a story building, but I couldn’t tell the story to anybody till I was 40 years old, because of fear. Initially I sold Toyota vehicles on commission basis for the people that started Toyota business in Nigeria. When I was to start this business, I was asked to pay 600 pounds as registration. At that time, even though I had made some sales, the cash was not available then, because the vehicles were not readily available, you have to deposit money for them to be delivered and it was after delivery that you will have your money. So, I had to approach the bank to give me 600 pounds, but they refused on the ground of no collateral. I then approached a cousin of mine who gave me the money to start the sale of their motorcycle (Vesper). I then became their agent and they promised

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to pay me two and half percent, but they were paying their dealers ten percent. I had to work very hard to see how I could get accommodation and equip our office at 71, Awolowo Way. In fact, working is my second nature, when I am not working I feel am useless as a result of the orientation my mother gave me. Again, I am not given to frivolous and extravagant spending; I was using a volkswagen when I started the business and later I bought a second hand Toyota Cressida even when I had enough money to buy a new car, because I wanted to grow my business to a point. After a while, I sold two heavy duty vehicles where I made 720 pounds and I put the money back into the business. Also, before I left BP, I had ordered for a car through an advance from BP. When the car came, I sold it, because I knew I could not afford to ride it since I was in private business, so, I sold it, ploughed the money into my business and after six months, I returned the money to BP. So from then on, I cut my coat according to my cloth.

For the four years I spent with British Petroleum, I was the highest sales person. At a point in the early 70s I was transferred to Benin to relieve somebody for 3 months and within the 3 months, I increased the sales by 25 percent.

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Back view of Chief Ade. Ojo's residence with swimming pool

I was able to build the company up very quickly through hard work and frugal spending; I did not attempt to do things that could eat into my capital and kill the business and I am still like that till today. These are things you can learn from which I really want you to learn, knowing the son of whom you are or the daughter of whom you are. If you are building a business, be careful not to waste your capital. How many hours do you work a day? I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know exactly but I devote quality time to work. I have told you that I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how to stay idle, the moment I am awake it is about work, even when I am not at work, my brain is working and I think that is between God and my mother, because my mother was the type that the moment you finish one assignment, she gives you another one. So I grew to see working hard as a norm. Entrance gate

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Interview What about your father? My dad died when I was still in secondary school in 1956, s 18years then. When he died, my siblings didn’t even bother to inform me of it before he was buried; they felt I was too young to be told about it. It was when I got home on holidays that I learnt my father was dead and buried about a month earlier. I loved my father, he never beat me, the only

time I can remember he ever beat me was when I broke his apple rule that he used in driving flies away. I cried as if I was dying though pretentiously. My father was a very kind person; he was a carpenter, but combined carpentry with farming and hunting. My mother’s people were relatively more comfortable; they were among the rich in the town. My father was a very loving person;

front view

You have said so much about your mother, were you able to take care of her the way you expected before her demise? I loved her so much. I built a house for her, in fact, I took the greatest care of my mother; she had no problem with me at all, my mum and I were very close. She was the one who trained me to be a workaholic and that has translated into huge success for me. She was the one that took real care of me as a child. At a point in time, my mother left my father’s house to stay at her own mother’s place after she lost two of her children at very young age, because it was believed at that time that one woman in that place was responsible for that. My mum was a great woman and I took good care of her, but how I wish she were still alive to enjoy more of the fruit of her labour in me! side view

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Chief Ade. Ojo Church. St. Michael at lIara Mokin

His late Mother’s House insde chief Ade. Ojo Country Home

except that he couldn’t send me to school due to financial challenges which made him restrict training to a child per wife out of the three wives. But do you think it is still possible for the child of a poor farmer to excel in business in our country today? Yes, I think it is still very possible, all you need do is get the principles and your priorities right. You must be able to differentiate between your capital and your profit before embarking on spending.

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Sir, we understood you married your Secretary, would you want to talk about that? It is not true that I married my Secretary. She was never mine or anybody’s Secretary, she was a civil servant A newspaper actually published the fake story. At a point I wanted to sue the paper, but on a second thought, I decided to leave them to God to judge. The lady in question, my wife was working with the Ondo State Government, precisely in the Deputy Gov-

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Interview ernor’s office. I met her when I went to see the Deputy Governor, I liked her and we became friends and later got married by the grace of God in 2006. You would recall I lost my former wife in 2003. In 2013 she gave me a set of twins, a boy and a girl: Adeoluwa is the boy, while Ibukunoluwa is the girl. Sir, what inspired you to go into investing in the education sector? Education is not business as far as I am concerned, anybody who is going to build a university with the mind of making money has missed the road. I didn’t go into education sector for money, but for charity and development of my native place, Ilara-Mokin. Chief Aare Afe Babalola, the founder of Afe Babalola University, even corroborated this sometime ago when he said if you are planning to make money out of university, you better forget it, because the fees we are collecting don’t cover anything; that if you send your ward to university in the UK or America, you would know it is not a joke. Since 1988 I said I would build a secondary school in my home town, but on the ground that the people provide me with free land, because for me, it’s like a donation. But according to them, there is no land. As the years rolled by, coupled with the burning desire in me, I told them if you give me land I will build a polytechnic. At that point, some young boys came together under the aegis of one association and met the Oba and got only about 2 plots of land which obviously was a far cry from what I needed. I took it and then looked for the owners of the adjoining land until I was able to buy about 100 acres of land and that was how it all started. I have spent roughly 25 billion Naira on that school and not one penny has been recouped, so where is the profit if money making is the motive? But I thank God the school is growing. We had the second convocation this year and Prof. Wole Soyinka delivered the convocation lecture. Elizade University has 5 faculties and we are doing well. How did you come about the name Elizade?

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Some Awards to the credit of Chief Ade. Ojo It is simple! My late wife’s name is Elizabeth and Ade.Ojo, it is a combination of Elizabeth minus the other five letters. Eliz and Ade my middle name that make ELIZADE. Smokin Hills is one of the best Golf Courses in Africa, why Golf? It’s about the development of the place; IIara-Mokin, I wanted something that can aid relaxation that can attract more people to the place. As to why it has to be golf, the point is that I enjoy playing golf; I used to play golf until I had some back problem. We also noticed that you diversified into agriculture, what is the motivation? I love agriculture and I actually passed out of the School of Agriculture in 1960 after which I was posted to Moor plantation Ibadan where I worked till I gained admission into University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1961. I invested in agriculture to at least actively engage some of the people in productive economic activities that

could put food on their table and perhaps, where possible, earn some income. Is your community appreciative of all of these things you are doing for them? There is no community where you don’t find backbiters no matter what you do for them. While a few backbiters are critical of my efforts, majority of the people especially those that matter in the community highly appreciate my contributions to the development of the place and are supportive too. As expected, while a lot of people are supportive, there are some who don’t care about anything. But I am not looking at anybody’s face, I am only doing what I feel is good. As one of the foremost auto dealers in Nigeria, what is your assessment of the auto policy in Nigeria? You can’t put the cart before the horse, but I think that is what we are trying to do. No auto policy would work successfully when there is no power supply. We had some auto policies in the past that never

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Interview worked; we had Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN), we also had Volkswagen, but they all failed. The biggest challenge with every business in Nigeria including the automobile industry is epileptic power supply. As I have noted, before we can achieve success in our auto policy, we must ensure steady electricity supply, not running on generator. I told Chief Obasanjo in February 2007 when he was President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in one breakfast meeting that he called some of us to, that he should forget about vision 2020, that he should just give us electricity, that with electricity alone the GDP of this country will grow between 10-15%. Nigeria is blessed with an array of sharp, intelligent and creative young people that can turn around the economy of this country if only we can get the energy challenge right. Sir, but South Africa has a lot of auto plants, what are you doing to ensure auto companies establish their plants in Nigeria even if it is just to assemble them? Look, I have told you there is no business man that sees a very good opportunity to make money that will be afraid of investing. The thing is that if the issue of basic infrastructure is not solved like power, investors would continue to avoid the place. I decided to invest here because it is my country. But if another country is like this and you want me to go and do my auto business there, I won’t agree. I have an assembly, but it’s not a matter of just having something, sustainability is the key, because many assembly plants in Nigeria have failed. Mine is in Lagos to fulfill all righteousness. What would you say is the real thing that most influenced and kept you going? First and foremost, whatever I am today is by the special grace of God. I have a relationship with God and I trust in Him. Again, I work very hard. I am also very calculative and careful with whatever I do. More so, I am a very truthful person and I am not wasteful or extrava-

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gant. In business, you must be careful not to eat into your capital, one must learn to plough back part of your earnings into the business to grow and sustain it. I don’t cut corners. I had a terrible experience sometime around 1978 when I tried to cut corners as a result of increase in tariff by the Federal Government. The increment came in December and the vehicles were to come out in January and it was a loan that was

secured to do the business and we have to pay back as at and when due to avoid further charges. Meanwhile, we were not able to clear the vehicles at the port due to the high tariff. So I did what I had never done, which is dancing to the tune of the custom officers to the tune of N250,000. At that time, a Toyota Corolla was N750 naira (not N750,000). So I went to withdraw the money. In fact, taking the money

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Interview

from the bank alone was enough problem as I had never handled such huge cash in my life, I was looking right, left and centre whether somebody has seen me putting the money in my car and following me. Luckily, we got to the port without any incident and the officer asked us to park next to his car, but because of space, I parked at another car space with so much anxiety that almost increased my blood pressure. But the man came and without

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any sense of trepidation or even respect for the money, took the money and threw it carelessly into the boot of his car and slammed it. I expected the man to respect the money considering the volume. That night I couldn’t sleep. In fact, throughout the year I was never at peace, it was as if something sinister was going to happen. Each time I saw the police, whether at a party or on the road, it was like they were looking for me that I did something

wrong. It took close to a year before I managed to overcome the fear and guilt. Since then I made up my mind never to cut corners again. That is me; I’m sure if it were some of you that had that encounter, your reaction will be different. But I thank God for what I have been able to achieve, my mind is at peace and I don’t fear that somebody is coming to my house and of course I fear God. A lot has been said about you being a

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Interview great dancer, what is your best kind of music and who is your favourite musician? There is no music I can’t dance to, but of course I love KSA music, I just love dancing; it has been part of me since my elementary school days. You are the Chairman of Club 38, what is it about? Club 38 is simply an association of those of us that were born in 1938. Our business is simply to enjoy together, felicitate with one another and do things together. I am the current chairman and all of us will be 80 at the end of this year. Obviously you are a Christian, how did you come about embracing Christianity? I was born into a Christian family. I was born in The Apostolic Church, Ilara-Mokin. My mother used to attend early morning prayers at the sound of the bell at 5.30am at the Apostolic Church. You know I once told you my mother, at a point, left my father’s house to reside at her mother’s compound due to some ugly developments. But apart from being born in the Apostolic Church and my mum attending the Apostolic Church, it is on record that the first Anglican Church in my town started in my grandfather’s house; that was where they used to hold their prayer meetings. So, you can see that I was introduced to Christianity and prayers from childhood such that growing up, it became part of me. It is just like what the Bible said about “training up a child in the way of the Lord so that when he is old he will not depart from it;” I just could not stray away from the path of God. I usually consult with God before I embark on any project. I have fully enjoyed the grace and faithfulness of God all my life. That is why I have made my children to know God, they must pray early in the morning and before they sleep, it’s just a matter of growing up with it. I was so involved in church activities. I was a chorister in the church. In fact, I cannot but appreciate God in everything I am today. It is part of the reason we started annual thanksgiving every January in my country home at Ilara-Mokin about 15 years ago. I believe that each year God should be appreciated in our lives and in our work.

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As a philanthropist, how many lives have you positively affected? First, I thank God for the opportunity and capacity to touch lives. The truth is that I have touched many lives positively both in my home town, my late wife’s town and outside; I have lost count of the number of people. My philanthropic disposition started since my secondary school days. Before I concluded my secondary education, I ensured that another person from my town was admitted into that secondary school. A boy asked me to get the form for him, and I did and when he came for the entrance exam he put up with me and I coached him that night, addressing likely examination questions and as God would have it, the questions came as if I was privy to them and the boy passed the exam. So, technically I replaced myself in that school. Also, when I was at the School of Agre, Akure, I encouraged a friend to riculture, join mee in the school, though he didn’t lete the course. Again, when t complete I was att the University of Nigeria, a, I equally encouraged the Nsukka, erson to join me. When same person d CFAO, I encouraged I joined ther to buy one of the my brother vehicless and I helped him with part of the money. I wanted to be a medical doctor initially, but I couldn’t make it, but I made itt possible for my brother to edical doctor. When I was be a medical P, I encouraged our boys with BP, at in almost every BP filling such that station, there was at least a vulcanat is from Ilara-Mokin izer that 991, I instituted Ade.Ojo ScholIn 1991, arship fund and it is still in operation till today which a lot of people from my town tside are still benefitting from. and outside ver I am working, I make sure one Wherever person from my home town is engaged in ace. When I started my business, I that place. started with two Ilara-Mokin indigenes. oday, I cannot tell how many they As at today, ave fixed Ilara- Mokin indiare. I have n different companies, genes in ment institutions government using my friends and ss partners. In business

my late wife’s home town, Imesi-Ile, we instituted a scholarship scheme which is still running till today despite the fact that she died about 25 years ago; I still pay N500,000 into the scholarship account every year. I have positively touched a lot of lives that I have not even met. It has been the grace of God. In this part of the world, we notice a lot of people run away from their communities for fear of witchcraft, have you ever nursed such fears at any point? Yes, I once had such fears. But I thank God that I eventually overcame it. I told myself that I must free myself from that bondage, that after all, I’m a Christian and Jesus said He has overcome the world, that I cannot be running away from my father’s house. With that mindset, I decided to damn any consequence and having gone home and returned without any issue, I contin continued going home ilt my till I bui built first

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Interview I was born into poverty. Through the grace of God and His inspiration I have been able to change my family dynamics and my environment for the better. Poverty is not permanent, so is wealth.

house in Ilara in 1979; that was how I killed that fear. How can we kill corruption in Nigeria? I know my mind, but I don’t know yours. As for me, I hate lies, but that might not be the situation with every other person. I simply face my business, other things don’t appeal to me, but then I cannot leave alone, what affects you to some extent affects me. That is why we all have to be concerned about the scourge of corruption. To be candid, I don’t think we are serious about fighting corruption. Corruption is not about only those who collect, it is also about those who give. When you give, you are encouraging the one that is taking. It is even wider than giving and taking. Fighting corruption is not only about mindset, it is about everybody playing his or her role in society well. But

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I also think the

was late Agagu (former Ondo State Governor) that commissioned it on the same day we laid the foundation of Elizade Polytechnic. I am very happy that I have been able to put a smile on the faces of many people in my community and beyond. I want to be remembered as one person that believe in God and served God till his death.

government needs to be more serious and strategic about fighting corruption.

What is your advice to Nigerians? The first thing I will advise is that we need to be closer to God, I don’t mean just going to Church or Mosque or being religious. Also, people need to know that money is not the end of life; there are values that supersede money. We need to be law-abiding and justice-oriented citizens if we want this country to know peace. Finally, we must fight for our rights; not fighting for your rights is the easiest way to die.

What would you want to be remembered for? I want to be remembered for the transformation I brought to my community, Ilara-Mokin. I want it to be said that there was one Adeniyan (that’s my middle name which means there is no doubt that I will be crowned) who transformed the village to a modern city through the various projects that he brought to the community. For the records, in 2005, I tarred the whole road network in Ilara-Mokin, spending over two hundred and five million naira. It

What I like to be remembered for I was born into poverty. Through the grace of God and His inspiration I have been able to change my family dynamics and my environment for the better. Poverty is not permanent, so is wealth. They both interchange according to man’s effort and the grace of the ALMIGHTY GOD. Work and Pray.

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Memory Lane

1979 Opening of Elizade, Ogba

Chief Michael Ade. Ojo in 1961

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Chief Ade. Ojoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother, Beatrice Ojo

1961: Chief Ade. Ojo with Otunmba Isijola www.realitylifeng.com

Chief Ade. Ojo at 70

Chief Ade. Ojo with his Late wife, Elizabeth

In 1999 on the ocassion of his conferment with an honourary Doctorate degree Chief Ade. Ojo at 70 www.realitylifeng.com

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Chief Ade. Ojo with his late wife and the family

Chief Ade. Ojo with his late wife Elizabeth

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Chief Ade. Ojo with wifeTaiwo

Chief Ade. Ojo with business partners

Chief Ade. Ojo with little children www.realitylifeng.com

Chief Ade. Ojo with partners from TMC (Africa Division)

Chief Ade. Ojo with his twins

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Health

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He Is A Man With Incredible Virtues

- Barr. Ayodeji Omotoso

lawyer, Mr. Ayodeji Omotoso has described Chief Michael Ade. Ojo as a man endowed with incredible virtues that stand him out among equals, explaining that he is an embodiment of everything good for proper human .relations. According to him, “Chief Ade. Ojo is

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a very patient, generous, kindhearted, honest, simple and interesting person; he is a man of integrity who would guard against anything that is capable of tarnishing his good name. As a human being, he is capable of being offended, but the great thing about him is that he is not given to begrudging people; he will tell you how he feels about you should

you let him down or disappoint him, and the next time he sees you it is forgotten completely. “In fact, he is a very good example of how to relate with people. Also, he believes so much in the youth; you wouldn’t believe the number of young people that he entrusts with his business interests and responsibilities. Though it is true that

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Accolades

Chief is very simple, but the point must also be made that he is very thorough, tenacious and firm. “I think that more than anything else, one has to understand his business principles. Again, he has a way of motivating people that work with him through a system of rewards for hard work, essentially when you make transactions that add good value to his businesses; you cannot feel cheated when it comes to Chief Ade. Ojo.” He said that barely four years after he was called to the Bar in 1989, he met Chief Ade.Ojo, and was surprised that in spite of him being relatively younger than Chief Ade. Ojo in terms of age and experience, he never questioned his experience, character and competence to deliver. “One thing that gives me great joy and satisfaction working with Chief is that he has never at any point questioned my experience, character, competence and capacity to deliver. His attitude to those that work with him is that the moment you are able to prove your ability to deliver, he gives you more tasks and the more you surmount them, the more he gives you higher and even more sensitive assignments and responsibilities.

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“That is how the progression has been since we started. He has trusted me with commercial transactions of great magnitude in terms of money and sensitivity. I feel great and highly honoured to have known Chief Ade. Ojo and for a great relationship with him; to be entrusted with the kind of responsibilities that he has continued to entrust me with, acting more or less as his personal lawyer.” Omotoso said that his long-standing relationship with Chief Ade. Ojo has provided him the opportunity to learn a lot about the enigma especially his life style, admitting that the philanthropist is extremely frugal when it comes to spending money, and is neither wasteful nor extravagant. “I have been with him prior to the formation of Toyota Nigeria Limited and I remember the early days of Toyota when things were extremely tight financially, how very meticulously he and his board were overseeing the finances of the company. Even now that the company has grown and the finances improved, he has remained a very wise and careful spender and that is one of the reasons that Toyota Nigeria Limited and other of his businesses have recorded huge successes, because the management has imbibed this fundamental principle. “Interestingly too, even his son who heads the company today, Mr. Kunle Ade. Ojo has fully imbibed the culture of careful spending. Another thing I have learnt from Chief is that he is not frivolous be it in utterances or disposition. He is very hard working and goal driven. He gives quality attention to both his family and businesses. More importantly, he is very humble but at the same time highly principled. He has always said ”that when you take care of the pennies, the pounds would sort themselves out.” The Commercial law expert further described Chief Ade. Ojo as a very calm person, very thorough and meticulous, claiming that the issues he usually has with him are perhaps the burden of work he gives and his dislike for not paying attention to details. “For instance, if you spell his name wrongly or make a few typographical errors, he would call you and ask why you

could not spell his name correctly after several years of being with him or why there are errors in what you have written. If you then go the way of argument that it was a typographical error, then you have worsened the matter, because he will tell you that you owe it a duty to carefully go through whatever you have written. “In fact, there are things you just don’t argue with him about, because you would only escalate the issue, all you need do is apologize to him and you would have disarmed him immediately. He does not bear grudges no matter how much you let him down. The moment you accept your mistake and he forgives you, the next time you see him it would seem as if nothing ever happened before,” he noted. Omotosho prayed that God would give Chief Ade. Ojo the grace to live long, enjoy good health, continue to flourish and live well as he has always done. “I wish him all of God’s blessings and that he will be rewarded for all the good works that he has done for people. For everything he has done wrong, I pray that God would have mercy on him and his family. After all, he is a human being and it is not unlikely that he might have done one thing or the other that would either offend God or humans or both. I also pray that God grants every of his good wishes,” he prayed.

I have been with him prior to the formation of Toyota Nigeria Limited and I remember the early days of Toyota when things were extremely tight ﬁnancially, how very meticulously he and his board were overseeing the ﬁnances of the company

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Accolades

MY HUSBAND IS A WONDERFUL MAN, MY CONFIDANT AND A MAN WITH A HEART OF GOLD The stunning wife of Chief Ade. Ojo tells us about her indefatigable and lovely husband, and describes him as a wonderful man, her confidant and a man with a heart of gold Can We Meet You Ma? My name is Mrs. Taiwo Ade. Ojo the wife of Chief Michael Ade. Ojo How Would You Describe Your Husband My husband is a wonderful man, my confidant and a man with a heart of gold, he is a thorough man. How Does Your Husband Relax He plays golf whenever he wants to cool off. He is also a good dancer, and he dances to unwind and he also go vacation. Do You Work And How Do You Cope With A Towering Figure Like Chief Ade. Ojo? Of course I work. I work as a procurement manager at Elizade. I have been trying my best to cope with him especially, knowing full well that he has eyes for details. WHAT ARE IS BEST MEAL AND WHY DOES HE LIKE THEM

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Accolades Before it was beans but beans but at the moment he loves plantain flour and Okro soup. What Are The Morals That You Have Learnt From Him I have learn a lot from him, ranging from hard work, honesty, integrity and God-fearing above all. Do You Have Any Age Disparity I think Age is a number, we relate very well and communication is perfect. Communication is paramount in every marriage and ours is a marriage with mutual respect and communication. I respect him as my hero and he reciprocates without bringing his age into play. So, there is no age disparity How Do You Cope With Your Husband’s Business Time Because Everybody Describes Him As A Working Man? One aspect that you cannot take away from Chief is that he works round the clock. Understanding is key and we understand each other very well. So I cope very well because he has groomed me. How Would You Describe His Life Style And Where You Able To Fit In? He can best be described as good man; he is industrious, he is a soldier of Christ, he is a socialite but more business inclined and I perfectly fit into his lifestyle. What Would You Say Is Your Most Memorable Experience? That was when I had my twins. I had waited for years without child yet, he stood by me even despite the fact that he had older children. Most men always think that because they have other children, there is no cause for worries but in his case, it was different. He felt that my joy would be incomplete without having children. So, he stood by me, he prayed with me and encouraged me and when I had my twins, he was overjoyed. What Will You Say To Him Now That He Has Turned 80? I will say he should continue to be good as he has always been, keep serving his God and try to have some rest because he has paid his dues.

He is unassuming and quiet. His honesty, love for humanity, charisma, humility, resilience and hardworking spirit endeared me to him. He is unassuming and quiet.

His honesty, love for humanity, charisma, humility, resilience and hardworking spirit endeared me to him. He is unassuming and quiet. He doesn’t like attracting media attention regardless of his social status. I love him for who he is. We Heard From The Press That You Were His Secretary, How Did You Meet Him? I was never his secretary. We met at the Governor’s office at Akure. Your Wishes For Him? I wish him many happy returns of the day and long life in good health and prosperity, God will continue to bless him, protect him and the children also grant him a lifetime of joy, peace and happiness.

What Endeared You To Him?

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HE VALUES HIS GOOD NAME MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE - Dangote

Business mogul and Chairman/CEO of Dangote Group of Companies, ALHAJI ALIKO DANGOTE says in the following interview that he has great respect for Chief Michael Ade. Ojo because of the exceptional qualitiesâ&#x20AC;Ś..

How long have you known Chief Michael Ade. Ojo and what is your relationship with him? I have known him for quite some years now but we began close interactions about 23 years ago when we started buying cars from his company for our own operations. I have very high respect for him. He is somebody who is consistent and focused in his business; he does not dabble into irrelevant things. He is a very great person and I

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have great respect for him. How would you describe his person? Chief Ade. Ojo is a very wonderful and great person. He is one person that most of us that truly know him respect very highly. He is a very straight-forward person. He is also one person who enjoys giving others from what God has blessed him with. For example, the university that he established, Elizade

University is not a project that he intends to make profit from, it is more or less for the benefit of the people of his community and Nigerians as a whole. His level of philanthropy is exceptional and he is well respected for that. Have you any memorable experience with him? My memorable experiences with Chief Ade. Ojo have to do with his ability to negotiate deals. Any time

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Accolades want to buy cars and we are involved in negotiation, despite his enormous wealth, he would negotiate patiently and painstakingly as if his life depends on it. In fact, he is a very good negotiator with very highly specialized and incredible negotiating skills. Are there some morals you can recommend that people should learn from him?

Oh sure! One of the moral values that Chief Ade. Ojo has to his credit and which is very critical to the survival of business and relationship is integrity. He has so much regard for his name even more than money or any other thing. You would hardly hear anything negative about him. I can tell you for certain that a lot of people have very high regard for him as a result of his unparalleled integrity. He is

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also very humble and hard working. I am very sure that going forward, the greatest asset that he is going to bequeath to his children is this unquantifiable asset of integrity, because I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see him getting involved in any form of scandal. What would be your advice and wishes for him at 80? My word of advice for him is that the level God has brought him is a point at which he should enjoy more and work less and therefore, he should try and take more vacations than ever before and do less day to day running of the business as he has always done. I am not oblivious of the fact that the

day to day activities that he does actually contribute to keeping him active and lively and such, I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t advise him to withdraw from work totally, but I am only recommending a reduction of the workload and busy schedule. I wish him a very happy 80th birthday in good health with long life, Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s continuous blessing and protection. I pray he celebrates his 100th birthday hale and hearty.

One of the moral values that Chief Ade. Ojo has to his credit and which is very critical to the survival of business and relationship is integrity.

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HUMILITY IS THE FOUNDATION OF HIS INTEGRITY - PROF. ANYA

Founding Director General of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group and a good friend of Chief Ade. Ojo, PROFESSOR ANYA O. ANYA in this interview extols the virtues of Chief Ade. Ojo, insisting that those virtues have set him apart from the common………

ow long have you known him and what is your relationship like?

Like I already said, I was a staff of the University of Nigeria for 36 years. As at the time I came in as a staff, Chief Ade. Ojo had left as a student. What brought us together eventually was his unparalleled passion and support for the University of Nigeria; it drew my attention to him. When they were trying to organize the Alumni Association, he was so prominent contrary to what many of us would ordinarily expect of a hardcore Yoruba man from Ondo State. At least we have the University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife and University of Lagos, but he chose to come to University of Nigeria, that was very unusual let alone making it his own project. In fact, I became very proud of him from that point. When I became the Director General of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, the emphasis of my life shifted from the sciences where I trained and lectured successfully both nationally and internationally and for which I have received the highest honour in Nigeria, the MON, which is the highest honour Nigeria gives to intellectuals and which the law that sets it up says it’s equivalent to GCFR and GCON, to the challenge to build up the Nigeria Economic summit Group which meant giving attention to the economic issues in Nigeria. In this wise, the contact I already had with Chief Ade .Ojo

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on the platform of the University of Nigeria

became strengthened, because he was

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Accolades and is still a major player in the economic sphere of the country. He was one of those personalities that I interacted with to get the idea of what was happening in the economy and from there our relationship grew stronger.

How would you describe his person? He is a unique person and personality; he is the type that pursues whatever he believes in with so much passion and gives total loyalty as he did to the University of Nigeria. You can see this play out even in his businesses. Many people have been involved in selling of vehicles in Nigeria before Chief Ade. Ojo came with Toyota, but because of his unique touch, it not only became such an important brand in Nigeria but more importantly he used it to lay a foundation for auto technology for the Nigerian automobile industry. Whatever he does, rather than

run away from the challenges of the sector, he confronts them headlong and that accounts for his huge successes in practically everything he does as we can see in Toyota Nigeria Limited and the latest giant stride of building Elizade University, an institution that stands out and the international golf resort in his home town. So you can’t ignore him, how he does this I don’t know but we keep on praying for him so he can go on from success to success and what is more, which is what is unique about him, he is always working to develop human capacity in the sense that he keeps training people who will succeed him. And in doing that, he is institutionalizing various ventures he has been involved in and that is what has been missing in Nigeria. We do not pay enough attention to leadership and to succession planning, but these are some of the things Chief Ade. Ojo has done and very successfully too without making noise about them. And if you look at other big companies that are successful in the world just like Toyota, you would find that the secret of their successes is more a function of their internal mechanism and changes. You would notice that the Toyota of the 1960s is not the same as the ones of the 1980s. In the same manner, the ones of 1980s and 2000 are not the same just as the ones of 2000 and 2018 are not the same. Internal changes are what make you competitive all the time and I think he has full understanding of this principle and he is applying it both in his businesses and other things he is doing for his community. What I find special about Chief Ade. Ojo is the fact that despite all his achievements, he is always very humble and respectful. When we got to know each other, I was a teacher and he has already left as a graduate of the university, but anytime we meet, he is always so respectful. Well, you might say the Yorubas are culturally trained to be respectful, but the truth is that his level of respect and humility comes so naturally and effortlessly that I doubt if it is just an issue of being a Yoruba man. I also want to believe that it is part of his success. It is one of the things that make him a unique leader, because leaders who are not humble always end up propagating and projecting themselves and at the end, they achieve little or nothing.

What would you recall as your most memorable moment with him? The most memorable and remarkable

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encounter I had with him which I believe he will not remember was at the staff club of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. It was the period he was running around to build the Alumni Association. On that day, they just had a meeting and a few of them came to the staff club which was where some of us always resorted after a busy day. And as soon as I was introduced to him, the man almost prostrated on the floor. It was not as if the difference in age between us is much; it is just one year difference between us. But the way he did it attracted my attention and respect , and that was what even made me to want to know a bit more about him. How he could be that self-effacing at that time even with all the wealth at his disposal was for me quite a surprise.

What are the morals that you feel people could learn from him? The man is extremely humble. Humility is the foundation of his integrity. And the truth of the matter is that he has succeeded as a businessman because of his honesty; he cannot cheat you. And if there is a business deal that didn’t quite go as planned, he will be the first to tell the other party and he would be prepared to take the loss rather than the other party. I know a friend who had an experience with Toyota and they took it to the Ikeja branch. And apparently he was visiting when they brought it there, and by the time they told him what the issue was, he told them to fix it and he didn’t charge for it. A lot of other businessmen would ordinarily think of what they would make from it. I wasn’t there when it happened; it was the person who benefitted from it that told me. These are some of the morals that he is known for that I would advise the younger generation to learn from.

What is your advice and wish for him at 80? I believe God has been very kind to him and he has been faithful to God too. So, I would advise that he keep that good relationship with God and at the same time continue the good works he has been doing to humanity so that he can continue to be a role model; that’s one of the things the country needs now. I welcome him to the club of old statesmen. But the most important thing is that he is joining this club still fully in control of his faculties and with a sound health which is a gift from God. I wish him good fortunes and God’s grace in this second and challenging part of life.

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Accorlades

I Wish Him The Best That Life Can Oﬀer - Ajagunna Olugbadebo Williams

It is often said that you can know a good tree by its fruits. I have no doubt that the founder of Elizade University is a great man as virtually everybody that knows him has said. To have put this wonderful institution up and with the kind of giant strides they are making, one can only say God should continue to see him through. Moreover, he is going to be 80 years old, I wish him the best that life can ever offer.”

We Appreciate His Vision For Elizade University -Elizabeth Ajagunna 2018 best graduating student of Elizade University and a graduate of Hotel Management and Hospitality, Elizabeth Adebimpe Ajagunna is excited to have graduated from Elizade University and was full of thanks for the founder of the Citadel of learning, Chief Ade. Ojo for the great vision and the state of the art facilities that he has provided for people like her to be trained with. “I feel excited and I give glory to God for everything. I thank God who made it possible for me to work hard enough to attain such a record and I thank all my lecturers who gave their best to bring out the best in me. thank God for my parents for being there for me all the way and I also thank the founder of the University, for the great vision and the state of the art facilities that he has provided for people like me to be trained with,” an excited Ajagunna who is also a serving youth corps member in Umuahia, Abia State, said. She wished Chief Ade. Ojo a wonderful celebration and prayed that God would preserve his life to accomplish every good work he has started and to enjoy everything he has worked for in good health.

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CHIEF IS A GREAT MAN WITH EXCELLENT SPIRIT - Adebayo

A professor of Royal Development Communication at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Professor Kolawole Adebayo has said that every engagement he has had with Chief Michael Ade. Ojo was a source of joy.

“O

ur relationship largely is a function of Elizade University and Elizade Farms. I was inspired by his determination to go back to farming despite being a huge success in the automobile industry, the leading distributor of Toyota vehicles in our country at that. “As a professor of agriculture, I felt I could add value to that drive. Moreover, Elizade University is in the process of selecting a Vice Chancellor and I know that private universities are slightly different from government universities in that they require people with a kind of orientation that could ensure sound management and sustainability of the dream and vision of the founder, which is part of the things that actually brought us together.” Professor Adebayo described Chief Ade. Ojo as a great man with excellent spirit, great vision, determination and passion for people and excellence. “I have high respect for his person and character. He is a very friendly person. He is one man who is deter-

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mined to leave the world a better place than he met it,” he said. Professor Adebayo who is also the Director, Grounds Management of the University, and leader of the Cassava Bring Value for Africa Project further described Chief Ade. Ojo as a man of enviable character and moral uprightness, very hardworking and disciplined and a delight to be with. While expressing surprise that at 80, Chief Ade. Ojo still looks strong and plays his favourite golf game, Professor Adebayo said “One can only wish him well and pray God to grant him good health, preserve his life and give him the grace to accomplish the great legacy that he is trying to leave in the education sector. I wish him Happy Birthday, happiness and fruitful enjoyment of all his labour.”

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Chief Ade. Ojo Is Always Looking Forward To Helping People

-Bunmi Balogun

MRS. BUNMI BALOGUN is the Secretary to Chief Michael Ade. Ojo. She joined Elizade in 2002 but started working directly with Chief Ade.Ojo in 2004 till this moment. She shares her experience with the Octogenarian in this brief interview….

an you tell us something about Chief Ade. Ojo? Chief Michael Ade. Ojo is a father; he is someone that everybody would love to work with, a man worthy of emulation. Though it is not easy to work with him because of his crave for perfection which could make him shout at you sometimes, especially when you do not get things right, but you will learn so many things from him. There can never be a dull moment when you work with him, he is a very busy person. He is very hard working, and I have learnt that from him and many other things. At his age, his brain is still magnetic, he remembers almost everything. Daddy is a great philanthropist that is always looking forward to helping people whether you are his relation or not. He has

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given many people that are neither his relations nor his kinsmen scholarship; he donates generously to orphanages and the rest. What memorable experiences do you have about him that you can share with us? They are many, but one that thrilled me was when his wife, Mrs. Taiwo Ade. Ojo gave birth to twins when he was 75. He called me from the UK and said my wife has given birth not just to one, but twins at my age of 75. It was such an exciting moment. What are those things that Baba detests and the ones he appreciates? He hates a situation in which he would give you an assignment and you don’t do it on time; he detests sluggishness. He also frowns at lies; it will profit you more to tell him

the truth about your inadequacies and then apologize than tell him lies. But he likes people that are smart, hardworking and honest. You will enjoy working with him when you are smart, hardworking and honest. What will be your advice to him? My advice to him is that he should begin to take things easy; he should try to slow down his pace of hard work and find more time to relax more than ever before. What are you wishing him at 80? I congratulate him on his 80th birthday and I am wishing him long life, good health, peace of mind and God’s divine protection from every form of evil. Chief Ade. Ojo puts food on the table of many families, I wish him continuous prosperity.

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He Has Passion for Excellence

- Akin Ojebode

In the last 20 years, AKIN OJEBODE has been working with Elizade Nigeria Limited. He is the General Manager (Marketing) of the company, having formerly worked as the company’s Port Harcourt branch manager covering the South East and South-South. He was also at a point branch manager covering all the northern states. He shares his experiences working with Baba Ade. Ojo...

ow would you describe Chief Michael Ade. Ojo? In one word, he is an enigma. He is a man with passion for excellence and who wants others to succeed. He is so kind-hearted and people-oriented person. One very easy way of winning his heart is to do your job well. When you bring sales that are profitable, you win his heart. Has he ever fallen out with you at any point and if so, how was it resolved? I can’t remember him ever falling out with me. But one thing I know about him very well is that when you are unable to bring sales, he will frown at you and warn you to buckle up. If you don’t, then you are not his friend. What is that memorable moment with

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him that you can recall? One day I will never forget is the day I sold the first car in the first month of my working here and he gave me an award. Another one was that six months after I sold 18 units, Baba came down from his office on the third floor to the first floor to give me a good handshake; it was a presidential handshake for me. There was another day I made an LPO for about 333 units of vehicles and he called me again to congratulate me. These were very memorable experiences. What moral values have you gained from your being with him? From Baba, I have learnt the values of hard work, honesty, uprightness, believing in people, giving everybody a chance and being content.

What is your advice for him? I honestly would have said he should slow down, but my worry is that it is already a part of him. And when men who are so active decide to slow down, it affects some of them negatively. I think he should try to balance work with rest. At this his level, work should be done as pleasure. Again, he should not relent in the good works of helping people that he has been known for. What are you wishing him on his 80th birthday? I wish him nothing but the best. I wish him longer life, strength and good health. I pray that God will continue to protect him, keep his family and give him peace that passes all human understanding.

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Accolades

His Honesty Reflects In Both His Business And Private Life

-Olowokande

or over 35 years, Clement Adekunle Olowokande has known Chief Michael Ade. Ojo whom he has within this period of time seen as a man of exemplary qualities, a devout Christian, an honest man, kind-hearted, generous, disciplined, hardworking, and a man worthy of emulation. “He is one person that hates lies and cheating. He is a very honest man and it reflects both in his business and private life. He is a godly man, with absolute

self-control. When he tells you yes on any issue, you can confidently go to bed unperturbed. I have gained so much from him in that regard,” he said. Olowokande noted that the only thing that could make Chief Ade. Ojo angry is when one lie to him and still want to defend that lie. “But if you confess the truth, he is the forgiving type. We have never had any disagreement that I can think of and in any case, there shouldn’t be any need for us to disagree when we can tell each other the truth about ourselves. He is a peace-loving man.”

As Chief Ade. Ojo marks his 80th birthday, Olowokande thanks God for his life and the new age but advising him to reduce his work gear slightly and increase the leisure gear a little bit. “My prayer for him is that God will give him the grace to enjoy many more years on earth in good health, peace of the Lord, the grace to continue to bless humanity with what God has blessed him with, because it is one thing to be blessed and it is another thing to bless others. May God grant him the heart to continue to serve Him,” he prayed.

Cross Sectio of the Staff of Toyoto (Niig.) Ltd.

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Working With Chief Ade. Ojo Was Like Going To Life School - Adedina

Provost and CEO, Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, Ondo State, DR. ADEOLA ADEDINA, a specialist in Agronomy and also a certified agricultural value chain trainer from Grand University of Applied Science, Switzerland. He started his career from the school where he is currently leading and happened to be the first alumnus to be the provost of the college. He lets us into his relationship with Chief Ade. Ojo……

ow well do you know Chief Ade. Ojo and what is your relationship with him? Chief Michael Ade. Ojo is more or less an institution. I have been hearing about him long before I met him in 2004 as a Senior Lecturer that was involved in farm management at that time. He had issues with his farm and he also wanted to expand the farm and somebody recom-mended me to him. Do not forget he iss also a household name in the automobile industry, though not many people are aware he is also a farmer. Our records reveal that he is one of the pioneer students in the Federal College of Agric, Akure. We have a very cordial working relationship. Working with him was like going to a life school. If I told you that I have been n with somebody since 2004 as a Senior Lecturer and that today I am a provost and I am still around that person, then there must be something special about him. He is a man of different parts and qualities; first he is a father to everyonee around him, we call him Baba, and he is is a symbol of hard work and integrity. He treasures the youth, values professionalism and loves to bring out the best in people around him. When I gave him my plan for his farm in 2004, he looked at it and said I am sure you can do it and that word “you can do it” followed me from then till date. He wass the first person that gave me that kind of assuring confidence in myself. He is

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the type that duly rewards you for every good effort. One interesting and pleasantly shocking thing he did for me was that at the foundation laying ceremony of Elizade University, he spoke glowingly of me before Kings, Governors and very important dignitaries from all walks of life. He does not look down on anybody no matter your age and status. He inspires, encourages and motivates. When I became Wh became Provost of my school, Baba paid me a visit to congratulate me, took a tour of the institution to know if I was doing well and d he encouraged me. The most shocking moment was when he called one day and asked if I was at home, that he was close to myy house, that he w was as ccomom-om ing to my house which he actually did. I had to start dusting and arranging a few things and a

few minutes later he arrived and spent some time with me and encouraged me. Despite the fact that I was no longer working with him because of my new position, he still did not forget me. I learnt prudence, cost benefit (you must show the profit of anything you are proposing to do) and how to reward hardworking staff from him. If Baba is convinced that you have done a job p well, even if it is at 1.00 am, he will pa payy y u immediately even if it means payyo you ing with his personal cheque. He is very companionate and always gives p ople a listening ear. pe people What are yyour wishes for him at 80? for I wish him long life, good health, extra-ordinary strength to continue his good works and inspire us t e more to sustain th the the many legacies that he has set. Mayy God grant g ant him gr the gr grac acee to the grace enjoy the benefit of his good works. go good

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He Is A Man Who Loves God And Good Things

- Alara of Ilara -Mokin

aving been together for decades, His Royal Majesty, Oba Biodun Aderemi Adegbeti Agekore, the Alara of Ilara Mokin may well be described as the man who knows Chief Michael Ade. Ojo inside out. Besides sitting on the throne for over 20 years and counting, they both attended the same primary school. Oba Agekore still remembers with fond memories a prophetic statement he said Chief Ade. Ojo made a very long time ago, when they were much younger, where he said that “if he became prosperous, he would touch the lives of his people positively. “Today, that’s exactly what he has been doing. What a man of destiny!” “We thank God for his life today, he is a King maker. He has put the name of llara-Mokin on the world map through the establishment of Elizade University and the world class Golf Course. He could have established them in Abuja or Lagos but for the love he has for Ilara-Mokin.

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He is a great philanthropist; he started long ago, giving scholarship to both secondary and university students. “He started business in 1971 and he has been doing this since 1972 with his late wife, Elizabeth Wuraola Ade. Ojo; he is a great treasure to Ilara-Mokin. That is why the people of Ilara-Mokin gave him the title of “Aremo kunrin” which means first son of the town. He was also bestowed with the title of Aare Atayese of Ilara-Mokin He also got a title from his late wife’s place and many others. He is a knight of the Methodist Church,” the Oba noted. Recalling how Chief Ade. Ojo began building his business empire, Oba Agekore who also is a chartered accountant noted that the Octogenarian is one man who started from a very humble beginning, explaining why he is called “Atapata dide”, which means ‘he took off from a poor background.’ “During festival period, because he had nothing to wear, he would wear his mother’s ‘buba’ and use something to tie it because the sleeve was too long for him. But today, as a very serious minded

fellow, he has made a name for himself and Ilara-Mokin. Now every weekend you have important people coming here to play Golf,” the Oba recalls. Coming from the same family - the Olamilohon family, which happens to be the first family to embrace Christianity in Ilara-Mokin, and of course, the first family to bring cocoa products to Ilara-Mokin, Oba Agekore stated that Chief Ade. Ojo supported him greatly during his ascendance to the throne of Oba of Ilara-Mokin, because of his love for his people, remarking that while Chief Ade. Ojo attended the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, he (Oba Agekore) attended the University of Lagos, yet he was the person that introduced him to Association of Ilara People then, now Egbe Omo Ilara-Mokin. On the best way to describe Chief Ade. Ojo, Oba Agekore said, “He is a man whose heart is after excellence, he does not settle for less, you can see that in his dressing. He is a very good dancer. He is a Christian to the core who loves God and good things. If you entered the St. Michael Anglican Church, Ilara-Mokin,

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Accolades On the best way to describe Chief Ade. Ojo, Oba Agekore said, “He is a man whose heart is after excellence, he does not settle for less, you can see that in his dressing. He is a very good dancer. He is a Christian to the core who loves God and good things. If you entered the St. Michael Anglican Church, Ilara-Mokin, you would see it is a very beautiful place. He is one of the hands behind it.”

you would see it is a very beautiful place. He is one of the hands behind it.” As a brother and friend, the Alara of Ilara-Mokin has a word of advice for Chief Ade. Ojo: “He should take things easy and find more time to rest. Good enough, he has children who are well brought up and who can and have been handling his businesses well. So he should gradually disembark from his usual workaholic orientation. He should hold on to God and continue his good works to humanity.” As Chief Ade. Ojo turns 80, Oba Biodun Aderemi Adegbeti Agekero believes he has been blessed by God and therefore, wishes that “God continues to bless him, grant him the grace to live long enough in good health, enjoy peace and continue to keep his family to continue the good works of touching lives positively so that when the right time of the Lord eventually comes, he will never lose his mansion in heaven, but would join the saints to glorify God.”

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He wished Chief Ade. Ojo a happy 80th birthday celebration.

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Accolades

Chief Ade. Ojo Does Not Discriminate In Spite Of the Enormous Wealth He Has Made

-OLUSIJIOLA

OLUSAYO OLUSIJIOLA shares so many things in common with Chief Ade. Ojo. A childhood friend of Chief Ade. Ojo, they both started primary school together about 74 years ago. Like Chief Ade. Ojo, he is 80 years old, and was born and bred in Ilara-Mokin. In the following interview, he recalls how their growing up was and what distinguishes Chief Ade. Ojo from the pack…… How was growing up like? Like I already mentioned, we were school mates. We were always caught in the argument of who is older. While he was always claiming to be older, I was equally always claiming to be older than him. We were always fighting, he was a bit more huge and therefore, felt he could oppress me. We were and are still very good friends. He is a very transparent and lively person. We used to dance together, he liked dancing just like me. We were very friendly, his mother and mine were age mates. After our early education, we both left for Ibadan and rented apartments in the same compound. Though we have our separate rooms, we slept in each other’s room. Life then was great fun. One excellent thing about him was that he was a very neat young man and a very good Christian too. While he was going to the university, I went abroad. That was the only time we separated. You said his mother and yours were close, how did that add up to your relationship? He was lucky because he had older brothers while I was the only one having lost all brothers. My mother used to like his

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mother and her children. We grew up in the same area in Ilara-Mokin. The father died young like my own father, they were both average poor farmers who believed so much in education. Ade, as we used to call him, believed he could achieve anything by hard work and that is what brought him to where he is today. He was and is still very hard working. The only challenge with him then was that he never joked with his money; he was a very frugal spender. The closeness of our mothers helped in strengthening our friendship as they believed in our friendship. How would you describe his personality? Sir, Chief Ade. Ojo is a unique personality; he is very decent, clean and has high taste for quality such that when he wants to buy anything, he goes for the best. He is a very good family man who loves his wife and children. Also, he cherishes his friends, both old and new; he does not discriminate in spite of the fact that he has made money; he relates with everybody. Is there any memorable experience with him that you can remember? Yes, you do not joke with his girlfriend.

When we were at Ibadan, he will always tell me that if I tried anything stupid with his girlfriend, that he has a big palm and that he will squeeze my head. He was such an interesting person; we never had any quarrel since we left primary school. Any word of advice for him? Practically everything is working for him. All I will advise him is that, he should learn to take some time out to rest and to be more grateful to God than ever before, because many of us started together, but today we are only a few left. He should sustain the clean record. He is a good dancer and enjoys dancing. I will advise he dances to God always since we are closer to where we are going than where we are coming from. What are your wishes for him as he turns 80? I can only wish him the best that life has to offer. I wish him long life, good health, peace of God, and the grace to continue the good works he has been doing and to reap the benefit of every good he has done to humanity. I pray that the children that God has given him will outlive him and would do better than him in every area of life.

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Accolades

HE WILL CONTINUE TO EXCEL BECAUSE GOD IS INTERESTED IN HIS WORKS - Prof. Makanjuola

professor of psychiatry and former Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, Professor Roger Makanjuola has joined the world to celebrate Chief Ade. Ojo as he marks his 80th birthday, describing him as comely, very courteous, and disciplined, a very decent man who says and does what he believes in. Professor Makanjuola, who said he had known Chief Ade. Ojo for over 5 years, stated that the experiences he garnered knowing the philanthropist this number of years are basically built around the kind of support Chief Ade. Ojo has given to the University and to the foundation he is part of. On his relationship with Chief Ade. Ojo, the University don said: “He is one of the patrons of The Foundation for the Care and Resettlement of the mentally ill, which we formed in 2010. He has been extremely supportive of that foundation and I have great deal of respect for him for the commitment that he has towards anything he puts his hands. I am very impressed with the establishment of Elizade University against all odds and the efforts to get the best quality academic staff.” As Chief Ade. Ojo marks his 80th birthday, Professor Makanjuola advised him to keep doing the excellent work that he has started, assuring him that God is interested in his works and would give him the enablement to continue to excel. “I wish him many more years of highly successful life and congratulate him on all the achievements so far. I pray that God will give him the grace and all it takes to take the university to an enviable height. I wish him a wonderful 80th birthday,” he prayed for Chief Ade. Ojo.

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Golf

Smokin Hills Golf Resort: HOME OF ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES.

elcome to Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new premier golf resort Smokin Hills. . . home of endless possibilities for golfing and relaxation. A truly challenging course with world class features, waiting to be tamed by adventurous golfers. Located on the outskirt of the quiet town of Ilara mokin, 15 minutes from Akure the capital city of Ondo state. This new championship course has moved the golf capital of Nigeria to the ancient city of Ilara mokin. We are strategically situated in a beautifully endowed

Chief Ade, Ojo at the Golf Course

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Golf location where the golf course has been carefully carved out of 140 acres of surrounding jungle and rolling hills which emit smoke early in the morning and also at dawn to derive the name of the resort. Smokin Hills Golf resort is the leading endurance private golf course in Nigeria with standard facilities which includes a practice area, driving range and a Par 3 course for beginners. This is an 18 hole fully matured golf course built to the latest United States Professional Golf Association (P.G.A) standards. From the championship tees, the course measures a healthy 6510 meters and from the members tee, the course measures in at 6044 meters. With a course par of 72, there are two par 5’s each on both the front nine and back nine.

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The signature hole is number 16, a par 3 – 160 meters from the members tee over water to an island green – Golfers have compared this hole to No.17 in T.P.C. Sawgrass, United States. The golf course which is presently the biggest in Nigeria and proudly one of the most challenging in Africa, south of the sahara was designed by Ron Garl in 2010 and constructed by one of the top leading certified golf course builders in the world – Messers Total Golf Construction Company of Florida, U.S.A. At a cost of over Fifteen million dollars ($15M) with annual maintenance fee of One million dollars ($1M) It was opened for play in 2012. Management: General Manager, a renowned Irish born Landscape architect, Michael Ashe, Manager (Marketing and

Here the people are friendly, the food is local and the pace is what it should be – come and experience the people’s Nigeria and take a well earned breakaway from the hustle and bustle of city life.

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Golf Promotions) Prince Bayo Aderinto, a former Banker and seasoned golf administrator. Operations Manager - Mr. Niyi Fagbolagun.

ILARA MOKIN This is the hometown of Chief Michael Ade. Ojo – the founder, Elizade Nigeria Limited, Toyota Nigeria Limited, Elizade University. Smokin Hills is his vision to develop tourism in his area. He has successfully managed to blend a new modern international resort with the tranquil old world genuine African experience of Ilara–

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Mokin. Here the people are friendly, the food is local and the pace is what it should be – come and experience the people’s Nigeria and take a well earned breakaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. Presently, Smokin Hills Resort boasts of suitable accommodation at the Travellers Lodge with a total of 14 two-bedroom chalets, well furnished with kitchenette and internet facilities. A new 5 star hotel complete with swimming pools will provide world class accommodation to the 18-hole

championship course. This hotel will remain true to its African origins with the overall design and interiors based on local Nigerian art and traditional architecture. It will be built and run to the highest international standards, offering Nigerians a new hideaway to relax and recharge. The hotel will come complete with shops, hair and nail salons and a relaxation spa. Even if you don’t play golf you can enjoy the food and entertainment that will be on offer in Nigeria’s latest get-away resort.

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Chief Ade, Ojo at the Golf Course with his wife, Taiwo

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Golf

TRAVELLERS LODGE

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Elizabeth Wuraola Golf Tournament at Smokin Hills Ilara Mokin

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Chief Ade.Ojo with Major General D.D Ahmadu

Olukayode Francis winner of the 14th Edition of Wuraola Golf tournament Actions at Chiefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Country home

At Elizade University complex

Chief Ade. Ojo with Elizade University Studente

Chief Ade. Ojo with a Cross section Of Auto rally drivers

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Chief Ade. Ojo with Realitylife Magazine Crew

Golfers from IITA

Justice Folashade Aguda presenting Award to Rita Isoje

Inside Smokin Hills Arena

Female Golfers

Major General, D.D Ahmadu presentig Award Badmus winner

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Oba, Alara of Ilara -Mokin Presenting an Award to Chief Olowokande www.realitylifeng.com

Mr. Niyi

Prof Fadayomi V.C Elizade University wit Guests

Ademola Ade. Ojo with Prince Aderinto www.realitylifeng.com

winner,Evelyn oyome receiving Award from Chief Olowokande

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Accolades

HIS LIFE IS WORTHY OF EMULATION - REV. AGARA

ADEGOKE AGARA, a priest of the Diocese of Lagos West Anglican Communion shares his feelings about Chief Ade. Ojo with us. Excerpts…..

“H

e is well known to me, he is a father and a grandfather to many of us and we call him Baba Elizade. He is an active member of our Church here and the one in his home town as well. He is a man whose life is worthy of emulation and he is a mentor to so many people that are coming up especially in business line and we thank God for his life that he has attained 80 years. “From all indications, he is a very humble and simple man. He is one great man

with enormous resources and connections and yet so humble and respectful. Ordinarily, people of his status are hard to control in the Church, but he is exceptional, he follows rules and regulations unlike some others who would distort order of service because of their birthday. “He is a man that is committed to the well-being of others and always ready to assist; he is a great giver and also committed to the well-being of the Church. Baba will come down from his high horses to meet people like us. He is very amiable and you can

relate to him easily; he is so warmly and magnanimously disposed to the work of God. “On this occasion of his 80th birthday, I thank God for his life because it takes the grace of God. My prayer for him at 80 is that God will take him to greater heights, grant him long life, sound health and he will witness more of the hand of God in his life. God will make him to remain relevant till the end in Jesus name. I wish him happy birthday and many good returns.”

HE HAS CONTRIBUTED IMMENSELY TO THE SERVICE OF HIS FATHER LAND -STEPHEN BAMIDELE OGODO, HEAD OF ADMIN / EXECUTIVE ASSISTANCE TO CHIEF ADE. OJO.

“I

have known Chief Michael Ade. Ojo for over 23 years before destiny brought us together about 5 years ago. I stumbled on his story and I was thrilled and since then I have been following him and admiring him as my mentor from a very long distance until 5 years ago that we came together. “Chief Ade. Ojo is a wonderful person, a disciplinarian, a life coach and I have learnt a lot of things from him. He is a distin-

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guished entrepreneur cum businessman, a philanthropist and Chairman of several companies. He has given his all to the service of his father land and has contributed immensely to the social and economic development of his nation with his huge investment in the auto mobile industry, education and others. “He stands out amongst his contemporaries. I have learnt a lot of things from him. He taught me what he calls the 4 ‘Ds’

of success namely Desire, Determination, Discipline and Diligence. He is also a man of integrity. “Every day with him is a memorable experience; memorable because he is a wonderful man. I wish him long life and greater prosperity.”

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Accolades

HE IS A PERFECTIONIST TO THE CORE - AJAYI

r. Akin Ajayi, an accountant, banker and cousin to Chief Ade. Ojo has described the Octogenarian as a higher achiever who believes in perfection and in turn, wants everything and anything identifying with him to be perfect. “He is a stickler for what is right and perfect; he is a core traditionalist at heart who believes in the Yoruba tradition and the promotion of Yoruba culture and tradition. “He is also somebody who believes in the philosophy of hard work, he do not believe in wastes. He is someone who believes that little drop of water makes a mighty ocean; you can see that showing in him. He is a deeply religious man and believes in a united family. He is someone who believes at heart in the philosophy of one man, one wife. He is one of the few most successful men that does not believe in having more than one wife. It’s an ideal some of us have come to cherish, and we know usually when Yoruba men are very successful, the next thing they do is to acquire wife in addition to all other things.” He noted that one of the memorable experiences he’s had with Chief Ade. Ojo was in 1988, when he applied to FCMB then as a Management trainee and wanted to leave where he was an Audit trainee. “I had an insider in the bank then who was giving me feedback about my progression on the application from the first to the second level of the interview and the feedback he was giving me was that I have done very well. “One of the staff who was a top official there that conducted the interview actually had his own favourite and he was pushing very strongly for that fellow to be chosen over me which from the scores I was told about, I performed very well. And the feedback the person gave me was that it has gotten to the time that you call who you know. So I ran to Chief around

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8:30am and I told him what was happening, and he said I allowed things to get to this point before coming to him. Immediately, he picked his phone and called Chief Olu Falae who was the Secretary to the Federal Government that he wants him to intervene and speak to whoever was involved that he has a candidate. That was what ensured that merit was done at that instance.” Ajayi said the second one was when he was about to get married a few years later and how Chief Ade. Ojo and the wife played very prominent role. “It was Chief Mrs.Wuraola Ade-Ojo who led the team to my father’s in-law house for the engagement present that was presented for the occasion in 1991. “Beyond that, when I got appointed as the M.D. of Equity Bank in 2003, I had taught that scaling a couple of CBN approval of my status as CEO was a foregone conclusion. If the board of Intercontinental Bank that was seconding me to Equity Bank found me worthy, why would CBN frown at it? Behold, it wasn’t to be; what I had felt was a smooth sailing thing, was not that easy. There was one director of banking supervision then I didn’t know that had constituted himself a major stumbling block on approval for the CBN for the appointment. “So he initially refused, saying as far as he was concerned, I haven’t spent enough number of years in the executive cadre of a bank to merit being appointed a chief executive of a bank. And so again, I had to run to my uncle who said he knows that guy very well, that he also once had a running battle with him when he was appointed director of Owena Bank; that it’s not strange, he will see what to do to solve the problem. So he pressed the necessary buttons and introduced me to the necessary contact and eventually with the input of my very friend who became a deputy governor to whom the director of banking supervision

was reporting to and who knew I was a very competent person, he also lent support to all the contacts that chief has mustered for the approval of my appointment. And I got the appointment.” He said that for the fact that chief believes very strongly in family as a unit of society, anybody who is close to him will learn how to take their family life very seriously and be able to show love and affection to their wife, adding that the second one is the value of being a patriot. “Chief believes he’s been born in llara was not an accident but something that was designed by God for a purpose, and that purpose is to ensure that the community is able to be uplifted by his resources, influence and wealth. And that has been a guiding philosophy for those of us who are behind him and look up to him as a role model in our attitude to the town; that’s something that is also very worthy of emulation. “Another is being humble, and wealth is accumulated by being prudent and being able to husband one’s resources efficiently and effectively. He does not believe you can make wealth by cheating others or cutting corners. He believes that slow and steady wins the race and people should work hard to be diligent and be alert to opportunity. We should also be prepared well enough for opportunities that may come our way at any point in time and once that happens, you will be able to translate these opportunities into gains. These are high values to be taken from him.” As he celebrates his 80th birthday, Mr. Ajayi says: “My wishes to Chief Ade. Ojo at this wonderful age of 80 is that he will continue to wax stronger in health. He will continue to be a source of influence and motivation to younger generation of Nigerians. He will continue to use his resources and the knowledge and exposure God has given him to bless others around him.”

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HIS TYPE OF PERSON COMES ONCE IN A CENTURY - Pastor Olukilede

PASTOR TOLA OLUKILEDE, a staff of Toyota Nigeria Limited also runs a ministry called In the World Movement, a non-denominational Christian charity organization. He speaks about Chief Ade. Ojo and what he has learnt knowing himâ&#x20AC;Ś.

hatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your relationship with Chief Michael Ade. Ojo and how long have you known him? Chief Michael Ade. Ojo is a father and a mentor to me. I call him my coach right from my youth when I grew up to know him. He was like a big brother or uncle to my mother. The same house he was raised up by his mother is the same house I was raised up by my grandmother. He knew me before I knew him, and since I got to know him, he has been playing a role of destiny helper and

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father to me. He was very fundamental to my progress in school to an extent that at a point, he was paying my school fees. There was one thing he did maybe, anybody can pay school fees but there was a day I was in HSC, I was a Science student and my parents could not afford a calculator for me. My mother just told him that I needed a calculator that she cannot afford it, so when Chief was coming back to Ilara Mokin, he drove to my school in Akure and asked after me.

Nobody could detect where I was, so chief stayed for over one hour parading the school looking for me until I showed up and he handed it over to me. Although he solved my problem but I was shocked that he could wait for me for over one hour to see me,that was in 1980. That was how I changed my perspective, my love for him; I began to see him not just as an uncle but as a father too. How can you describe him? He is a man that is larger than himself,

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Accolades he is somebody that has a spirit or personality that comes only in a century to a particular generation. He is fearless when it comes to business and any risk he takes always favours him. This is why I made him my business mentor. He has been coaching me and had taught me how to invest, how to negotiate and how to aspire in life. He started from a very humble beginning until he became a giant. He carries himself with glamour, with confidence and doesn’t believe in failure. He doesn’t believe that something works against him; he is a very hard true businessman. He is not care less with his interest and he doesn’t throw anything to you on a platter of Gold; he would want you to fight for it, he would want you to prove to him that you deserve it. He is a man who wants everyone to prove himself, he loves and he is proud of successful people and people who have aspiration. What’s your most memorable experience with him? One of the experiences I have with him which is still very striking today in the line of business and business negotiation is that I happened to be travelling with him- that was during the time I finished the university, I came to Lagos and he was going to llara. So I joined him in 1985, he just changed his car to a white Toyota crown. So after Ore, we were heading to Akure, he stopped at the road side to buy orange in basket, so we came down. He priced the orange immediately I was about carrying it, thinking it’s a done deal and I wasn’t expecting a man of his class to be pricing orange. He said I should leave it that the mama has not agreed with his price. I was looking at his face thinking he would look at the mama and still buy the orange. We entered the car and drove off. We got to another person that sells same orange in basket, he priced and priced until he got his bargain. He even handpicked the oranges to check them. Finally, we bought it. So I was curious that how would a man like this be negotiating for a basket of oranges even me as poor as I was, a student, would have just paid and bought it like that. So as we were going, I asked him: Why are you pricing oranges

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like that and why didn’t he buy from the first woman? He said the woman has not agreed to his price and if she had agreed, he would have bought it from her that I saw that the other woman agreed. And he said when you want to help people, you help but when it comes to business of buying and selling, if it doesn’t pay the other person, he won’t sell. Everybody sells at their prices. And if you are careless, you will throw away your own money. You must price until the person gets to his or her limit because anybody doing business is doing it to gain, nobody does business to lose. That the woman we just bought from didn’t lose anything. From that day, I learnt how to negotiate. First, he took his interest on how much he will offer and said his own too and negotiation started. Today you find out that the youth does not know how to negotiate. I learnt how to negotiate from daddy from that very episode. If I want to buy things, I look first below what I can afford, and then I begin to price; that’s one experience I also had learning from him. What morals have you learnt from him? Honesty, integrity speaking the truth without minding who is going to be offended. Not telling lies and covering up

saying it as it is. He speaks his mind and let go. These are virtues I think I learn from him. Have you seen him angry? Yes, when you perform below expectation, he gets angry with you. He has expectation from everybody that he meets but the moment you perform below expectation, he will let you know immediately you have fumbled. When he gets angry, its not to you as a person but that thing you have done below expectation as a person What do you wish him? I have always said God will make him to live a 100 and over 100. My prayers are when he is growing older, he should be looking younger with more strength, favour and the glory of God; and his star has just began to shine. At 100, the bible says a child shall die so, 100 years is the minimum for him and I want him to believe in it too because whatever you believe will become. But I know one thing, God will make him leave above 100. I wish him peace, joy, prosperity and glory. He still have a lot of things to accomplish and I believe he will.

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CHIEF ADE. OJO IS AN EMBODIMENT OF HARD WORK - Durojaiye

lawyer, Barrister Ayo Durojaiye has said that Chief Ade. Ojo belongs to the league of one of the fewest honest businessmen in Nigeria, describing him as an embodiment of hardwork. “Even from what I read in his biography, I am left with nothing but to love him the more. I admire and cherish him. He doesn’t look 80; most times you will see him climbing the upstairs without using the lift I always meet him trekking down and he will greet you with outmost respect,” he said. Barrister Durojaiye who said he had known Chief Ade. Ojo for almost a decade now noted that the Octogenarian has been a very nice, easy going and quiet person, very humble and respectful despite his age. “He cannot hurt a fly, he is my landlord and I love his lifestyle; he is a very humble person.” Recalling one of the memorable experiences he had with Chief Ade. Ojo, the legal practitioner remarked, “There was a day he was in the lift, we were there before him. Immediately we

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saw him, out of respect, we came out for him to enter. But he said no, you people should go, you were here before me. I was shocked to see this man, the owner of this building saying we should go and he will wait for his turn. “Another incident was that he was already in the lift, so out of respect we waited for him to go, he said no, why should we wait, we should come in and let’s go together. That thing he did thrilled me that a man that owns this place and a lot of other things can descend so low to mingle with people, even his tenants. Since that day, I got baffled about this man and his kind of person. “Yet, another experience was that I was supposed to see him for a certain thing, I met the secretary so he asked me to come in. When I got there, he opened a biscuit he wanted to eat, gave it first to me to take my own before he took his own. That little gesture made me to respect him and I copied a lot of things from him.” He said that one good moral he learnt from Chief Ade. Ojo is that there is nothing good than to be humble irre-

spective of one’s position and age. Barrister Durojaiye wished Chief Ade. Ojo a happy birthday in good health and prayed that he continues to reap the fruit of his labour as well as live longer.

“There was a day he was in the lift, we were there before him. Immediately we saw him, out of respect, we came out for him to enter. But he said no, you people should go, you were here before me. I was shocked to see this man, the owner of this building saying we should go and he will wait for his turn.

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HE ACTS OUT HIS RELIGION - AKINNASO

PROFESSOR NIYI AKINNASO, formerly a professor of Anthropology and Linguistics at Temple University in the United States of America and currently a member of the Governing Council of Elizade University, here speaks about the person of Chief Ade. Ojo and his outstanding qualities….

wasn’t going to work for anybody for more than ten years, and, lo and behold, he was even able to beat that record. He started on his own after six years and that’s just Chief Ade.Ojo for you. He’s very persistent, he has ideas about what he wants to do and he goes after those ideas to make them real.

hat is your relationship with Chief Ade.Ojo, and how long have you known him? I’ve known Chief Ade. Ojo for a very long time, but my intimate relationship with him developed recently, particularly since I joined his university as a member of the Governing Council. It’s been a very pleasant experience. Beyond serving as a member of the Council, I think he’s taken me as a brother and a friend and he’s shared a lot with me in that regard.

How would you describe his person? Chief Ade. Ojo is the most acceptable, down to earth, richest person that I know intimately. In many respects, he is like any other human being you can imagine. That is not to say that he doesn’t have a knack for excellence. For Chief Ade. Ojo, there is nothing at all that he does without ensuring that it is the best. If you have been to Elizade University campus, you will see that it is one of the best universities in this country, in terms of the building code, the arrangement of the structures, and, of course, taste. That is Chief Ade. Ojo for you. Chief Ade. Ojo is an unsung philanthropist. He has given out hundreds of scholarships. He has given out cars to relatives, friends, and loyal customers. He has built structures for churches and associations. But Elizade University, built to educate other people’s children, is the capstone of his philanthropy. Can you share with us, some of your most memorable experiences with him? I don’t know if I can single out one particular experience, because here is a strong man who has remained the same all through his life, in terms of the way he carries himself and the way he conveys his own feelings to people. Once you meet Chief Ade.Ojo,

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What morals does chief Ade.Ojo have that you think people can emulate? Chief Ade. Ojo is a man of faith, he’s a Christian, he does not wear his religion on his sleeves but he acts out his religion. He’s also faithful to his family and his friends and that’s one major moral code synonymous with Chief Ade. Ojo. The second is honesty, of course, if he wasn’t honest about himself, he wouldn’t be where he is today. And he expects that degree of honesty from people who work with him or for him. The other thing one should take away from knowing Chief Ade. Ojo is knowing how to do things right and how to go after the best. What are your wishes for him now that he has clocked 80years of age? I wish him many more years in good health and happiness. I hope to celebrate him at 100. But he can do whatever he likes after that. you meet one person, he is the same person today, and the day after. He never changes. He’s very consistent in both his views and his ideology. So I would say my memorable experience with him comes from the series of conversations that I’ve had with him, particularly, late night conversations. For example, he told me about his experiences at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he majored in Business Administration. He said he left the university with the idea that he

Is there any word of advice you would like to give to him? I would prefer Chief Ade. Ojo to advise me than me giving him advice. On a serious note, I would advise that after 80, he should slow down gradually from major activities. However, I want him to play more Golf, keep socializing and enjoy the rest of his life in peace and happiness. He worked hard for it. He should now relax and enjoy the fruits of his labour.

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CHIEF ADE. OJO IS A PHILANTHROPIST PAR EXCELLENCE - Femi Aluko

former Commissioner for Information in Ondo State, Chief Femi Aluko has described Chief Michael Ade. Ojo as a philanthropist par excellence, adding that if he were a politician, he would never lose an election because he is a grassroots man. He has been a close friend of mine since we got introduced. “When you see millionaires doing things, I don’t recognize them, because they are taking money from money. Ade. Ojo started as a poor man, he knew poverty because, he grew from it. He once told me that he never wore shoes until he got to Class 4. For someone to suffer to such extent, struggle until he made money, and now uses the money to take care of good people, I’m so much impressed. “I cannot count how many scholarships he has awarded to Ilara citizens and even to other people of his. He loves his home town of Ilara too much, to the extent, he’s established a university in the community so villagers can gain skilled and unskilled employment as well as get education. His love for his community is what actually drew me closer to him.” “His mother told me many years ago when I came to Ilara-Mokin and visited her that we are related. I was teaching then at Ilara, that was around 1964. That when they were roofing the Anglican Church in our town. it was in my father’s house they lodged and my mother hosted them. And since then, the relationship became closer and we have been on since then.” That was how Chief Femi Aluko, a former Commissioner for Information in Ondo State captured the beginning of his close relationship with Chief Michael Ade. Ojo and his family. According to the Asiwaju Ijo of St John’s Anglican Church, Ita ogbolu, Ondo North Local Government Area of Ondo State,

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“Chief Ade. Ojo is a philanthropist par excellence and a very humane person. He started from a very humble background; he suffered the painful and bitter taste of poverty. He told me that he never wore any shoe until he got to class 4 in Imade College, Owo. You can imagine the level of poverty. But today, through hard work and God’s own favour, he is a very wealthy man. “I’m, therefore, not surprised at the way he assists people in need and the work of God he is doing. I’m so impressed about him because it is not everybody that started from a poor background that cares about the poor. He has awarded so many scholarships to people of Ilara-Mokin and others. His kind of person is indescribable, especially looking at the great developmental projects that he has brought to the town like Elizade University, Smokin Hills Golf Resort and a host of others too numerous to mention and the number of people that he has gainfully employed. “He is such a simple, humble, hardworking, devout Christian, very easy-going and free with everybody. He does not look down on anybody. It would surprise you that up till today, he still relates with his contemporaries that were his primary school mates. Chief Ade. Ojo is such a generous and kind-hearted man.” As Chief Ade. Ojo clocks 80, Chief Aluko is wishing him a beautiful and happy 80th birthday in good health. “God will uphold him and he will live as long as God has destined for him. More blessings and more strength shall be his portion. Congratulations! God will give him the enablement to continue his good works to humanity,” he prayed further.

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HE IS AN ICONIC PERSONALITY AND MODEL THAT THE YOUTH CAN EMULATE WITHOUT REGRET

- Makris

General Manager of Mike Ade Properties, the company that handles the property portfolio of Elizade, PETER MAKRIS is a close associate of Chief Ade. Ojo. In this interview, he talks about those virtues that stand the business tycoon out…….

s one of Chief Ade. Ojo’s associates, how would you describe him? Chief Ade. Ojo is one very unique businessman with very creative entrepreneurial skills and guts. He has successfully ventured into diverse areas of businesses and social services over the years that are though beneficial to the society, but for now might not necessarily yield him financial benefits. His business and service interest ranges from the automobile industry Toyota (Nigeria) Limited, education (Elizade University), sports (Smokin Hills Golf Resort), properties (Mike Ade Properties) and so on. He is also a great philanthropist of note. He has made huge investments in the lives of many people by way of scholarship and charity. He is a man with a vision who has contributed a great deal to the development of his community, Ilara-Mokin, his state, Ondo, and indeed Nigeria in general. His contributions are no doubt remarkable. He is an iconic personality and role model that the youth can see and be convinced that when you have a strong vision and you are committed and dedicated to working it out, you can become someone very important and influential in life like him. Besides being a successful businessman, he is also a very nice family man. I am happy his children are very supportive of what he has been doing over the years and I am also happy they are successful in their various areas of endeavour and are still making progress. For instance, his daughter is Nigeria’s best fashion designer using the same inherited principle of hard work

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and excellence to achieve success. In fact, the Ade-Ojos are a wonderful family. His perception of business is rooted in high moral principles, loyalty, dedication and excellence. He is one person that is determined to change the business environment for the better. He dreams of a better Nigeria and he has contributed immensely to the realization of that dream. How long have you known him; and did you come to Nigeria through him? No, I did not come to Nigeria directly because of him or through him; it was the company that brought me to Nigeria in association with him. But when I wanted to leave Nigeria, he persuaded me to stay. I have known him for 3 years now and the more I am getting acquainted with him, the bigger the respect I have for his person. Is there any memorable experience of him that you would like to share with us?

There was something we did that he has to call me “Ijebu” and when I asked him what he meant by that, he said the Ijebus are people with very strong negotiating skills and who find it difficult part with their money. Then I said Sir, coming from you with your wealth and experience, I can only take it as a compliment. We are both very stubborn when we have to negotiate or to agree or disagree on something. We defend our positions very strongly. One thing that is very unique about him is that when you are able to justify your position before him with superior argument, he accepts, because he believes in superior logic. You cannot win him with frivolities. He’s very fair if only you know what you are presenting before him. What moral lessons have you learnt from him? Though I met him as a matured adult, I am associated with many of his principles. For instance, he hates lies, deceit, laziness and unnecessary excuses. He believes and I totally agree with him that people that give plenty excuses don’t want to work. I have learnt from him the courage to accept my mistakes and even admit guilt where necessary. Also, he is very hard working; there is no way you can win his heart without imbibing the hard work attitude. For you to be one of his close associates, hard work must be your motto. What do you wish him as he turns 80? I wish him full health and more success, long life and strength.

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Accolades HIS ATTITUDE INFLUENCED AND ENHANCED MY ATTENTION TO QUALITY AND DETAILS - ADEDOKUN

eputy Managing Director of Meristem Group, Suleiman Adedokun has said that his relationship with Chief Michael Ade. Ojo began in the boardroom where Chief Ade. Ojo is not only the chairman of Meristem Wealth Management but also a director in Meristem Group, and admitted the billionaire businessman mentors him on how to manage the firm and relate with his likes, those ultra high network individuals. He described Chief Michael Ade. Ojo as a unique person with unique qualities. “I have been meeting people, but honestly, this is one personality I will regard as a father, a leader and an influencer, who has many qualities embedded in him. I have read the biography of different successful people and I’m not surprised in any way that Chief is who and what he is. It is not just about being wealthy, but also about those sterling qualities that are germane and fundamental to being successful in life. Interestingly, not only does he possess these qualities, but he wants everybody around him to imbibe them. “As a Managing Director, each time I present board papers to Chief, he amazes me the way he goes through them painstakingly, paying attention to details. His attitude influenced and enhanced my attention to quality and details, because I recognized the personality I’m dealing with is very focused and thorough and wants to see you add value in whatever you are giving to him. “He loves hard work and he is so passionate about innovations. But again, as you are learning from him, he is also learning from every good thing you do. So I will call him a “learning teacher,” a teacher that learns and relearns even as he teaches others. I have discovered that to be truly successful, you must be open-minded and receptive to new ideas no matter where it is coming from. “In that sense, I can say Chief is an individual that relates across all ages, whether you are his mate or not, it’s about what you have got to offer. Chief is a very principled, focused and

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hardworking man. In business, he is a master negotiator. He is someone who is value-focused and who tries to negotiate value. I learnt from him the need to negotiate to capture value. “He is also a people-oriented person who truly appreciates others and who is also loved by people. He is a truly caring family man that cares for not just his children and blood relations, but everybody around him as long as you are very sincere and trust worthy. “Again, I have never seen a man so blessed with the kind of sharp memory that he has. If you told him something, even in the next 10 years, he will still remember. He is one person who wants others to become better. I must say that whatever Chief is today is not just a function of good luck; it’s a combination of hard work, result-orientation, value focus and high emotional intelligence.” Recalling some of the memorable times he had with Chief Ade. Ojo, Adedokun who is also the Managing Director of Meristem Wealth Management Limited said about six years ago when he was ill at a point such that he couldn’t go to Ilara-Mokin for a function and the same

thing repeated itself before the convocation of Elizade University this year, and he could not visit, which was very unusual of him, so he called Chief and told him he had malaria and he said “Suleiman, you know this is the same malaria you had last time, don’t you think it could be mosquito, you have to be very careful.” “The truth is that I had forgotten that 6 years ago, this was the same scenario that played out; I was so surprised and overwhelmed. I also remembered a time I was so hungry and I got to his office and it was very difficult for me to tell him that I was very hungry, the next thing I heard Chief say was that they should bring food for me, and I couldn’t say no. That was the first time Chief said I should come and eat as if he was reading my mind. In fact, there are too many memorable events with Chief,” Adedokun said. On the moral lessons he learnt from Chief Ade. Ojo, Adedokun was quick to say: “Chief is a giver, a great philanthropist regardless of religion. I was at Ilara-Mokin sometime ago and I went to the mosque and I saw them praying for Chief for what he has done for them. I was overwhelmed that a Christian could do that. The moral lesson is that we should embrace everybody irrespective of race or religion. Honesty is another major value to learn from him, I don’t double-deal. He is also a very time-conscious person. He recalled that at a particular time when Chief Ade. Ojo was working too hard, he had to tell him that he was working too hard, that he needed to give himself some break from his regular routine. “I eventually discovered I was making a big mistake; the exercise of brain and body is actually what keeps him going to this age. So, it’s not even advisable for somebody to sit down and not do anything at any particular age. What I will just say is that he should just slow down a little.” As he clocks 80, “I wish him a beautiful 80th birthday celebration. I pray the Almighty God to bless him with sound health, wealth and the grace to continue to use it very well. I wish him God’s protection and make the rest of his life more blissful. I wish him eternal happiness,” Adedokun prayed.

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CHIEF ADE.OJO IS A MAN OF MANY PARTS - OTUNBA DERU

or Otunba Femi Deru, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), and a Fellow of Nigeria Institute of Management, his relationship with Chief (Sir) Michael Ade. Ojo spans over 30 years, beginning when he joined the Rotary Club of Ikeja, which is one of the most dynamic clubs in the country. This period has afforded him the opportunity to understand Chief Ade. Ojo well enough, describing him in glowing terms. “Chief Ade. Ojo is a man of many parts. He is a very devoted Christian and a quiet player when it comes to giving things to the poor and the needy; he does it in such a way that you will not know it’s him that has done it. He likes people who are frank, hardworking and with integrity. He is a fantastic man when it comes to speaking the truth. He is the type that does not like wastages, extravagance and too much publicity, though he does his things in a very tasteful manner.” According to Otunba Deru, who is also the President of Lagos Chamber of Commerce, “Chief is a great entrepreneur, a man with great foresight and concern about the future. He is someone you can look on to as a mentor. If you know the number of churches he has given vehicles for evangelism, you will be amazed, but he does not blow his trumpet, he does his things in a quiet and nice way. “Chief Ade. Ojo is a family man and he believes in the efficacy of keeping a good family.When he lost his first wife, Mrs. Wuraola Ade.Ojo, a lot of us were

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afraid for him that he probably might not survive, because they were so close such that everybody wished to be like him. But thank God he is alive hale and hearty. As God would have it, he was able to find another beautiful lady, Mrs. Taiwo Ade. Ojo to marry, and they are blessed with a set of twins. “Chief Ade. Ojo is a workaholic, a man of integrity, he doesn’t like shortcuts. I served under him as President of Rotary Club of Ikeja from 1987 to 1988. He does not believe in frivolities even when it comes to service to humanity where there is no financial gain attached. He believes what is worth doing, is worth doing well such that when you hold any position of service, you should render the

services required of your office with total commitment and dedication, because according to him, the services you render to humanity are services you render to your own self. “The kind of projects he has brought to Ilara-Mokin clearly attests to his kind disposition and passion for his place and people. For example, Elizade University (one of the best, if not the best private university in Nigeria today), only someone that believes so much in the importance of education can do what he has done there. He is a businessman to the core; he does not play with his business. He has achieved so much in almost every area he has ventured into. Otunba Deru, a Justice of Peace, who will turn 80 soon has some words of advice for Chief Ade. Ojo. “He should think of making Elizade public, it should not remain a family thing, so that it does not go the way of others that their owners died, everything went with them into the grave. He should leave behind a legacy of a private enterprise that became a publicly quoted company which will outlive him and his family just like Henry Ford of United States, AG Leventis etc. Let Elizade metamorphose into a global brand.” While celebrating his fellow Octogenarian, Otunba Deru said, “Some few days ago, I told him you are an old man but you are looking too young. I wish him many happy returns as he clocks 80. I wish him a very long life and more prosperity in good health, and that he will not cry over any of his children or family.”

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I KNOW HIM TO BE A MAN OF INTEGRITY -PRINCE SAMUEL ADEDOYIN,

or Prince Samuel Adedoyin, Chairman of Doyin Group of Companies, knowing somebody for over 50 years is no mean feat. For him, it is enough time to say exactly what such a person stands for. “We met when he came to rent a flat in one of my buildings in Surulere. I’m sure he just left the university then and I found him looking very handsome, intelligent and friendly. That was how we became friends and since then, we have remained friends. “We again met when we were distributing cars; I was representing Volvo cars in Nigeria, while Chief Ade. Ojo was for Toyota. After the devaluation of the naira, Volvo, a very strong but large car became too costly whereas Japanese cars that were smaller and relatively cheaper such as Toyota and other brands, which he was trying to represent then, became relatively more affordable. That was how our relationship developed over the years and has continued till today.” Talking about the qualities of Chief Ade. Ojo as a person, Prince Adedoyin noted that as a person of integrity, Chief Ade. Ojo had the most important critical value needed for survival in a business and industry where one is expected to handle billions of naira, adding that you have to be trustworthy to remain commercially viable, especially in a country like ours. “Chief Ade. Ojo is a genuinely honest and humble man. He is equally a very generous man who has contributed immensely to the development of his community in particular and the state in general. I remember some years ago he tarred the roads in his community, building churches and a general hospital for

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them and lately, he has built a university, Elizade University there too. He is such a good man,” he said. Prince Adedoyin said his relationship with Chief Ade. Ojo is laced with so many fond memories. According to him, “there are so many things that are memorable about him like I have just narrated. One very striking thing about him is the way he has carried on in business and philanthropy and the ability to employ several thousands of Nigerians; I think it’s better to describe him as an industrialist of repute.” Though far older than Chief Ade. Ojo, Prince Adedoyin said “when a person has that kind of integrity definitely, you can learn one or two things from him. As for me, I have high respect for his level of integrity. He is very friendly too.” As Chief Ade. Ojo clocks 80, Prince Adedoyin has this advice for him: “I think

what remains for him is to serve God and work towards making heaven, continue to teach our children the way of the Lord and advice friends of the importance of worshiping, honouring and adoring God. More so, he should continue the good works that have made him what he is today.” And as Chief Ade. Ojo celebrates his Octogenarian milestone, Prince Ade.Ojo has this wish for him: “I wish him the very best of luck and all-round guidance and protection from God, good health, long life and the grace to enjoy part of his good labour. One cannot say he will enjoy all because he has to leave something for humanity and his children to enjoy part of his good labour. More importantly, I pray that whatever he has done wrong one way or the other that God will forgive him. This also applies to me and others.”

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Accolades AS A BUSINESSMAN AND FATHER, HE IS SUCH A WONDERFUL PERSON ONE CANNOT BUT APPRECIATE -DEMOLA Managing Director/Chief Executive Ofﬁcer of Elizade JAC Motors, DEMOLA ADE-OJO is one of the children of Chief Michael Ade. Ojo. He spoke to us about his father’s unique virtues and how these have impacted on their lives as his children…

hat can you tell us about your father? Of course, he is my father as you rightly mentioned. Growing up, I was one person that loved to play, but Daddy was always there to ensure that it was not all play, but that you get serious too. So anytime my Dad was coming back from work, it was like play has come to an end. He was always telling us to be serious as I was always smiling and not taking anything seriously. But now he is the one saying I am too serious; I am now learning not to be too serious and how to smile again. But I have to thank my Dad if not for him probably I would have been too playful. My father is a great disciplinarian though kind and loving. He is very hardworking, honest and humble. He hates lies and people that tell lies. He taught me the importance of working at a very young age. I started doing summer jobs at Elizade when I was 11 years old and I remember the days I worked as a service adviser at the company. I worked in the body shop and the mechanical workshop and actually got my hands dirty. I learnt the good principle of hard work, being honest and being a person of integrity from him as they are his core values and I’m better off today. I really have to thank my Dad for instilling those sterling qualities in me. But don’t forget, he changed me from a smiling guy to a serious guy but now I am learning how to laugh and

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smile at people again. How would you describe his personality? My Dad will soon turn 80 and obviously he cannot be as tough as he was when we were growing up. Perhaps, he is a bit relaxed because he can now beat his chest that we can carry on with life on our own. But that is not to say that the man is now entirely soft anyway; those qualities are undying part of his being. But in the area of hard work, he has refused to change, he still does things as if he is a young man and properly too. He is a man that detests laziness, telling lies,

going about gossiping and being dubious. He still insists on honesty and integrity in everything we do. In terms of doing business, the old man has not lost his edge; he is still very sharp and can easily spot a good deal and opportunity 10,000 miles away. At 80, he is still aggressively looking for business opportunities to make money, I don’t think he can be tired of making money. One of his favourite statements regarding business is that “he is not ashamed to make profit, the more profit you can make, the better”. He is still a very smart and intelligent man with very sharp

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Accolades My Dad has been such a great blessing to many people. Apart from giving people money, scholarships and jobs, he is also building structures like his various companies and institutions like Elizade University so that Nigerians can gain access to high quality education. This for me is something spectacular because by the special grace of God, they will be there hundreds of years to come when we might have gone. My Dad taught us to use wealth to build others and develop our communities. This is one legacy I am certainly going to work towards. Daily living with my Dad is a moral lesson on its own, because you see him living what he says. There are many moral lessons to learn from him much of which I have already mentioned. For instance, being honest, being disciplined, being a man of integrity, being hardworking, investing in the lives of others and helping to develop your community, etc.

instincts. Both as a businessman and as a father, my Dad is such a wonderful person one cannot but appreciate; he is simply a wonderfully excellent person. People say you were born with a golden spoon which I believe you cannot deny, is it the wealth you were born into that made you what you are now? I like that question that people say I was born into wealth, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s empirically true that my Dad is wealthy, but it is not true that I was born into wealth. There is a whole world of difference between your parents being wealthy and you being born into wealth. That your parents are wealthy means that your parents are financially well to do. But that you are born into wealth means that you have somewhat unhindered access to money and all other things of pleasure. In my own case, I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see that wealth, because we never had access to

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the wealth, we were just living like every normal average child. My Dad is not the type that spoils a child with money, he does not like showing off. And so, to say that I was born with a golden or silver spoon in my mouth was for me not correct, we always lived modestly. The only difference is that we had the opportunity of schooling abroad which many others do too. As far as my Dad is concerned, the mere fact that you are wealthy doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily mean you should lavish money on yourself rather you should try and better the lot of others with it. That is one very important lesson that I learnt from him which I see as a Godly attribute, because God is the one that gives power to make wealth so that we will be a blessing to others. That in my candid consideration is the principal reason why he gives us wealth over and above others.

What are you wishing him on his 80th birthday? He is 80 now and still as strong as ever, God will continue to give him strength. His huge success clearly reveals that God is really with him. He will live longer to enjoy all the good things that God still has in stock for him. I know he has worked so hard, God will give him good health to enjoy most of the things he has laboured for. God will continue to bless and strengthen him to continue the good works that he has enabled him to do. His good works will surely outlive him. I congratulate him on his 80th birthday. I wish many, many more remarkable years of celebrations. I also want to use this unique medium to express my profound gratitude to him and my Mum for everything that they did for me to make me truly human and useful. I wish humans were immortal! God bless my Dad. My wife and my children are as well very grateful to him. We love him from the bottom of our hearts and we wish him a happy 80th birthday with all of the love. We are already also looking forward to doing this again ten years from now when he will be 90 years old.

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HE IS A MONUMENTAL PERSONALITY - Folorunso

he Managing Consultant, Pedabo Professional Services, Albert Folorunso has said that ever since he knew Chief Michael Ade. Ojo, especially about a year ago when he began working for him as a tax consultant, his relationship with Chief Ade. Ojo has gone beyond work as he now sees him as a father and inspiration. “He is somebody you can reliably look up to anytime and for anything. It is amazing that he was able to rise from the scratch to such an enviable height; it can only take hard work, discipline, focus, integrity and the grace of God. So, when people tell me in the office that I’m working too hard, I just remember that if Baba could still be this hardworking at 80, it means I don’t have a choice but to work even harder,” he said. For Folorunsho, “I see him as a very strong person with so much passion and high level integrity; someone that wants to see everything succeed. He is exceptionally hardworking, diligent, meticulous, disciplined, honest and humble. Wealth has a way of making somebody arrogant, but you don’t find that with Baba. He is in firm control of his wealth and not the other way round. He is no doubt a monumental personality. On a memorable experience he recalls about Chief Ade.

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Ojo, Folurunsho noted: “You know nobody wants to throw money away when he or she can hold it. And in Nigeria today, paying tax is a huge pain, because much of the things we pay taxes for, we still spend money to provide them ourselves like electricity, water, etc. And therefore, to be determined to pay tax regularly and as at when due and at the same time, support government, is something that I find very encouraging and memorable about him.” Folorunsho said he has gained a lot from Chief Ade. Ojo’s wealth of wisdom and experience ever since he started working with him, and sees him as a big inspiration. “I come from a small village in Kogi State where you have plenty of jobless young people that need help. Baba’s giant strides of service to humanity in general and his community in particular has put a huge burden on me to want to go back home to assist my people the best way I can, no matter how little. He has triggered in me what you can call love for your people and community.” “As Chief Ade. Ojo marks his 80th birthday, I wish him good health, many more years of excellent health, success, peace and happiness. May God give him grace to accomplish the good works he has been doing. I wish him a beautiful 80th birthday celebration,” Folorunsho prayed.

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OUR FATHER NEVER SPOILT US WITH HIS WEALTH - KUNLE

Managing Director, Toyota Nigeria Limited, KUNLE ADE. OJO, is one of the sons of Chief Michael Ade. Ojo. In the following interview, he looks at the life of a man he describes as a very inspiring, dedicated and hardworking father and business boss. The interview is as revealing as it is insightful especially coming from an insider……

hat can you say about your father? First of all, I thank God for giving him the grace to be alive for up to 80 years. I could remember 10 years ago when we celebrated his 70th birthday, now looking like it was just yesterday and adding another 10 years to that is nothing but only the grace of God. God has been so kind to him such that even at 80, he is still looking younger than some that are much younger. I’m truly very grateful to God that the older he gets, the younger he looks and the more strength God is giving him. Having said that, let me say that the man in question is both my father as well as my boss. So, I relate with him in two realms. As a boss, he has been very inspiring, dedicated and hardworking such that sometimes his depth of knowledge poses a strong challenge to me with the strength and vigour with which he pursues the job and many other things he does. He does a lot of projects, not just auto business alone; there is also Elizade University and so on. I just pray that when I am that old, I would have such strength, because even as young as I am, he is stronger than me. sometimes.

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As a father, he is very caring, loving and compassionate. He is also a great disciplinarian. He has embraced the position of the Bible that says ‘train your children the way they should go that when they are old, they won’t depart from it.’ He has trained all of us very well which was what he needed to do and I believe that’s what he is enjoying from us his children today. If he was not as strict and fair with us as he was when we were growing up, I doubt if we all would be where we are today. As tough and strict as he was when

we were growing up, he was and is still a very caring and considerate father that loves us all dearly. When any of us is sick you would see him worried. He is also my confidant and friend. When I’m going through certain challenges both officially or personally, I share them with him and he has a way of bringing you out of those challenges as if they were very insignificant. He continues to give me words of gold on marble which have helped in shaping and forming me today. He is no doubt the best father in the whole world and if there would be

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another opportunity to come back after we have left this world, I would wish to come through him as my father again. I truly thank God and am very happy that we are going to be celebrating his 80th birthday. I am very sure he will have a fun-filled, beautiful and eventful day. I’m also praying that as we are about celebrating his 80th birthday, we shall also all be there to celebrate his 90th. I know he is going to get to a hundred; he still has at least not less than 20 years to go by the special grace of God. People say you were born with a golden spoon that is, you were born into wealth; how was discipline like in the house growing up? People always think that because Daddy is a wealthy man, we would always get whatever we wanted as children. The truth is that my father is not the type that spoils his children with money or such things. It is true he is comfortable and very caring, but he is also a disciplinarian par excellence as I earlier mentioned. Perhaps, because he grew up in an atmosphere of lack and poverty, he never lavished money on us; in fact, growing up I never felt my father was wealthy, because he never displayed such wealth. I tell people that when I was in the university, when I present a list of what I needed, my father will cut that thing by about 50%, that I have to learn how to survive on that. A number of times, a lot of my peers had pocket money that was about 6 - 7 times more than mine. I had to live within my means. I boarded commercial buses (Molue), tricycles (Keke Maruwa), motorcycles (Okada) and smaller buses (Danfo) despite my Dad being one of the biggest auto dealers in Nigeria. But it wasn’t because he couldn’t afford a driver and a car but he refused to expose us to such things and these things have strengthened us. I have friends

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whose parents were not even up to the level of my father but they had cars. The first car I had to drive was one jalopy, a very old manual transmission car but I was happy that at least it was better than jumping from one commercial vehicle to the other though the car broke down on the road within the first week. My father might have been and he is actually a rich man, but he never spoilt his children with it. It’s only now that we are fully grown that we can do some, not all things. He is someone who looks at you based on your performance and how responsible you are. Today, he has so much confidence in us and that is why he could put practically all his businesses in our care. What specific moral lessons have you learnt from him? Well, growing up my father will always tell us that there are a few things he doesn’t like from us and one of them is telling lies. He would say we should learn to be truthful at all times, that integrity is very key in life, that a good name is better than gold or riches. He is one person that anyone that has had dealings with him would tell you that this man is forthright in all his ways. He would say that no matter how rich one might be, the moment you have a bad name, nobody would want to celebrate you or be associated with you as that would present them as bad people, because as they often say, show me your friends and I will tell

you the kind of person you are. It is one key moral lesson we imbibed from my Dad. By now you would have noticed that the name Ade. Ojo is somewhat synonymous with hard work and integrity. You cannot be the best of friends of my father if you are not hardworking. Also very key is his admonitions that if you must grow, you don’t eat with all your ten fingers, that you must ensure that you save for the future. He does not just preach these moral lessons, he practice them all; they are part of his life and today they have become our lifestyle. The Ade Ojo family by God’s grace will be a name to be reckoned with in Nigeria, not only in the area of business but uprightness. My father is very hardworking and diligent, a man of very high integrity. He believes that whatever you do, you must give your all to it and that’s one of the things that have gotten him to where he is today. The moment he notices that a particular business would tarnish his image, he would pull out no matter the volume of profit involved. He does not compromise anything that would tarnish his good name. We must however, always remember that he started from very humble beginnings to be where he is today. And so the excuse that poverty is the reason for anybody to resort to immoral and evil practices of any kind does not resonate with him. What are your wishes for your Dad as he turns 80? I wish him all the very best that life can offer, he deserves nothing but the best. He has worked very hard to train us to follow his footsteps and give our lives meaning. We will continue on that track to ensure we make him proud. Though the standard he has set is extra high, we will do our best to surpass what he has done to continuously uphold the good name that he has established. I wish him God’s continuous guidance, protection, wisdom and understanding to continue to live and guide the family and as well continue his quality services to humanity. I wish him sound health and peace of mind. I wish him a pleasurable and memorable 80th birthday celebration.

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HIS CHARACTER, NOT WEALTH MADE HIM GREAT

– Lt. Col. Arowolo

LT. COL. SAMUEL AYODELE AROWOLO (Rtd), is another Octogenarian, having celebrated his own 80th birthday a couple of months ago. He spoke to us in this interview about his relationship with Chief Ade. Ojo and the man’s unique attributes….

ho is Chief Ade. Ojo to you? He is my bosom friend and confidant. We have been friends since 1953,that is about 65 years now. We attended the same primary school, but different secondary schools and finished our WAEC. the same year in 1958. Also, we attended the same University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Chief Ade. Ojo was instrumental to my studying at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He was the one that helped me obtain the entrance examination form on his own and I merely took the examination and passed. He has remained a very good, reliable and trustworthy friend. He is a philanthropist par excellence; he has been giving even before he became very wealthy. I remember 10 years ago, I saw him wear a beautiful cap and I told him to give me such cap, about two weeks later, he came with 6 beautiful caps. He is a very patriotic son of Ilara-Mokin; he has instituted a lot of developmental projects in this town. He singlehandedly tarred the main road to this town about 10 years ago and has now placed the name of Ilara-Mokin on the world map through the establishment of Smokin Hills Golf Resort and the golf tournament which always attract very highly placed people from all parts of Nigeria and beyond.

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of Ilara-Mokin already. He started from a very humble beginning. When we were little children, sometimes he would put on his mother’s ‘buba’ (mother’s rapper) to hawk things like agidi,or eko, matches, kerosene and what have you. I remember Ade. Ojo, one Fadeyi and I would rotate going to our parents’ farms one after the other. Hard work was part of our upbringing. As school children, we had nicknames; I was called Wellington and at the university, Ade. Ojo earned the nickname ‘Lumumba’ because of his revolutionary attitude towards politics and hair style. It was a great experience growing up in the village.

He has also established a first class university, Elizade University in Ilara-Mokin, a very small town, instead of establishing it in a place like Lagos where he probably would be smiling to his bank in billions. That is the Chief Ade. Ojo that I know. He has instituted different scholarship schemes for both students of Ilara-Mokin origin at different levels of training and people from outside. He has given gainful employment to a number of our children all over the country. Chief Ade. Ojo’s name has been written in gold in the history

How would you describe him? He is a great man, not just because he is wealthy but because of his attitude and character. He is a very nice and easy going person, very humble, respectful, generous, patriotic, hardworking, straightforward, honest, kind and disciplined. What are you wishing him at 80? Interestingly, I celebrated my 80th birthday about two months ago while Chief Ade. Ojo would be celebrating his on June 14. I can only wish him the very best life has got to offer, long life, more prosperity, good health and the strength to continue his great works for humanity.

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I HAVE BEEN GREATLY IMPACTED -Orobosa

“I

t is truly heart-warming to see that at this critical time of this country, somebody has taken it upon himself to build this world class institution. I have been greatly impacted indeed. What he has done for his community has taught me

that it’s a great thing to give back to your community. “On behalf of the students of Elizade University, I wish him a happy 80th birthday celebration. We appreciate and love him. We thank him for pursuing his dream of Elizade University through and

for giving us the opportunity of being beneficiaries of that dream.” - Ikponmwen Orobosa, current Student Consultative forum. (SCF) President of Elizade University and a 400-level student of Economics, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences.

“I

am using this opportunity to on behalf of the students of Elizade University, make a shout out to the founder, Chief Ade. Ojo and to wish him a very great happy birthday on his 80th birthday celebration. “We are sincerely grateful to him for providing us with this environment to study and be equipped for the task of leading our world in our generation. “The facilities you have provided us with in Elizade University are world class and second to none in Nigeria. You are not just a founder, but a father, a great mentor, a visionary leader and an extraordinary personality par excellence. God bless and keep you, Sir.” - Ibrahim Salim, current General Secretary of the Students Consultative Forum (SCF)

WE ARE SINCERELY GRATEFUL TO CHIEF ADE. OJO - Ibrahim Salim

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HE IS A TOWERING FIGURE WITH PASSION FOR EXCELLENCE - UTOMI PROFESSOR PAT UTOMI, teacher, Professor of Social Entrepreneurship, politician, and founder, Centre for Value in Leadership shares his long-standing knowledge of Chief Ade. Ojo whom he says has successfully engraved his name in gold in the history of the development of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;Ś.. How long have you known Chief Ade. Ojo and what is your relationship with him? I have known Chief Ade. Ojo since 1968 and interestingly, he worked with my father at the British Petroleum in those days. We actually lived in the same neighborhood in Surulere then. As it turned out, I also attended the same University of Nigeria many years after Chief Ade. Ojo had graduated from same school. Thereafter, I travelled abroad for further studies. After my Ph.D, I returned to the country and in 1982, I met Chief Michael Ade. Ojo again after a long while at the meeting of the University of Nigeria Alumni Association. Again, as destiny would have it, I ended up working then with Volkswagen of Nigeria Ltd- the same line of business with him where I was the head of the team. Chief Ade. Ojo, being one of the biggest and leading automobile dealers in the country then, we apparently met again in that capacity as captains of industry. As if that was not enough, we met again at the gathering of the University of Nigeria Alumni Association, but this time around, he was the President of the Lagos branch of the association while I was his deputy. Since then, we have had

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Accolades immortality, which has to do with the desire of the people of faith to see God face to face. So, if you can live a life that promotes your material and spiritual immortality, you have lived an awesome life.

many years of very interesting partnership and warm relationship both at the level of business, alumni association and even family. In most recent years, I established the Centre for Value in Leadership to see how the next generation can be influenced by the accomplishments of people that have made great impact in society without necessarily having great titles or holding public offices, after all, true leaders don’t need titles before they impact their societies positively. A lot of people think one need to be a Governor, President, and Senator and so on to be a leader. In truth, leaders of his calibre are scarce in supply. True leaders like him include: Dr. Christopher Kolade, Chief Emeka Anyaoku among others, who have made huge differences without necessarily having big titles. How would you describe his personality? I would say that he is a sublime person and a towering figure, who has passion for excellence. He is a man who is very passionate about his business and his relationships generally. He is a man who keeps good relationship with people and he cares so much about others. He loves to be in touch with people that he cares about. He is also a very generous person. He has done so much for the University of Nigeria. No wonder that the Univer-

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sity has honoured him with an honorary Doctorate Degree just as the alumni association has also honoured him with numerous awards. Moreover, he is a very humble, honest, truthful, hardworking and kindhearted person who is committed to making a difference in the society. When the idea of what has today crystallized into Elizade University first crossed his mind, I spent a bit of time with him to brainstorm on the whole idea. First, he was thinking about setting up a monotechnic or polytechnic, but what we have today in Elizade University is simply amazing. I am glad that his passion has materialized and he has successfully engraved his name in gold in the history of the development of this country. I often tell people that the purpose and essence of living is the pursuit of immortality; a man lives so that he will live forever. One can pursue immortality in two dimensions which are material and spiritual. Material immortality means to live your life in such a way that you impact people with the things you have achieved such that even long after your body has become dust, your memory will forever be etched in the minds of the people based on the physical things (legacy) you have left behind. The other immortality I call spiritual

What’s your most memorable experience with him? There are lots of memorable experiences, but the one I cherish most is when I tease him on the phenomenon of ‘driver and boss’ as a trend then at the University of Nigeria. In those days, there was the phenomenon called ‘driving’ and ‘boss’ such that when you are dating a lady on campus, you are perceived as the driver while the lady becomes the boss. So, Chief Ade. Ojo was then the driver while Chief (Mrs.) Elizabeth Ade. Ojo, his late wife, was the boss because they both met while they were undergraduates. What moral values do you think people can learn from him? Chief Ade. Ojo exemplifies patience, perseverance, meticulous, and hard work. We are fortunate to have a man like Chief Ade. Ojo, who is not just a terrible risk taker, but patient and creative to have nurtured it to such an expansive, enviable and flourishing business conglomerate. He is also exceptionally humble, honest and generous. These are some of the values that drive a society to greatness. What would you advice and wish him at 80? He should not think that 80 is old enough, he is just about to start life. It is popularly said that life begins at forty and they later moved it to 70. But I want to push the bar further to 80 for him. It is now he is going to start enjoying life. So he should be ready to enjoy himself to the fullest and touch more lives positively as he has been doing. Moreover, I wish him happiness, fulfillment, long life, sound health and peace of the Lord. I wish him grace to entrench more legacies that will outlive him.

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HE IS AN EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD PERSON OF IMPECCABLE CHARACTER – OBA ALADELUSI

he Deji of Akure, HRM, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi (Odundun II) has joined in celebrating Chief Ade. Ojo’s 80th birthday with millions of Nigerians all over the world and described the celebrant as a leader of leaders, man of honour, God fearing and humble, adding that he is one man that takes care of his community and people with such passion and love. “He is one of our own, a man that we cherish so much.”

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The Deji said he has been hearing about Chief Ade. Ojo before he even ascended his throne. “He has been a very good friend of the palace since I got to the throne. He visits me regularly and when I want him, he comes to the palace, and when he wants me, I’m there for him. He is such a kindhearted man; he is a father to the community. “He is an exceptionally good person of impeccable character; a man of integrity. I will encourage those coming behind to

emulate him. If you ask children in this community who they would like to be like, they would tell you they want to be like Elizade; that is the name a lot of the children call him. He is a blessing to the state and such people that love their community and people come in a rare while. “I wish him long life, good health, more wealth and energy to continue the good work. On behalf of the people of Akure, I congratulate and wish him a wonderful and fun filled 80th birthday celebration.”

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CHIEF ADE.OJO IS A UNIQUE CREATURE - Adegbenro

OMOLOLU ADEGBENRO is the Registrar of Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State. In the following interview, he talks about his meeting with Chief Ade. Ojo and what has endeared him to the man ever since….

hat can you say about SIR (Chief) Ade.Ojo? I have known Chief Michael Ade. Ojo for over 30 years now, but we became closer in 1994 when I became the Secretary of Egbe Omo Ilara-Mokin. The same year, I joined the services of the Federal University of Technology, Akure. We have come a long way. I remember when Ilara-Mokin was to install a new Oba, he was at the vanguard and I was one of his followers. When he then muted the idea of having a university and invited me to serve at the committee for the planning and implementation of the project, it was for me a great pleasure. When the university was eventually licensed in 2012 by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and he said I should be the founding Registrar, I initially rejected it, that I would prefer to remain at FUTA and pursue my career, but he insisted. And on a second look, having considered the value of the project to the well-being of the community, I had to accept the offer.

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How would you describe his personality? Chief Ade. Ojo is a unique creature, the kind of things he does would get you baffled. What he has done in Ilara-Mokin and other places clearly portrays him as somebody who doesn’t like people suffering. He is the type that tries as much to assist whoever comes his way. Over 133 sons and daughters of this community have benefited from his scholarship scheme that he instituted about 20 years ago. He is a philanthropist to the core who gives back to society. He established Shield Microfinance Bank, Elizade University and the Smokin Hills Golf Resort, all in Ilara-Mokin. He tarred our road with over N200million when money had purchasing power many years ago. My invitation to be the foundation Registrar also shows his love for his community after all, he had an option of going elsewhere to pick a Registrar, but he insisted that I must be the one. He also made me a member of the board of the

Shield Microfinance Bank. He is no doubt, God-sent especially to this community and to humanity at large. Despite all the great achievements, he doesn’t make noise. Those who don’t have one tenth of what he has, parade the whole place almost chasing away people from town to the caves, but you won’t see that with him. He is the type that loves a quiet life. Do you have any moral lesson you have drawn from his life? A lot, diligence, hard work, honesty, uprightness, humility and love for people. Apart from these sterling qualities, he hates telling lies and gossiping. Despite his high status, once he realizes he has done anything that offends you, he would humble himself to apologize to you. Do you have any memorable experience with him you would want to share with us? While still at FUTA as PRO, I anchored a function of the university where awards were given to deserving dignitaries and Baba was in attendance. And I spent

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Accolades quality time introducing Professors and Vice-Chancellors, not knowing he was not happy about the time wasted but he didn’t say anything until we fell into his hands by asking him to respond on behalf of other recipients. The man finished me though he didn’t mention my name, but it was clear he was referring to me. Someone that sat next to me whispered to me and said, ‘Omololu, it is you your father is rebuking’, and I felt very bad, but I managed to continue with the programme. After the event, he held my hand round the exhibition stand outside the hall and there were many Vice-Chancellors from different universities. Some journalists later came and requested to have a chat with him; he then said we should go to my office that he will attend to the journalists in my office. He spent about 30 minutes addressing them in my office and thereafter left. I will never forget that experience. The second one was quite encouraging and inspiring. The first convocation ceremony I anchored at FUTA, Baba probably came because of one of the awardees and as I started commentaries at the procession before the Registrar took over to direct the programme, I didn’t know he was so impressed with my performance. In the afternoon of that same day, I came to Ilara-Mokin and I had a stopover at the Oba’s Palace just to say hello and I met Baba there. To my greatest surprise, Chief there hugged me before the Oba and said, Omololu you made me proud and I was happy that you are from my town when you held the microphone and began to talk at the event earlier in the day. Another occasion was when I was to be appointed the Registrar of Elizade University, I was travelling to Manchester in the United Kingdom for a conference sponsored by FUTA where I was to spend one week, I was to return on the 6th of April 2012, but on my way to the airport, I made a stopover at his place to say Sir I’m off to Manchester and I will be back on the 6th of April. And he said I have to return on the 4th of April, that the inaugural meeting of Council would hold on the 5th of April and there was no way I would be appointed Registrar

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in my absence. I then said but Sir, I have already bought my ticket and he said I should go and change it. I then ran to the airport to change my ticket and that cost me 100 pounds extra. I came back to Lagos on the 4th of April in the evening around 8.00 pm and I decided to drive to Ilara-Mokin that night, Chief kept calling me to know where I was till I got to his house around 1.00 am. At the Council meeting the following morning, when it was time to discuss the appointment of the Registrar, he insisted I should be the one and told them I have been faithful to him, I have never disappointed him, I’m hardworking and all the good things. But the Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Prof. Adegoke, asked what kind of appoint-

At the Council meeting the following morning, when it was time to discuss the appointment of the Registrar, he insisted I should be the one and told them I have been faithful to him, I have never disappointed him, I’m hardworking and all the good things.

ment do you want the Council to make when they don’t even know the person in question. I had a rough copy of my CV with me then and I gave it to the Professor and he exclaimed, wow! He has a whole book here. The council then decided to interview me there and then I was asked to go out, after about 20 minutes they said I have been appointed as the registrar. If not for his insistence, certainly I wouldn’t have been so appointed. What is your advice to him at 80? My candid advice is that the man should slow down a little; he is working too hard, he hardly sleeps. Sometimes he calls me at the wee hours of the night or sends me SMS very early in the morning and I would be wondering what this old man is doing at such hour of the day when he ought to be asleep or at least on his bed. But the challenge is whether the man can ever slow down because hard work has become ingrained in his DNA by his mother. But I thank God for his stature and the good health he is blessed with. Though Chief is 80, he is still looking very good. Have you had any disagreement with him? Yes, we have had so many disagreements. Even the teeth and the tongue do quarrel sometimes after all. He would say, ‘Omololu, I asked you to do this, why haven’t you done it?’ and I will give him my reasons. But we have never had any fundamental disagreement; it’s usually the kind of disagreement like a father trying to correct the child in love. What in your opinion makes him angry? When you lie to him, he gets angry; when you leave things that are supposed to be done undone, he gets angry. When you are dishonest, you irritate him, so also when you are lazy. He also hates gossiping. What are you wishing him at 80? I wish him long life in good health. I pray God will continue to keep him for us, give him peace of mind and the strength to continue his good works to humanity.

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HE IS ONE OF THE PILLARS OF THE CHURCH IN BOTH AKURE AND LAGOS -RT. REV. DR. BOROKINI

Anglican Bishop of Akure Diocese, RT. REV. DR. OLUWOLE BOROKINI looks at the man, Michael Ade. Ojo, his philanthropic activities and commitment to the things of God….

ow well do you know Chief Ade. Ojo? I know him quite well; he is a very prominent and active member of our Church and the Diocese too. He is going to be 80 years soon, what would you say about him? We thank God for his life and we rejoice with him on this auspicious occasion of his 80th birthday. He has remained an asset not just to Ondo State, but to Nigeria as a whole. He is a philanthropist through whom a lot of people have been assisted in diverse ways in this country. He came from a very humble background and God has so elevated him amongst his peers. Since God showered his abundant blessings upon him, he has never forgotten God, he has been using his resources for the benefit of mankind. He is somebody that you don’t need to prod to do what is good. Since I became Bishop of the Diocese, when you tell him of a need in the Church, he responds with greater surprise packages than you ever expected. Recently, the new Vicar that has just been posted to St. Michael Anglican Church, Ilara-Mokin said Chief paid him a visit and on getting to the Church, he saw that the rug and the paintings of the place were not looking too good and as God would have it, he replaced the rug and painted the whole Church. Chief Ade. Ojo is the Chairman of the Development Commit-

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tee of the Diocese. When it comes to matters of raising funds, he is one of the pillars of the Church not only in Akure, but even in Lagos where he resides and works. He is a man of many parts that has lifted a lot of people of his community and beyond. God has really been using him for the Church and the community in general. He is such a humble, honest, hardworking, diligent and disciplined businessman and community person; a devout Christian and philanthropist who do not take the things of God for granted. He hates lies and laziness. Can you remember any memorable experience with him? When we were planning a sendforth of the former bishop, we went to him at Ilara-Mokin for assistance and he said the Bishop was someone he knew very well as a person. At the end of the day, he bought him a car. He is such an addicted giver. Do you have any words of advice for him? My advice is that he should continue to give the best of his service to God as he has been doing. What do you wish him as he celebrates his 80th birthday? On behalf of the Diocese, I wish him more prosperous years, robust health and God’s continuous blessings, guidance and protection.

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HE IS A MAN WITH VISION

- ASEMOTA

n the words of Mrs. Ireti Asemota, Executive Director, Omoregie Motors Nigeria Limited, and a woman that has known the Ade. Ojos’ for over 40 years: “He is a very brilliant man. His family and mine have been very close and the children are gradually taking over. He is a very reliable man, when he tells you yes it is yes. I thank God for giving him the grace to do all that he has been doing, especially the establishment of Toyota Nigeria Limited, Elizade University and a host of others. “Chief Michael Ade. Ojo is an example to learn from. It doesn’t matter where

you come from, and your family background does not necessarily determine your success in life; your life is in your hands. He is an example of a man with vision and God has helped him tremendously to make a huge success of that vision. We know where he started from and today he is at the pinnacle. “So we thank God for his life. He is a very intelligent and disciplined man. I call him Professor, because he is so sharp such that you can’t take him unaware. I wish him the best on his forthcoming 80th birthday.”

HE TAUGHT ME THE VIRTUES OF HONESTY AND HARD WORK - WOLE

r. Wole Abegunde has described Chief Ade. Ojo as a very firm businessman that is at home with whatever he does at all times. “He is someone who derives joy in helping others without any expectation of a reciprocal benefit to himself. I have been a beneficiary of that on several occasions. We have also seen how he successfully developed his home town and put it on the world map,” he said. Recalling some of the memorable mo-

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ments he had with Chief Ade. Ojo, Wole stated “One day, I asked him how come he picks every call including people that he does not know. And he said he picks every call because for him every call is important as he cannot tell whether it is somebody that wants to buy a vehicle that is calling, that if he doesn’t pick that call he might have lost a sales opportunity.” He said he has learnt how to be honest and hard working from the Chief, and wish him longer life and good health.

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CHIEF ADE. OJO IS AN UNASSUMING PERSON FULL OF IDEAS Fashoranti CHIEF REUBEN FASHORANTI, the leader of Afenifere worldwide is a school proprietor, politician and Elder Statesman. He spoke to us about the man, Chief Michael Ade. Ojoâ&#x20AC;Ś.

hat is your relationship with Chief Ade. Ojo? I met Chief Ade. Ojo in company of Chief Olu Falae who has been his friend for a long time. I was attracted to him because of his ideas about education. I became closer to him when I knew him as the founder of Elizade University and I have always attended functions in the school. How would you describe him? He is a very friendly and unassuming person full of ideas and at the same time ready to help people. He is also exceptionally generous. He is one person that is so concerned about the development of where he comes from and you can see that reflect in the huge investments he has made in his home town, such as Elizade University, the international golf resort (Smokin Hills) and so on. Have you had any remarkable experience with him? It is about Elizade University, despite the huge resources he has put into that project, he is still very much at ease; always and still very willing and ready to give. I was there in April when he did his usual celebration and he was generously giving out gifts in kind and cash. And when we were to leave he took us to the gate and said goodbye.

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Do you have any advice for him at 80? As he increases in age especially the particular age he has attained, strength begins to decline. I would therefore, advice that he should gradually begin to slow down a little and delegate much of his duties to his children and others and

take some time to rest so that he can live much longer. What are your wishes for him, Sir? I wish him many more years after all, he is still very young. I am 90 plus and I know what it is to be 90. I wish him good health, peace and joy.

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MY MEETING WITH THIS QUINTESSENTIAL GENTLEMAN

-DUPE ALO, TRAINING CONSULTANT AND AN OFFICIAL OF THE LAGOS STATE JUDICIARY Knowing him “I met Chief Ade. Ojo when I was 17 years, when my sister Bisi Odeyemi took me to his place to greet sister Wuraola, and there he handled me like a baby sister. Since then, even after the demise of my sister, he never stopped treating me like a sister.” His personality “Chief Ade. Ojo is a quintessential and detribalized gentle man. He is a networker and bridge builder; he never looks down on people, rather he wants everybody around him to excel. He is an honest businessman and a perfectionist. Where he gives you six assignments and you are only able to accomplish five, and you come to tell him that you have only done five, he will roar at you like a lion all because he wants you to be up and doing, and to do everything perfectly. He is one man who is irrevocably committed to developing people.” Memorable moments “There was this man that was rude to me one day, and he asked the man who he thought I was to him, and the man said he was aware I am his wife’s sister. And he said I was not just his wife’s sister,that I was also his sister too. I was so touched knowing how a lot of Nigerians treat in-laws.” I have a song for him which says:

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All the glory must be to the Lord For he is worthy of our praise No man on earth should give glory to himself All the glory must be to that Lord. What I learnt from him I have learnt to be focused, to be visionary and to follow up on our vision with focus. That God won’t just do some

things for you until you follow up on your vision. My wish for him at 80 I’m wishing him long life, good health and every good thing in life. I pray God gives him the grace to mentor his set of twins to adulthood. I wish him a befitting 80th birthday celebration

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HIS DESIRE IS FOR PEOPLE TO SUCCEED IN LIFE -ABIYE OJO DR. AYO ABIYE OJO is the younger brother of Chief Michael Ade. Ojo. In this interview, he recounts their growing up days and how his brother was instrumental to his becoming a medical doctor today….. some people could fall off the path. There is so much young people of today can learn from my relationship with my elder brother. One of such is to be obedient and yield to wise counsel. Again, people must learn to support their wards and there must be mutual respect.

hat’s your relationship with Chief Ade. Ojo? He is my immediate elder brother. We are six by our mother; he is the 5th while I am the 6th. We bless God that he has come of this age and the way he has impacted lives. We are all very proud of him. There are many of his mates that have practically nothing to celebrate other than the point that they have several millions of naira which some of them got by questionable means in their bank accounts without affecting any life positively. But my brother, Chief Michael Ade. Ojo is somebody that God has blessed and has worked very hard too. He is somebody we are very happy to associate ourselves with. Not many wealthy people in Nigeria can boast of the kind of development he has brought to Ilara-Mokin and the hope and smiles he has brought to many homes. In few words, can you describe his personality? He is a forthright man and he loves people, he is someone who wants people to succeed in life. He is a transformer and I am very happy our parents, particularly our mother did that wonderful job of decent upbringing on us in spite of their level of lack; they were able to instill great values in us and that is what my elder brother has practically demonstrated in his own life too. He said he ensured you became a medical doctor which he originally wanted to be but could not for the challenge of mathematics and what have you, can you tell us more about how he has impacted your career life? I have already told you that I am his immediate younger brother. He has impacted me positively; he followed a path which I saw was good and he gave me very concrete advice and direction about life and career, essentially having acquired and known the value of education. He impressed it upon me that I must be educated and assured me that he would support me to the end and that spurred me to do what I had to do. He guided me through career path, that

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he wanted me to become a medical doctor and counseled me on the choice of subjects that could qualify me. However, on his initial desire of wanting to be a medical doctor, it was when he was 70 that I heard for the first time that he actually wanted to study medicine but he missed it because he didn’t do sciences. My big brother showed me the way in and out of life, he instructed me on what I should do and directed me to Olivet Baptist School, Oyo where sciences were emphasized. He spoke to the Principal, I took their entrance examination, passed the exams and I was taken into the school. And by the grace of God, I did not disappoint him and my people. What moral lessons can young people learn from your relationship with your brother? Young people must learn to stay on the right path. First is that we learnt and imbibed much of the values that have shaped our lives from our parents. My elder brother owe so much of what he is and which he has also impacted me with from what our parents taught him; it’s the basic things you learn in the home that makes the difference. The root is very important though

Can you tell us some of your experiences with him growing up? When we were in St Michael’s School, IlaraMokin he was in the senior class and I was in the junior school, We usually hold end of the year programme and in a particular year, I was to be a major actor in the end of the year drama. My brother who was privy to my results came and told me that I failed my promotion exams. But I continued my acting then and didn’t show it. The point here is that those who had no senior relations or friends were not privileged to such information that early. The other memorable experience was when I was to be baptized. Then you have to know those names or characters in the bible. So we sat in the church that day and he told me the stories of all the characters in the bible and that was how I was able to choose Emmanuel which was God’s name. Again, I remember the day I wept profusely when he was in Imade College and he forgot his bucket at home. As I discovered it, I began to weep because I felt they would punish him for not coming with his bucket. I don’t think he would have felt as bad at school as I did at home; I couldn’t do anything that day. That goes to show the bond of love between us.

What will you wish him at 80? I am very happy for him and I wish him all the best in life; he is still a young man. Ten years ago when he celebrated 70, we were in the hall in Lagos and I couldn’t just imagine he was 70. But we praise God that when somebody had lived a wonderful life, he always look younger. And I don’t feel like he is as old as he is claiming going by his look. I pray that by the grace of God he will live many more years in sound health, strength and greater prosperity.

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HE IS A VERY HONEST FATHER IN-LAW - Funke Ade-Ojo, the wife of Ademola Ade-Ojo

an you tell us more about Daddy? Daddy is a very wonderful father, he is so fond of his family, but very disciplined too. He likes things to be done properly and in the right way. He wants people to behave in the right way. He is very particular about respect and culture. He is God fearing, truthful, honest, hardworking and a man of integrity. My experience with Daddy has been very interesting. He likes honest people that are very hardworking. He is also very blunt and direct which sometimes might make you think he is harsh. Ultimately, it’s because he loves you and wants the best for you that he chastises you. Daddy is unique; there is none like him. What would you say is that memorable experience with him? When I had my first child, I was in the UK and Daddy was in Nigeria, but he flew in specially to be around and that made me feel very special and happy. Another one was during the summer holiday when the children were around and Daddy was there in London and we went to the park together with him. We went out for lunch and dinner together; he spent quality time with the children and I again that for me was very special. Also in my very early days in my marriage, Daddy was just like a boyfriend. We used to have lots of fun together; he would tease and sometimes even pinch me and so on. In fact, he is my father and every to me. I also re-

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member when we just got married and we didn’t want to have children immediately, we wanted to wait a few years before having children and I mentioned it to Daddy, straight away he asked, what would you be doing? You want to be doing ‘boyfriend and girlfriend’? He then said, my friend would you go and have a baby. And I was like this is barely two months into our marriage and Daddy is demanding for grandchild. But I got the message loud and clear that I was expected to make it happen and that was what I did eventually. He is very

honest because some others wouldn’t open up, but they won’t be happy with you either. What would you say to him at 80? I wish him all the best, he is an incredible man. We love him and we would celebrate him at 80; it’s a major milestone. We thank God Almighty for granting him the grace to attain this age and we pray that God will continue to keep and bless him; give him sound mind and excellent health. He still has a lot to offer to humanity. God Almighty would give him the grace to enjoy more of God’s favour..

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HE IS A MAN OF IMPECCABLE CHARACTER - Otunba Oladunni

t u n b a (Dr.) Solo m o n Ay o d e l e Oladunmi has described Chief Michael Ade. Ojo as the principal icon in Nigeria’s auto industry, a first-class business man, who is not only Godly but does his business with utmost sense of diligence, attributing his rise from a small scale business entity to a business colossus to these virtues. “He is a very likeable person, a dedicated and disciplined family man, a loving and caring father and husband. He relates with his friends very well regardless of age and financial status. He is very humble despite his wealth and always ready to assist those in need. He has done very well for his community and places where he has been invited to,” Otunba Oladunmi said. He recalled: “There was a time I was building a Church for my community and I invited him as co-launcher and he obliged and made very generous donation towards the project; that is something I am very glad about. He loves his community and his community loves him; he has brought significant development and progress to the community thereby putting the place not just on the national map but on the world map by establishing Elizade University and Smokin Hills golf course of international standard there. One can only say he has done well for our state.” On what I have learnt being his friend all this while, Otunba Oladunmi said, “We both do share informa-

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tion on life experiences and things that are noble that people should engage in. And each time you engage him in such discussions, it is always a moment to gain something new from him. He is a man of impeccable character, hardworking, honest, humble and caring. His kind disposition is second to none. The positive way he takes life which I believe synchronizes with my belief is one thing I have come to admire.” On his advice for Chief Ade. Ojo as he clocks the Octogenarian age of 80, Otunba Oladunmi who was one time Chairman, Integrated Trust and Investment Limited said, “I know he is very close to God, but one cannot be too close to God and so, I will advise him to be closer to God. Moreover, those things which people admire that God has given him, the capacity to do should continue. I mean helping the less privileged and the needy, building individuals and communities. He should also lend his voice to advice or caution those in power when the need arises because it is people like him that the politicians listen to, so that people can benefit more from his wealth of experience.” “I can only continue to pray God to give him good health, long life, well-being, peace, happiness and more prosperity. I pray he will live to see his great, great, great grandchildren all growing up before him. I wish him a happy 80th birthday celebration,” Otunba Oladunmi prayed.

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My Grandpa Is A Great Man - Sefeoluwa Ade-Ojo,

12 years old

“My grandpa is a great man; he is very loving, kind, honest and hardworking. He will tell you things that will help improve your life. He has done a lot of things with us; he played with us when we were in London. I remember when I was like 9 years, it was Ademide’s birthday and grandpa was there and he bought Ademide a cake and after the party we went to the park to play. It was great fun and we spent quality time with my grandpa and it was very memorable. “I pray that he will live many more years. Grandpa, now that you are 80, I think you should reduce your work load, because you are older than you were before. But I am happy you still look very young as if you are under 60. I wish you a happy 80th birthday celebration, Grandpa.”

I Love Grandpa Because He Is Very Kind - Ademide Ade-Ojo.

“I love my Grandpa a lot; I love him because he is very kind. He loves to share; he is a very honourable man. I like my Dad; he is just like my Grandpa in many ways. When my Grandpa walks into the room, I feel a big gas of heroism is just flowing in. “Grandpa is a great man indeed, he has done many things that many people cannot do, made so much money and gotten so much comfort. I am very happy he is my Grandpa. “I wish him long life and more greatness. Grandpa, I love you, thank you for being there for us. I pray you will live long enough to see my children and my children’s children in Jesus name.”

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HE IS A SPECIAL MAN Grandpa is a very special man and he is very caring. He cares for me. I wish him a very long life.

- Folajimi Ade-Ojo, 6 years old

CHIEF IS LIKE ABRAHAM THROUGH WHICH GOD PROMISED TO BLESS NATIONS - MRS. ADUNNI ADENIYI A NIECE TO CHIEF ADE. OJO

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“H

e is actually a father figure to me just like he is to many others. He is like Abraham through whom God promised to bless nations. I believe that God has sent him to bless not just his family but the whole of humanity. I rejoice with him that he is celebrating his 80th birthday. We give God all the glory for his life, the wonderful children and indeed the extended family altogether. “Daddy is a moralist and a disciplinarian, he has a way or correcting you when you do something wrong. He corrects us in love, telling us where we come from and the virtues we were brought up with. He is a man of integrity and honesty. He has impacted our lives a great deal with these values. “I remember many years ago that I went to him that I wanted to start a business, that he should help me with some money. Instead, he taught me a lesson that I should be prudent in what I do and the choice of business I venture into. That statement alone opened my senses to a big lesson that you don’t just jump into any kind of business because you feel that somebody is there to help you. “It is my prayer that 80 will be a starting point for him. God will continue to give him strength, bless and keep him. I wish him a wonderful 80th birthday celebration.”

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MY FATHER IS A GO-GETTER AND ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL MARKETERS THE WORLD EVER HAD -’DEOLA SAGOE DEOLA SAGOE is the ﬁrst child of Chief Michael Ade. Ojo and Elizabeth Wuraola Ade. Ojo. She is a creative entrepreneur, and one of the pioneers in the modern fashion industry not only in Nigeria, but in Africa. She has brought passion, expertise and professionalism into the fashion world- qualities attributed to an orientation built around high value for taste, standard, excellence and perfection by her parents. In this interview, the erstwhile Executive Director of Elizade said she never actually thought she will be a fashion designer. She also spoke extensively about those qualities that stand her father, Chief Michael Ade. Ojo out……

ow would you describe your father? As a young man I could describe him as a multi-facetted, very determined and an ambitious man who wanted to succeed against all odds. Today, I would describe him as a goal getter and one of the most successful marketers or sales persons that I have ever known; somebody who is dogged, determined and who obviously understands business very well. Even in the house, he is a business man. It is so ingrained in him that he thinks in a businesslike manner in almost everything he does in his life having come from a background that was indeed very challenging. He is a very smart man. What is your memorable experience growing up with Daddy? I would say the most memorable experience was when I was between the ages of 3 and 5 years, you might be wondering if I still remember my experiences at that age but yes I do. I happen to be one of those people with a photographic memory; I can still remember looking through the bars of my court, Back then my father and I were best of friends. At that time, I had him to myself with my mother; those were the years my fa-

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ther and mother took me outside Nigeria on a leisure ride together. We traveled to Togo, Cotonou, I remember we couldn’t enter into Ghana because at that time Nigerians were being shut out of Ghana. I still have the images strong in my mind,

sitting in the back of my parents white Beetle Car with my doll as we travelled across the border. And I remember my father told me: “Adeola won’t you breast feed your doll?” I was about 3 years then and I would proceed to actually try to breast feed my doll. I

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Accolades remember those times when my parents would take me to Sea School, it was beautiful in those days. I still have those pictures in my memory when we were in a boat and I was trying to touch the foaming water as we went along in the boat, those times I had my father to myself and funny enough Elizade hadn’t started then. Those are the years and events that I consider truly memorable. What would you count as the morals you have learnt from him? My goodness! I will go on and on and on and fill many books. I grew up with a moralist as a father and I have to say that this had its advantages and few disadvantages. Everything has to be balanced, it is good to teach your children moral values , uprightness, truthfulness, honesty, hard work, do not do evil to others and all the basic values of life and good interpersonal relations. But we should equally remember to let them know that out there in the wider society, there are people whose stock in trade is telling lies, cheating and all other vices. So that they would not be foolish enough i s to think that everybodyy like them, because you would be so shocked when you come across people, majority of whom are involved in what you were taught never to o do. We were brought up with the fear of

Koboko (Cain) should you do anything contrary to the family values. But like I said, it was a little problem to quickly come to the understanding that not everybody is good and upright. However, the advantages of being morally upright are far more than the disadvantages. What would you want to tell your workaholic father at 80? Interestingly, what I want to say is along that line. “He should get a life,’ and by that I mean he should take life a little easier now than ever before. Thank God he is 80, but he just has to find a way to reduce the workaholic attitude and to have more time to relax and enjoy himself. God has blessed him so much; it’s now time to enjoy the blessings of God upon him. I know he loves dancing; he should do more of that now and ease every tension. He said he wanted you to be in the automobile industry, but that you took up the Odua Creation. What would you say to that? Yes, I was in the automobile industry, I was the Executive Director of Elizade for a while and I was doing that hand in hand with Odua Creation, but fashion chose me, I didn’t choose fashion. I did not study fashion, I never knew I would go into it but today, I have inspired so many African youths all over the world. And this is already giving parents a different view on what kind of career a child can take up, because I have become a point of reference especially when their parents object to the career they have passion for. Afterall, what about Deola Sagoe, see what she is doing. It’s not me but God, once God has said that this is your path

mother passed on in 2003, I was made the Vice Chairman to step into her shoes. When Elizade building was to be opened I practically put together the opening ceremony and introduced quite a lot of practices and activities into the business. Along the line, there was a new turn of events where it was no longer feasible for me to do the two at once. But I am still on the board and my voice and opinion are still very much respected. We must equally not forget that Elizade started with the selling of the designs and things that my mother would make. When they were both in the university, my mother would sew and it was some of the shirts that my mother sewed that he will put on and go out and sell with the eggs they had from the poultry. At a time in Nigeria nobody thought what I am doing now was a noble profession in the sense that they didn’t see it being able to sustain a particular kind of life style. And that is why I said I am one of the pioneers in this business. Today, the creative industry has gained so much prominence. Your wishes to your Daddy at 80? I wish him joy, peace and for him tto be surrounded with love. I want him to kknow that there are people who genuinely love him unconditionally. I wish he can un underC stand truly the depth of the love that Christ has for him. My wish for him, apart ffrom pros those mundane things of long life, prosperity and what have you, is that in his rem remaining years on earth, the love of Christ w would rain upon him and that through him the light would shine on other people. No doubt he is a great man and the llegacy I would love him to leave behind is a legconsum It acy that moth and rust will not consume. is not in buildings or in parks or anyt anything like that which can perish, but in the love that is going to be expressed in diffe different afte he ways that will stay with people long after moth is gone just like the legacy of my mother.

honestly, there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. I was a very strong Executive Director of Elizade from 1988 to 2002 before my

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HIS LEVEL OF HUMILITY IS LEGENDARY - OTUNBA OGUNYEMI

Ex-banker, farmer and meat processor, OTUNBA FEMI OGUNYEMI has been Chief Michael Ade.Ojo’s friend for over four decades and counting. He spoke to us about this Octogenarian he said taught him how to live a simple life……

ow long have you known Chief Ade. Ojo and what is your relationship with him? I have known Chief Ade.Ojo since the middle of the 1970s. I met him when he was building his present business empire. I happened to be one of his bank managers. He is an aggressive businessman. I see him as an extremely serious businessman who is very protective of his business; a very good and happy going person all the time. Chief Ade. Ojo is ready to fight anything that is unjust and not transparent. Do you have personal relationship with him? Yes I do. Our relationship is more than just business relationship. I met him through his late wife of blessed memory, Chief (Mrs) Elizabeth Wuraola Ade.Ojo, after the opening of a bank account. The wife was always coming to the bank to follow up the transactions while he concentrated on the importation and marketing of the business. He is not just a friend, he is a big brother to me and I realized that he is a totally committed family man. The reason why our relationship has continued today is because we took it beyond business to family level. What where those morals you learnt from him? I have learnt to be simple and to be more committed to my family, business and community. Chief Ade. Ojo is super

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rich and I was expecting him to move out of Ikeja to Ikoyi or Victoria Island or one of the best places in Lekki but he decided to remain in Ikeja, not even the G.R.A. I am saying this to underscore his level of humility. He is an honest businessman. Is there any memorable experience you had with him? I remember in the year 2000, he fought seriously one of the foreign companies that was dubious and was in competition with his, to a standstill. He cannot be compared with other businessmen in Nigeria who cannot protect the interest of Nigeria. What would you say to him on the occasion of his 80th birthday? I believe he is not yet tired and therefore, I cannot tell him to quit active work, he is still very active and I am prophesying that even at 90 he will still be very strong. I know he is someone who takes very good care of himself. So if Queen Elizabeth of England can still remain standing for hours attending to events, Chief Ade.Ojo will still remain strong. I wish him good health and more prosperity. I am grateful to God for his life at 80. I pray that as he has been feeding everybody that comes his way, God will give him the grace to continue doing that. As he has conquered 80, so also will he conquer 90 and beyond. I wish him a great and happy 80th birthday celebration.

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HARD WORK MADE HIM WHAT HE IS TODAY - SIR ADEBUTU

SIR (Dr.) KESINGTON ADEBUKUNOLA ADEBUTU, CON, KJW, a long-standing friend of Chief Michael Ade.Ojo has these to say about the celebrant…..

“I

have known Chief Ade.Ojo for over 4 decades. I met him when he was still an employee and during his working days and without any form of exaggeration, he is a very hardworking man, honest, simple and unassuming. I believe that it is this hard work that has made him what he is today, knowing he was not born

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with a silver spoon; I duff my hat for him. “He is a very good friend of mine. We have quite some similarities, we both started from a very small beginning and thank God, our efforts were crowned by God and they have paid off today. He is a very reliable and dependable man. He is such a good person, he is doing very well, he is a philanthropist and he has done very

well for his people and community. He built a university, an international golf resort, tarred their roads and so on the projects that are not money making ventures but a very big sacrifice. “He taught me how to be honest, truthful, diligent, hardworking and generous. I wish him happy 80th birthday, long life and good health to enjoy the rest of his life.”

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HE IS A MAN OF HIGH MORAL VALUES - TAIWO OGUNDIPE

“H

e is like a father to me, since I have known him, he has been very wonderful not just to me but to my entire family. He’s been supporting every good initiative that we take. And whenever we approach him

that we have a need or challenge, he is always there to help out. Our prayer is that God will continue to give him the strength to serve humanity even at 80. “I have known him for over ten years now. He is an in-law to me; I am the elder brother to his wife and he is like a

father to me. Our relationship has been very cordial. “He is a man of high moral values. One of the morals I have learnt from him is truthfulness. I wish him many happy returns of the day and a very prosperous life.”

HE IS VERY BLUNT AND STRAIGHTFORWARD - SUNDAY OLUGBEMIRO OGUNDIPE

“I

have known Chief Michael Ade. Ojo for a very long time; he is my in-law. “He has been a very wonderful person to me and my family. He is a very honest man and everyone that knows him attests to that; he always speaks the truth, he is very blunt and straight forward. “I have learnt a lot from him; he is a man of high integrity and he speaks the truth anytime and everywhere and I have imbibed all that from him. “I wish him very prosperous and long life in good health. I wish him a happy birthday.”

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HE IS A PRINCIPLED MAN

- FUNMI YUSUF (NEE BAKARE), NIECE TO CHIEF ADE. OJO

“I

have known him all my life and he has been a very wonderful person. He sees everybody’s problem as his own. He is someone that is ready to assist and a goal getter. He loves to see people around him happy and successful. He encourages people; he is loving and kindhearted. Daddy is a principled man but he doesn’t impose his own wish on people. I learnt not to impose my wish on people. “I remember when I was doing my Youth Service, I was posted to a place where I didn’t like and I went to him with a view to having it changed. But he

said I should just go there and serve, that it is only for a short while. Thank God I listened to him, if I hadn’t perhaps, I wouldn’t have been the person I am today because it was there I had the opportunity that actually got me exposed to banking. “And I have been in the banking system since then for 15 years now; it’s God’s grace and the advice of Chief Ade. Ojo. I owe him a lot but there is not much I can do but to continue to pray to God that he will continue to live longer and live with us as long as God wants him to be. “May God grant him longer life and good health? May God grant all his heart desires and bless him more and more.”

HE IS A CARING DAD

- Ibukunoluwa Ade-Ojo, Chief Ade. Ojo’s daughter

“I

love my Daddy, he is caring, he buys me clothes, gives me worksheet and teaches me mathematics, tells me not to play rough and that I shouldn’t tell lies. I also love my daddy because he took me to Disney World. Happy birthday Daddy, I love you.”

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HE IS A LOVING FATHER

- ADEOLUWA ADE-OJO, SON OF CHIEF ADE. OJO “Daddy buys new toys for me. He took me to America Disney’s World, Shoprite, to the airport and Europe Disney. I love my Daddy because he is my Daddy and also because he is a loving father. Happy birthday, Daddy, I love you.”

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HIS SUCCESSES IS HINGED ON HIS AFFECTION AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE THINGS OF GOD - OTUNBA BALOGUN

“I

have known Chief Ade. Ojo for about 35 years now; he is one of the friends that I admire immensely. He is one of the most successful self-starters that I know. Since I have known him almost everything he has touched by way of business has been a huge success. We use to call him a graduate sales man that deals in selling motors, because in those days, graduates were usually not taken as sales men. He is a gifted sales man; I am therefore not surprised that he has succeeded so much. “In those days, we were just seeing ourselves and admiring each other but there was something in him that always attracted me to him. He is one man that gives all when it comes to the service of God; he does it with so much enthusiasm. He is the type of businessman that anybody who is starting a business on his own and who fears God should learn from. He is a man with a high sense of loyalty to someone he calls a friend. There was a day that I hosted a night party and there was another party somewhere else such that a lot of the guests left my event in Ijebu Ode to other events but Chief Michael Ade. Ojo stayed with me till the next morning; that is the kind of loyal friend that he is. “Today, the name Ade.Ojo has become synonymous with auto business (Toyota) in this country. I truly admire him and

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Accolades that was why when I setup a finance company, I invited him to be a director on the board. In the Church, he is equally very active; he will do anything for the Church. Talking about business, Chief Michael Ade.Ojo has some charm around him that you just cannot but like him when you see him- the warmth, enthusiasm and the respect that comes from him is something that I find irresistible. He is an honest, diligent, hardworking individual. “He is a good Christian who shows great love to his wife, children and who cares about people. I have come to recognize him as a genuine friend, a Godly person. I think his successes must have come from his affection and contributions to the things of God. In addition, he is a

very patriotic person who has invested so much in developing his community with the establishment of an international golf resort and a university which from reports is one of the best in the country today if not Africa. “The truth is that he might not be aware that I have so much admiration for him, because I have never told him. Quite frankly, he is one person that whenever I have any event and look at my guest list I always ensure he is there. I am really happy for him and I congratulate him for this milestone. Those of us who have crossed that age and are still hopeful of getting to hundred are usually happy when people we love attain that age. On behalf of my wife and children, I would like to heartily felicitate with him on the attainment of this landmark and I wish him more years of grace, good health and further achievements. “Someone once asked me ‘Otunba, when are you going to retire?’ And I told him businessmen don’t retire, what we do is to become advisers to our children who are taking up our businesses. I am really delighted to read that his sons have taken over the running of his business empire. Congratulations Chief Michael Ade.Ojo

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and happy 80th birthday celebration. “I would admonish young people to learn from his love for the things of God, his humility, friendliness and hard work.”

Quite frankly, he is one person that whenever I have any event and look at my guest list I always ensure he is there. I am really happy for him and I congratulate him on this milestone.

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CHIEF ADE. OJO IS SUCH A PLEASANT PERSONALITY - EX-MILAD OLUKOYA

Former Military Governor of old Ondo State, REAR ADMIRAL SUNDAY ABIOUDUN OLUKOYA (Rtd) shares insights into what distinguishes Chief Ade. Ojo from the pack…..

ow much of Chief Michael Ade. Ojo do you know? Chief Michael Ade-Ojo is my senior brother who has a lot of interest in me. Our relationship is over 20 years. In 1990 when I had the privilege to be the Military Governor of the old Ondo State, he was one of the prominent natives that came up immediately to identify with us and also with the progress that was expected then in Ondo State. He has a passion for three things – 1. Education (this you can see from his scholarship programmes, the establishment of Elizade University, etc.); 2. Economic empowerment of people (this we can see from the various forms of empowerment assistance like job placement and the like); and 3. Development of his Community, Ilara-Mokin (the huge investments he has made in Ilara-Mokin such as the international golf resort and the rest that have eventually brought the community out and placed it on the world

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What memorable experience do you have with him? With him, every experience is memorable. After my service to Ondo State as Military Governor, he was one of those prominent persons from Ondo State that ensured that my family and I were well appreciated and anytime I go to Ilara-Mokin, Chief Ade. Ojo’s residence is always our home, we only need to tell him we are coming. So you can understand why every experience with him is memorable.

map are clear evidences of his passion about his people and place), that he wants the best for his people. Chief Ade.Ojo is such a pleasant personality though he might appear tough, but when you go close to him, you will find out that he is so easy going and kindhearted. But he doesn’t take nonsense; he hates lies, dishonesty, laziness and the likes. He is very intelligent and hardworking.

What morals do you know him for that you would recommend to others? Hard work, sincerity, honesty, and the fear of God are among the values he effortlessly exhibit that I would also recommend to people to imbibe. What are your wishes for him as he clocks 80? I congratulate him on his 80th birthday and thank God for his life and his family. I wish him long life, good health, strength and the peace of the Lord.

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HE HAS SO MUCH RESPECT FOR THE CULTURE OF THE YORUBAS - MIMIKO

Immediate past Governor of Ondo State, DR. OLUSEGUN MIMIKO reminisces his times with Chief Ade. Ojo and showers encomiums to the iconic businessman and philanthropist…..

hat’s your relationship with Chief Michael Ade. Ojo and for how long? My relationship with Chief Ade. Ojo, which has spanned a period of about twenty years, is good. In the goodwill to him ten years ago when he was 70 years, I referred to his exemplary role-modeling for the younger generations. This is a man who rose from his humble beginnings in Ilara-Mokin in Ondo State to be a brand name in several endeavours with the Chief Ade.Ojo mark of class and distinction throughout the country; name it: retail marketing; car sales and repair; insurance; education etc. What can you say about him on his 80th birthday? I wish Chief Michael Ade.Ojo a happy 80th birthday. Even at 80, he still looks 60, he is such an incredible person. We thank him for all his care, we are very proud of him; he is such an iconic Nigerian and we are really pleased and grateful to God for giving him to us in Ondo State as a gift. In terms of investment profile in Ondo State, I stand to be challenged or corrected if there is anybody that can be compared to him; he is second to none. I have always admired him. He has

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such elegant dance steps that have failed to go with age, you cannot compete with Chief Ade. Ojo on the dance floor; you would be amazed when he is on the dance floor. He is such a quintessential man of Yoruba extraction that has so much respect for the culture of the Yorubas. On this auspicious occasion of his 80th birthday, I can only wish him the best that life can ever offer. I wish him many years of good health, strength and peace and the grace to enjoy some of the fruits of his labour. By enjoyment, I am not talking of only physical or material enjoyment because I know God has so blessed him, but I am talking about true enjoyment and peace that comes from God alone. On the occasion of the 80th birthday of our icon in Ondo State, I wish Chief Ade. Ojo happy birthday, long life and prosperity. I pray to God to continue to bless him with the necessary vigour and mental alertness so that he may, for long, be the role model and mentor to several younger generations of Nigerians troubled by an inversion of core values. Congratulation Sir!! How will you describe his person, tell us your memorable experience with him?

I will describe Chief Ade.Ojo as a quintessential gentleman; a highly urbane man who is as comfortable with the mores of his traditional culture as he is in tune with the animating values of the contemporary world. In the context of the present Nigerian scene, Chief Ade. Ojo emblematizes the proper value system. He has grown to become the very personification of the proverbial correlation of industry and hard work with success. He serves as a reference for why education remains the key to life’s Bank of Treasures and he is a reminder of the ethical obligation of the wealthy to the less privileged through his legendary philanthropy. Can you tell us about the uniqueness of Elizade University? Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, is Chief Ade. Ojo’s foray into tertiary education provision. The school is fast gaining the reputation and distinction commonly associated with universities that provide quality education in the country. Only into its sixth year and already with all the courses accredited, it seems the school is heading for the trade mark of excellence noted with Chief Ade. Ojo’s other enterprises.

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MY DAD IMPACTED ME WITH SO MANY VALUES - OLUFUNMILAYO SHOBOWALE

MRS. OLUFUNMILAYO SHOBOWALE, Chartered Accountant and Financial Analyst is the daughter and fourth child of Chief Ade. Ojo. She shares her experience and thoughts about her father in this interview…..

ow would you describe your Daddy? Everyone knows that he is a strict and hardworking man; a man that has shaped us his children into responsible, humble and focused individuals. He is understated in many ways, but he is quite personable. He is a man with very high integrity and honesty. He is one person to whom you simply tell it as it is without fluff or exaggeration. I believe he is an old soul even before he became ‘Pa’, a man who rose from nothing to achieve everything most of us only dream of. He is an exceptional man and I am very proud of him.

Wow! Where do I start from talking about the lessons I have learnt from my father? He has always reiterated the importance of hard work, of dignity in one’s livelihood, and has also encouraged me to do better and go further. He impacted me with many values such as discipline, self-control, diligence, truthfulness, humility, honesty and the fear of God. All these attributes have helped me to navigate life in general. I have also gained some insight into asking the right questions and negotiating a better deal in business and investment matters. What are you wishing him at 80?

My father is an incredibly blessed man; we must not take for granted God’s grace upon his life. Daddy is 80 years old and in amazing health, I thank God. I pray that he will continue to wax stronger and remain in excellent health. May his joy be full and his heart filled with the peace and light of the Almighty God. I pray that God’s grace will continue to dwell in him, and that he reaps enough of the fruits of his labour and that his legacy will not be tarnished. 80 hearty cheers to you, Dad. You are simply an amazing and incredible father. God bless you always, Daddy. Happy 80th birthday!

What memorable experience with him would you tell us? Mostly, I remember him giving me good advice about school, money and life generally. When I was younger, I would say goodnight to him and would get a kiss on the cheek. I also loved how I could speak to him about weighty things and he would often proffer solutions, sometimes the solutions were hard and not exactly what I wanted to hear, but I can say that many of them made me stronger. Though he is and has always been a busy man, I fondly remember those light moments when I would tease him and he would laugh and say something witty that would usually throw me off. He also sings the best tenor. He is such a wonderful father. What morals have you taken from him?

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HE IS A MAN OF EXCELLENT PERSONALITY - OJUOKO

Deputy Managing Director of SMT Nigeria Ltd, distributor of Mack trucks, Volvo and SDNG, a Chinese brand, ADE OJUOKO tells us in this interview that Chief Ade. Ojo is an exceptional character worthy of emulation by other aﬄuent in the society…

hat is your relationship with Chief Ade. Ojo like? Chief is a big uncle to me, I knew him when I was still a boy, when he used to come to our house. I remember he used to share money for us; fifty kobo was big money at that time. He was the first person to bring cinema in those days to our house and people would gather to watch. He had one Volvo then and the moment he is in town, the children would come around expecting something good and because he was very generous, he would give us money. He is very good at showing love and care to people. He is a wonderful uncle, we all love him and were always looking forward to having him around, especially during festive periods. One thing about him is that he loves people that are very hardworking. Right from the period I was working in the bank, left for UK and till now, we have been very close. While working in the UK, he came to my office one day and told me he would want me to replicate what I was doing in Nigeria and I said ‘Sir, can we do it bigger?’ And he said yes you have my support. When I was eventually prepared, he said I should meet his friend in Belgium and that was how we established SMT Nigeria Ltd, which represents Volvo in Nigeria. We have been relating like father and son. He chastises me when I go wrong and treats everybody as his children. He cherishes people that are well behaved and hardworking. Chief is a man of excellent personality, you can tell even from the way he conducts his businesses. He has everything going for him, at his age he is still very hard working, seeks everything to be perfect and wants everybody to prosper like him. I remember a day I was doing a letter to a Governor of one

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of the States; he was the one correcting me. He wants everybody that is close to him to be up and doing. I always tell him everybody cannot be like him, that the way God made him is different from the way he made every other person. He is gifted in wisdom and he is very jovial too, that is one thing that gives me joy about him. In fact, Daddy is a rare breed. In celebrating his 80th birthday, we need to thank God to have given us such a man. The kind of projects he has brought to Ilara-Mokin such as the University, the Golf Resort, and others have turned around the life of the people for the better and the truth is that it is not everybody that is rich that has such kind disposition. He is simply put, a good man. Are there some moral values you have learnt from him so far?

Quite a lot; he is a devout Christian. He is an astute businessman who, at 80 still wakes up around 4am. He is very smart and his memory so sharp that when you tell him your phone number he registers it in his brain. He has taught me to put God first, to be hard working, to be thorough, meticulous and clear headed. In the area of tax payment, he is an upright man such that the Lagos State Government has to give him an award. Again he is a loving and caring father, family man and community leader. He has been able to knit the entire family together, I mean both immediate and extended. He is a uniting force of note. We hold regular family meetings at his house whether you are from third generation or fourth generation. He hosts us quarterly in his house. He has also given a lot of members of our family employment in his companies. He is a leader par excellence that a lot of us look up to. He does not discriminate against anybody, but the truth is that he hates laziness, lying and gossip. What are some of those things that make him angry? He is very simple, jovial, but principled. A few things that get him angry include telling lies, gossip, laziness, wastefulness and eye service. If you did something wrong, it will profit you more to go to him and tell him what you have done than for him to find out later that you told him lies. I want him to know that I cherish him and I pray that God will give him long life and good health for him to enjoy the fruit of his labour. I congratulate him on his 80th birthday and I wish him a wonderful celebration.

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CHIEF ADE. OJO EPITOMIZES SACRIFICE

-PROF. T. O. FADAYOMI, AG. VICE CHANCELLOR, ELIZADE UNIVERSITY

“I

have grown to regard Chief Michael Ade. Ojo as a man who epitomizes “sacrifice” which is the bedrock of any civilized community. His vision for Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, Nigeria and beyond is for all to see through the magnificence of the ‘’University on the hills’’ named ELIZADE UNIVERSITY. “Within the past five (5) years, this philanthropist must have invested the worth of many aeroplanes and jets, that could form the fleet of a viable airline on a futuristic University whose vision and rapid growth is second to none. “At this ripe age of 80, all I wish for him is good health to see the seed he has sown, as a University, continuing to flourish and turning out a new generation of nation builders and international players.”

HE IS A COMPLETE GENTLEMAN - ASEMOTA Chairman, Omoregie Motors Nigeria Limited, SUNNY OMOREGIE ASEMOTA shares his experience with Chief Ade. Ojo in this brief interview…..

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“I

have known Chief Ade. Ojo for over 40 years, we have been very good friends and we have never had any course to regret knowing each other. “I remember we were at Tokyo together at the factory, where they

produce the cars and he asked me what car I would want to buy and I said I wanted a COUPÉ. That car was produced in my presence in the factory. And at this time, we were just friends not even business partners and when we came to Nigeria, I thanked him and said God bless him. “He is a complete gentle man, I have not seen anybody who told me that Chief Ade. Ojo has insulted him or quarreled with him since I knew him. And he has established a world standard university in his community which is a very good establishment that opens up a place. God will bless him. “He should continue doing what he has been doing, but he needs to work less at this level and delegate much of his responsibilities to the children so that he can enjoy himself more. His job now should be to supervise the business.” I wish him joy, Happiness and good health.

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GREAT PHILANTHROPIST IRREVOCABLY COMMITTED TO HELPING OTHERS - BOLARINDE

SAM BOLARINDE, former MD of Vitafoam, former Chairman of UAC, and one time board member of Nigerian Breweries Plc. He is on the board of Toyota Nigeria Limited, and member of the board of trustees of Elizade University. He talks about the man he said he has known for a very long time……

ow long have you known Chief Michael Ade. Ojo and what is your relationship with him? I have known him for a very long time and it has been a great pleasure and privilege knowing him and serving with him on the board of Toyota Nigeria Ltd. How would you describe him? The biggest attribute of ‘Mr. Toyota’ is his humility and generally, it comes with great achievements, and therefore, I am not surprised that he has achieved this much in life. Again, he is a man that believes in excellence and whatever he does, he pursues it with vigor and energy. He tells whoever cares to listen that success comes from God. When he started the business of Toyota, it was not the best brand then, but gradually he brought it to the height it is today. Chief Ade. Ojo is also a very hardworking man, he is the only Chairman I know that looks for details. And when you are in the board of any organization with him, you must come to board meetings very prepared otherwise he would expose your hollowness. Also, he is very Godly and generous; a great philanthropist who is irrevocably committed to helping others. When you

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are blessed, it’s not for you alone, it’s for the whole community to benefit from. He recognized this perfectly as can be seen in the scholarship programmes he has instituted, the establishment of Elizade University, the International Golf resort, and so on. He didn’t establish them with profit motive. Chief Michael Ade Ojo is what you can call an all-round good man, he believes in doing things right, he is diligent and not pretentious. What moral values do you know him for? The biggest value he represents as I have earlier mentioned is humility, diligence and the fear of God. He believes that one must be diligent in whatever he is doing. He also exemplifies hard work

and honesty. Furthermore, he does not discriminate, he relates with everybody. Again, he is a man of integrity, he won’t do or touch anything foul; and that stands him out. What’s your advice for him at 80? It’s very difficult to advice big men, if I have one tenth of his money, I won’t work again. So, I will tell him to please slow down the pace of work a little and enjoy his wealth. What are you wishing him at 80 Sir? Well, he has done very well in life and on behalf of my family, I wish him long life, sound health, strength and the peace of the Lord.

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HE IS A MAN THAT WAS SPECIALLY CREATED BY GOD FOR THIS GENERATION - OBA TEJUOSO

OBA (DR.) ADEDAPO ADEWALE TEJUOSO, Obokun Omo Egba; the Osile of Oke Ona, Egba land, lauds a fellow Octogenarian, describing him as an amiable personality….

ow long have you known Chief Ade. Ojo and what is your relationship with him? Chief Michael Ade. Ojo is a good friend of mine; I have known him for quite some decades now. We met at Rotary Club of Ikeja as members, though I joined the club so many years before he joined. The interesting thing is that since then, we have related quite cordially, he is such a nice man and we share quite a lot of things in common. Apart from Rotary Club, we also started another club known as ‘CLUB 38’ made up of people born in the year 1938. Fortunately, I celebrated my 80th since 19th of February meaning he is my junior brother.

My advice for him is that now that he’s attained the age of 80, he should take things a little easier because life has no duplicate. Moreover, he should endeavor to devote his life more to God, because as the bible rightly asked, “what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?” I know he is already on the right track anyway. What are you wishing him at 80, Sir? I wish him a very happy birthday in advance and by the grace of God, we will all rally around him and make sure he has a very enjoyable and memorable celebration. We are all looking forward to a very wonderful celebration. I wish him the very best that life has to offer. I am happy he has attained this age.

How would you describe his person? He is such an amiable person with great personality. He is a very humble, articulate, honest and hardworking person with a warm outlook of life. He is somebody that you would meet and automatically fall in love with. He is a man that was specially created by God for this generation. He has done very well for himself and the society. We have been together for over 40 years and there has never been a dull moment with him. He is indeed a man of impeccable integrity; he is someone you can absolutely rely on. Any word of advice for him?

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HE IS FINANCIALLY DISCIPLINED - AIG-IMOUKHUEDE

Consummate banker, AIGBOJE AIG-IMOUKHUEDE shares his memorable experiences with Chief Michael Ade. Ojo….. How long have you known Chief Ade. Ojo and what is your relationship with him, Sir? I met Chief Michael Ade.Ojo when I was still a young banking professional, when I joined Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) in 1991. At a point, my responsibilities included supervising branches. And at that time, the biggest customers of banks were the transportation and automobile business segments, and Elizade Motors was one of them. Chief Ade. Ojo was a customer who was reputed for integrity and honour; I can’t remember ever hearing any negative comment from bankers regarding his operations. Our relationship eventually grew beyond being a customer to becoming more of a father figure to me. And that was how we became friends and moved from a bankercostumer relationship. He is an extremely forthright, loyal, simple, honest and humble person. He is also a very meticulous and hardworking individual. He is a committed family man too. Chief Ade. Ojo is also a very disciplined person particularly when it comes to financial issues. He is also a great investor. Again, he is an extremely generous person; a philanthropist par excellence, but he hates wastages. He is a very tough customer, shareholder and businessman and I believe it is one of the major reasons why he has been able to survive, not just as an entrepreneur in Nigeria, but thrived as one of Nigeria’s greatest entrepreneurs. Chief Ade. Ojo invited me to assist in thinking through an endowment strategy for Elizade University and that initial

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invitation was extended to joining the Council of the University in the capacity of a Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council. Prior to the invitation, whereas I had interacted with universities in Nigeria, it certainly was not at such a level of responsibility. The position is an extremely important office of trust and I really appreciate him for counting me worthy of this role. His vision for Elizade University is a very unique one and that accounts for the excellence you find all around the school in terms of infrastructure, culture and the quality of training being impacted on the students; it is very clear that the founder indeed has a vision of a world-class university. Do you have any memorable experience to share with us? I must state for the records that one of my most memorable experiences with him has

to do with negotiating interest and deposit rates with him. He wants to borrow from you at 15% and place a deposit with you at 18% and he expects the bank to invest and generate good returns on dividend for shareholders. Again, I recall a time Chief Ade. Ojo hosted my immediate family including my mum and sister in the United Kingdom to a dinner at his favourite Chinese Restaurant; it was indeed a very sumptuous and memorable meal and outing. What are you wishing him as he clocks 80? I will just like to say a big congratulation to my mentor, a great friend, a wonderful Nigerian, an excellent entrepreneur and a great man and wish him a happy birthday celebration; wishing him the very best in life.

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HE IS A MAN OF PRINCIPLES AND HIGH MORAL VALUES

-Wale Oshin, Managing Director of Custodian and Allied Products Plc.

y name is Wole Oshin the Group Managing Director of Custodian Investment Plc.

RLM: How long have you known Chief Ade.Ojo and what is your relationship with him like? I have known Chief Ade. Ojo for about 27 years out of which I have had business dealings with him for close to 24 years. He is the erstwhile Chairman of the Custodian Group. He was the fatherly figure that gave direction to the board when l started as a young entrepreneur. What can you say about his person? He is an astute businessman, a principled man with high moral values; he calls a spade a spade. He is someone who does not mix business with pleasure,neither is he sentimental in his dealings. When it has to do with business then it is indeed business, but if you are in genuine need he is a completely different person who would go out of his way to help ;he gives generously on account of charity, What have you learnt from him? One of the things I have learnt is that nothing comes easy in life, even at 80 he still works like a 40 year old. Another thing about him is that he commits doggedly to his conviction. I have learnt not to waver when I have a conviction but rather follow through irrespective of the outcome. Your wishes for him at 80? I wish him long life, good health, and Gods Grace.

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HE GIVES BACK TO SOCIETY GENEROUSLY - OYEBODE GBENGA OYEBODE is the Chancellor of Elizade University, he shares his experience and thoughts about Chief Michael Ade.Ojo with us……

hat’s your relationship with Chief Ade. Ojo? I have known Chief Ade.Ojo for over 30years. I met him m as a very young man and my brother used to live in one of his houses. I developed a closer relationship hip with him some 15 to 20 years ago. Wee have had a couple of transactions. How would you describe him? Chief Ade.Ojo is a very hardworking ng man who is guided by certain pristinee values. He is a gentleman who sees hiss position as an opportunity to better the he lot of others. In other words, he is man n who gives back to society generously. He is a very humble, honest and disci-plined person who has carved a nichee for himself both in the business world and d education sector. He is simply put, a good and God fearing man.

African Leadership Academy, (ALA) in Johannesburg, and he asked if I saw my name on a plaque at the academy. He was happy that I have contributed to the p development of the ALA. But at a point I asked him what we were doing there and he said the visit was to see the giant strides the school has made, that he wanted to understand how they advanced to that level, their management style cum principle and ultimately learn from their experience. For me, it sounded

strange that all we were in South Africa to do was to examine and study how the academy has progressed. You can see how passionate he is about quality education g to bear at and that is what he has brought Elizade University. Elizade University is still a very young institution and I am looki looking i beforward to seeing it grow until it comes one of the greatest unive universities in Africa and the world. What would you want to say to him at 80? I wish him the very best, lo long life, more prosperity and stren strength to continue the great works to humanity. I wish him a happy 80th birthday celebration and many ma happy returns.

What are the morals you have known him for? The moral values I have known him m for and which I have equally imbibed include lude hard work, honesty, humility, discipline, ne, sincerity and Godliness. With these valalues that he exudes, I am not surprised d that we are celebrating his successes today. What would you count as a memorable moment with him? A couple of months ago, we took a trip to South Africa for the

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MEETING CHIEF ADE. OJO CHANGED MY LIFE OGUNDIPE

KEHINDE OGUNDIPE, brother in-law to Chief Ade. Ojo and a staff of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) shares his knowledge of the celebrant with us…. My relationship with Chief Ade. Ojo I have known him for over a decade now. He is my in-law and a father figure too. He is a great man, a man that God has created for the benefit of mankind. Meeting him has changed my life. I have been inspired by his inspiring lifestyle and fatherly advice. He is extremely honest, he is not a man that will see black and call it white, he calls a spade a spade regardless of whose ox is gored. He is the type that is so passionate about ensuring that everybody around him succeeds.

birthday. On that day he challenged all of us that nobody amongst us could beat him on the dance floor no matter the age, that he was going to compete with any of us that was ready. And he actually proved himself that day as a fantastic dancer.

My wishes for him at 80 I wish him long life and prosperity. My prayers for him is that God will continue to elongate his years to celebrate his 90, 100, 110, 120 and more in good health.

The moral values I took from him I have learnt a lot from him, he is very honest, truthful, humble, hardworking and God-fearing. When he tells you yes then, it is yes and when he says no then indeed it is no. He holds his name to high esteem and can go to any length to defend it. He believes in the popular saying that “good name is better than silver and gold.” He distances himself from anything that could tarnish his good image. These are some of the things or values that he effortlessly exudes that I have imbibed. My memorable experience with him One memorable experience with him was when he celebrated his 70th

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CHIEF ADE. OJO IS DOWN TO EARTH- OTUNBA OLADAPO -OLADELE

have known Baba since 1980. We started doing business together in 1996. I have known him to be a very honest, tenacious and forward-looking businessman. Sometimes he is very prophetic with the way he talks. He seems to have a very clear vision of what the auto business climate would be like even several years before now. He is a very good person; he has been my mentor and a father figure. Baba is a God-fearing and straight-forward person. He is down to earth and will not tell you what he will not do. He is very humble, honest, generous and hardworking. He is a man of high integrity. I remember that there was a time I was working on a deal and I got so skeptical

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and afraid about it but when I told him, he advised and encouraged me and eventually the deal materialized. He is the type that does not give up easily. One of the things I learnt from him is that one should be upright and truthful. Again, one should be honest enough to earn the trust of everybody and be focused too. As he marks his 80th birthday, I want him to continue to be a good father and mentor. Also, he should continue the good works he has been doing to humanity especially with respect to his philanthropic gestures. Above all, he should continue to be close if not closer to God. I wish him many more years in good health and greater prosperity.

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BRIEF HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY

ustainable development and the resolution of the multifaceted problems and challenges of human societies can be achieved through the provision of functional higher education geared towards the production of the required / needed critical mass of human capital that would be the drivers of the societal development process. In the new knowledge based society in which we find ourselves, natural endowments are no longer the measure of nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prosperity and growth but the quality and quantum of the available human resources. The non-availability of skilled manpower is often responsible for the gaps between the rich and poor nations and socio-economic development and economic status of citizens. This further deepens the disparities in educational opportunities and socio-economic well-being between socio-political and religious groups within the country. The indigenes of llara-Mokin have suffered some socio and economic marginalisation over the years largely because of its high rate of illiteracy. The underdevelopment of the town was a major worry to Chief Michael Ade.Ojo, Chairman, Elizade Ojo Educational Foundation (Proprietor Elizade University) and his late wife, Chief (Mrs.)Wuraola Elizabeth Ade.Ojo and have decided to positively improve the status of the town by estab-

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lishing a higher educational institution with world class teaching/learning facilities in llara-Mokin. This is with a view to providing education and needed skill acquisition for the empowerment, upliftment and emancipation of the indigenes and Nigerians in general.

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Review

Senate Building

Engineering Workshop This initial idea of setting up an international secondary school was based on the disturbing dearth of skilled man power including technicians and artisans. This shortage has led to sourcing for competent technicians from neighboring West African countries while the

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army of uneducated and unskilled youth parade the streets of most Nigerian cities. The technical jobs requiring advanced skills in industries, private establishments and even homes remain unfilled and this unsavory state of affairs has been a source of great concern to Chief

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New Students Hostels

Michael Ade. Ojo, especially given his vast experience in automobile business where the problem of shortage of competent manpower to handle todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cars is very glaring. This encouraged him, and his late wife, to propose the establishment of Elizade Polytechnic for the purpose of skills acquisition where technical and entrepreneurial skills would be imparted to youths from Nigeria and beyond. The decision to establish Elizade University rather than a polytechnic was borne out of the desire to provide the highest level of training in sciences, engineering and technology to the teaming population of Nigerian Youth. Elizade University aims to be a citadel of learning comparable to the best university in the world in the teaching of Sciences, Engineering and Liberal Arts. The university offers programmes mainly in the Science and Technology and with opportunity for a top-grade education in the Arts (Languages, Performing Arts and Music) as well as in Management Sciences. The University emphasizes research, teaching/develop-

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Staff Quarters ment and community service. Elizade University was licensed on 28th February, 2012 by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

PHILOSOPHY Our philosophy is anchored on the following: i. Adopting pedagogical approaches that emphasize practical skills

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Review highly skilled, ethics-conscious and well-rounded and will be useful to government, industries and commercial ventures soon after their graduation or capable of establishing their own businesses thus becoming employers of labour in the shortest possible time; ii. To ensure appropriate industrial and commercial inputs in its formal education and training by collaborating with industry and commerce through the involvement of captains of industries and commerce in training and research programmes; iii. To produce graduates that could compete favourably with their peers

Engineering Workshop Acquisition rather than rote learning; ii. Creating an enabling atmosphere, with the state-of-the-art facilities and Employing quality staff, where teaching, learning and relevant research are celebrated and; iii. Producing through her teaching and research activities, thinkers, Researchers, scholars and leaders of tomorrow.

OBJECTIVES i. To produce world-class graduates in different disciplines who are

Faculty Complex internationally; iv. To create and expand access and opportunities for education for physically challenged students; and attract and retain quality students, Researchers and teachers, thereby assisting in developing human capital ad mitigating the brain drain currently afflicting Nigeria; v. To encourage and promote the advancement of learning and hold out to all persons without distinction of race, creed, sex, or political conviction the opportunity to acquire university education; vi. To play a critical role in the devel-

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Review opment and incubation of engineering and technology knowledge and in the dissemination of that knowledge; vii. To carry out basic and applied research leading to the domestication and application of new technology to the Nigerian context through collaborative linkages with other academic and research institutions in Africa and the rest of the world; viii To establish a Centre for entrepreneurial studies to stimulate job creation and innovative abilities in students from the onset of their studies, in such a way that graduates shall be resourceful, self-reliant and job Creators ix. To attempt to reverse the craze for overseas studies by Nigerian youths by providing world standard facilities in terms of human and physical Structures for students; x. To undertake other activities appropriate for teaching, research andCommunity service as expected of a university of high standard. University) and the then British Petroleum (B.P) previously African Petroleum Plc now Oando plc. Chief Ade.Ojo is a recipient of a number of awards both home and abroad. He was awarded the National honour of Officer of the Niger (OON) in 2005. He

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Professor Yemi Osinbajo Law Faculty Building has attended several top management development courses including the Chief Executive Programme of the Lagos

Business School. He graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in June 1965 with a Bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s of Science degree

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Students at Smokin Hills Golf Course ILara -Mokin

in Business Administration.

Lawn Tennis Court for Stundet

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A SPEECH PRESENTED BY CHIEF MICHAEL ADE.OJO, OON, FOUNDER AND VISITOR ELIZADE UNIVERSITY, ILARAMOKIN, ONDO STATE AT THE 2nd CONVOCATION CEREMONY OF THE UNIVERSITY HELD ON FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018. 140

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Education

nce again, 3 welcome you all to this second convocation of Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin. This convocation carries a triple blessing for me. First, this past academic year has been a very peaceful and rewarding year in the life this university, and I want to thank, the Board of Trustees, the Governing Council and the management of Elizade University for this achievement. Second. as the Acting Vice-Chancellor said in his speech at the Convocation Lecture yesterday, this is the second human harvest of the Tree of Knowledge planted by Elizade University five years ago. I am more than grateful to God that I am a witness of this occasion. Talking about the Convocation Lecture, who else could have indicat-

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ed Elizade University’s drive for excellence than Professor Wole Soyinka, Nobel Laureate, who gave the convocation lecture? I am grateful to him for his thought-provoking lecture. Elizade University, please keep Going Higher! Third, as many of you know, this convocation coincides with my 80th birthday anniversary about which I will have a few things to say later. My dream for this university has a long history, which i won’t have time to tell today. But one aspect of that history was touched upon yesterday by Professor Ayo Banjo, who said that the purpose of a university is to train and develop the mind. True, the university throws up various courses, the real essence of these courses is to develop competencies, including critical and creating thinking, analytical capabilities, and the ability to think out of the box. These

are all transferable skills, which will enable our students to be tomorrow’s entrepreneurs and leaders. Some of the richest men in the world today ire men who were able to innovate, by applying their knowledge to fill existing gaps in the market of goods and services. Accordingly, we are training our students to be able to achieve their dreams, regardless of the type of degree they take out of here.. As many of you know, this university stands today as the fruit of one man’s labour. It is my hope that the graduates of this university will learn from my own experience, by contributing to the development of their communities, their nation, and the world at large. To further facilitate this goal, I am pleased to announce today three new projects that will enhance the march toward excellence:

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Education 1, The Faculty of Engineering Building so that engineering faculty and students will stop borrowing space from other faculties; 2, A befitting Auditorium for the university that will also include additional lecture halls and a performing theatre; 3, A New Hall of Residence to accommodate more students Finally, as this is the year of my 80th birthday, I am pleased to initiate the Go Higher Business Empowerment Award to one of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s graduates, whose project proposal surpassed those of thirty other applicants. For this maiden issue of the award, the student will be given N5 million to begin the project, I am please to call on the first recipient of this award to come forward for recognition. She is Miss Abisola Animashaun. As I said earlier, you can see that Miss Animashaun is a clear demonstration of the role of the university in training the mind. Here is a graduate of Mass Communication, who applied herknowledge to fill a gap in the society. Her company, called GAS-Urgently, will be the first Mobile Cooking Gas filling station in the country., Once again, I thank you all for coming, and we hope to see you again next year.

VISION STATEMENT Elizade University seeks to be a globally competitive Institution that produces entrepreneurial, innovative And ethical graduates.

MISSION STATEMENT To produce graduates with the appropriate skills and Knowledge for the development of the nation and Global competitiveness.

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2nd

Convocation ceremony

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(L) DR Gbenga Oyebode, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Chief Ade, Ojo and Aigboje AigImoukhuede

Chief Ade. Ojo delivering a speech

Kunle Ade-Ojo

Cross section of guests

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Procession

VC. with best overall Student Miss Ajagunna Elizabeth

LIFE Dr. Gbenga REALITY Oyebode,Chancellor

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Cross Section of graduands

Mr. Omololu Adegbenro, Registrar

AIG- Imokuede, Prochancellor

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VC RE-AFFIRMS DISCIPLINE AS VARSITY MATRICULATES STUDENTS

he Acting Vice-Chancellor of Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, Prof. Theophilus Fadayomi has reiterated the position of the University on discipline among students. He said that the University would not be a suitable place for students with questionable character, warning that the strict measures put in place to checkmate immoral behaviour among students would not be compromised. Speaking at the 6th Matriculation Ceremony of the University, Prof. Fadayomi charged the newly admitted students to face their studies squarely and shun any act that could jeopardize their aspiration to obtain the degrees of the University. He warned the matriculating students against delinquent behaviors, such as drug addiction, night crawling,

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truancy, indecent dressing, fighting, smoking of cigarettes and other addictive substances and unauthorized use of drugs, saying that the University would swiftly employ the appropriate sanctions against erring students. Prof. Fadayomi reminded the matric-

ulating students that being temporarily free from parental control has placed responsibility on them to maintain discipline and make right and informed choices to avoid vices that could truncate their future. The Acting Vice-Chancellor admonished them to always adhere to the Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s core values of diligence, honesty, integrity, pragmatism and excellence. The Don also urged them to make maximum use of the various modern facilities that the University has provided for their academic development. He, however, charged the students to make a careful use of the facilities, warning that willful damage of property would attract serious punishment. He congratulated the matriculating students and their parents and promised the continued support of the University for them.

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Education

ELIZADE VARSITY GETS FULL ACCREDITATION FOR ENGINEERING PROGRAMMES, OTHERS

lizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo has been given full accreditation in all its Engineering programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC). The accredited programmes are Automotive Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). This is in addition to the full accreditation already given to programmes in the Faculties of Basic and Applied Sciences, Social and Management Sciences and Humanities by the Commission. The Law programme of the University has also received the approval of the Commission and that of the Council of Legal Education (CLE). With the latest accreditation, all the programmes that were due for accreditation have received full accreditation. Elizade University is one of the few universities in Nigeria to get full accreditation for all its due programmes at the first asking. It would be recalled that the Engineering programmes in the University have earlier been given full accreditation by the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN). The Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Association of Certified Chartered Accountant (ACCA) have also given full accreditation to the Accounting programme of the University

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with 11 exemptions. Efforts are on top gear to invite other professional bodies such as the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Chartered Institute of Personal Management (CIPM) and the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), among others, for the professional accreditation of programmes in the Management Sciences. Speaking on the development, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Theophilus Fadayomi said he was not surprised to receive the news of the full accreditation of all the programmes in the University. He affirmed that the

University could not have scored less, given the enormous teaching facilities provided by the University and the carefully selected faculty members. The Don revealed that one of the priorities of the University is to comply with the regulatory policies of the various educational regulatory bodies in the country. He congratulated the students and their parents on the feat, promising that the University would not rest on its oasis. Prof. Fadayomi enjoined the students to study very hard to be able to graduate in flying colours. He also admonished prospective students and their parents to be part of the liberating education that the University offers.

Senate building

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EU INAUGURATES ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

he first Executive Council of the Elizade University Alumni Association has been inaugurated. Speaking while inaugurating the Association, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Theophilus Fadayomi described the inauguration as historic. The Don while using the analogy of a farmer, who is filled with joy at harvesting his first fruits, expressed gratitude to God for making it possible for the University to turn out impart-making graduates. Prof. Fadayomi stated that many of the pioneer graduates have engaged in profitable ventures while those who chose to immediately further their studies were either in Nigeria or abroad pursuing masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Degrees with a good number of them on scholarship. The Professor of Economics con-

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gratulated Nigeria for having the set of graduates who have been instilled with the required skills and moral virtues which the country has been longing for. He expressed the belief that the country would be better off with the yearly production of impactful graduates by the University. Prof. Fadayomi urged members of the Association to prioritize the interest of their Alma Mata in particular and that of the country in general. He charged them to prepare for the responsibility of leading the country, hinting that the older generation was running out of ideas that could bring the country forward. The Acting Vice-Chancellor also admonished members of the Association to remember their prospective members in their programmes. He advised them to continue to be good ambassa-

dors of the University. Prof. Fadayomi promised the continued support of the University for the Association. In his acceptance speech, the pioneer Chairman of the Association, Mr. Boluwatife Ogundipe expressed appreciation to the University authority for preparing them for leadership roles in the society. He affirmed that many of his colleagues were already making waves in their respective disciplines. The Chairman said that the Association would do every right thing to project the good image of the University. Mr. Ogundipe added that the Association has fashioned out special financial scheme to support members with degree in Business Administration to set up businesses. He also maintained that individuals and corporate organizations have been consulted to institute scholarships for students of the University.

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Education

ELIZADE VARSITY IMPARTS POWER SECTOR, TRAINS ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION STAFF

s part of its contribution to the development of the power sector in Nigeria, Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State has successfully trained over 400 graduates and technicians employed by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) under the Graduate Training Programme of the power distribution company. Speaking at the 3rd graduation ceremony of the trainees in Benin City, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Theophilus Fadayomi expressed the determination of the University to help the Government in its bid to improve power sector by equipping the electricity workers with required technical skills. Prof. Fadayomi who described investing in human capital development in the power sector as crucial for the growth of the sector, commended the Management of

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Benin Electricity Distribution Company for setting the standard for effective power distribution. The Don informed that the trainees were given access to all the modern facilities in the University during their training on campus. Prof. Fadayomi added that the trainees have been equipped with the required technical skills for quality service delivery. In her speech, the Managing Director of the Company, Mrs. Funke Osibodu reiterated the determination of the power company to reduce unemployment among young Nigerians by employing and giving them technical skills that would make them useful to their generation. Mrs. Osibodu said that the Company has spent a huge amount of money on training and development of its staff in its efforts at providing satisfactory service to the customers.

While emphasizing the readiness of her Company to offer quality service that would be the standard for every other electricity distribution company in Nigeria, the Managing Director lauded Elizade University for imparting useful technical skills in her employees. Also speaking, the Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Kabiru Adjoto revealed that the State House of Assembly was working on a bill to penalize whoever bypasses prepaid meter in electricity connection, whether in residential houses or offices. Represented by the Chairman, House Committee on electricity, Hon. Chris Okaighe, the Speaker commended the Company for prioritizing the training of young Nigerians. He called on other multi-national companies to take a cue from the electricity distribution company.

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Education

EU EMPHASIZES PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION OF STUDENTS, SIGNS ANOTHER MOU

n furtherance of its goal of ensuring that all its programmes are accredited by their respective professional bodies in addition to the full accreditation already given by the National Universities Commission (NUC), Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM). Speaking while signing the MoU, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Theophilus Fadayomi reiterated the commitment of the University to produce professional graduates. He said that the idea behind the partnership was to give the students in the Department of Human Resource Management and other related disciplines the opportunity to run the professional programme simultaneously with their degree programme. Describing human capital as the driving force for the National economy, Prof. Fadayomi explained that the quest to contribute to the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy led to the strengthening of the Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Human Resource Management programme. Represented by the Dean, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, Prof. Dayo Ade-Turton, the Don added that the students of Human Resource Management and other related disciplines have been instilled with the required management ethics that would enable them apply human capital to drive the financial, natural, human and social capitals for the advancement of the country.

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In her speech, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Institute, Mrs. Ajibola Ponnle commended the University for ensuring that the students achieve professional qualifications on graduation. While lauding the University for prioritizing professionalism, the Registrar/CEO informed that the MoU has qualified the students to be members under the student membership arrangement. Mrs. Ajibola, who was represented by the Head, Membership Affairs and Services, Mrs. Titilayo Ashiru stated that Elizade University, by the MoU, would

be a Study and Examination Centre of the Institute. She expressed satisfaction with the curriculum of the Department, affirming that the students would not have problem passing the professional examinations, given the rich curriculum. In her remarks, the Acting Head of the Department of Human Resource Management, Dr. (Mrs.) Dupe Abolade congratulated the students of the Department on the professional partnership, especially the automatic conferment of student membership on them. She urged them to make the most use of the opportunity afforded them by the MoU.

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Education

EU RECORDS SPORTING SUCCESS AS VARSITY HOSTS GOLF TOURNEY, EMERGES SECOND

n an excellent display of all-round development, students of Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State exhibited their sporting prowess as they made the University proud at the 3rd edition of the Nigeria Universities Golf Tournament organized by Elizade University in conjunction with Smokin Hills Golf Resort, Ilara-Mokin. The 3rd edition of the tournament which is aimed at promoting Golf among young Nigerians was attended by nine universities across the country. The universities were Elizade University, University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Adekunle Ajasin University,

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Akungba Akoko, Redeemerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s University, Ede, Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu, Achieversâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; University, Owo and Kwararafa University, Wukari, Taraba State. The highly competitive sporting event saw Elizade University emerge second, with the Federal University of Technology, Akure winning the first position. Speaking at a lunch organized for the participating universities, the Coordinating Officer and Sports Coach of Elizade University, Mr. Olaniyi Bewaji expressed delight at the improvement in participation by Nigerian universities. While recalling that only four universities participated in the 2nd edition, Mr. Bewaji opined that more universities were showing interest in Golf.

He revealed that an exhibition team from Bauchi was in attendance at the event. Mr. Bewaji added that a MoU on Golf Academy would be signed with Bauchi State University and sponsored by Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar of Bauchi State. He charged Golf lovers among Nigerian youths to register at the Smokin Hills Golf Resort, an 18-hole international Golf facility established in Ilara-Mokin by the founder of Elizade University, Chief Michael Ade.Ojo. The Sports Coach thanked the representatives of the universities at the event, urging them to share the beauty of the game with their friends.

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Education

ELIZADE VARSITY INAUGURATES 3RD SCF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

he 3rd Executive Council of the Student Consultative Forum of Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State has been inaugu-

rated. Speaking while inaugurating the Forum, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Theophilus Fadayomi enjoined members of the Executive Council of the Forum to work in harmony with the University Management and their fellow students for their welfare and the achievement of the Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission and vision. He said the essence of constituting the Forum was to create an avenue for the students to dialogue with the Management of the University on matters affecting their studentship and welfare.

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He warned against mistaking the Forum for student unionism. The Acting Vice-Chancellor encouraged members of the Executive Council to always approach Management on matters affecting the well-being of their members. He promised that Management would always give listening ears to the student body. In her inaugural speech, the Chairperson of the Forum, Miss. Ikponmwen Orobosa promised an all-inclusive administration. She said that the interest of her colleagues would be prioritized. Miss. Ikponmwen called on the entire student population of the University to support members of the Executive Council in their day-to-day running of the Forum. The Chairperson affirmed

that dialogue would be adopted as the only means of resolving issues with the University Management. Other members of the Executive Council of the Forum are Shehu Moshope, Vice-Chairperson, Ibrahim Salim Kobi, General Secretary, Olowosegun Deborah, Assistant General Secretary, Adedara Oluwafunmilola, Treasurer, Yusuf Abdulganiyu, Financial Secretary, Oyinkari Adiel, Public Relations Officer I, Ajayi Michael Olamiposi, Public Relations Officer II, Shola-Shittu Iyimide, Social Director I, Oyewole Opeyemi, Social Director II, Lord-Army Samuel, Sports Director I, Egundebi Tolulope, Sport Director II, Oke Adebanjo, Welfare Director I and Fakuade Motunrayo, Welfare Director II.

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A Congratulatory Message To Chief Michael Ade.Ojo On His 80Thbirthday My dear egbon, n another 3(three) years it will be 50years that destiny connected me to you, through my dear friend and your younger brother, Dr. Ayo Abiye Ojo, the Lisa of the ancient city of Ilara Mokin. Since then, you have taken me as your aburo, so also did Yeye, your late mother, the matriarch of the Ojo dynasty, take me as a son. You have always given me your shoulders to rest on. So also have your homes in Ikeja, Ilara Mokin and Baker Street, London, been opened to me any day, any time. I am grateful for all these privileges which have made me regard myself a member of Ojo family, and Ilara Mokin my second home town.

I therefore join all members of your family and ALL whose, lives you have positively impacted, to thank God for your very successful and fulfilling life and wish you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY AT 80. I also pray that as we celebrated Yeye, so will we celebrate you at 100 in Jesus’ name – AMEN JOHN NJOKANMA

Egbon, you are a wonderful blessing from God to the Ojo family, to Ilara Mokin and humanity at large. In you a tree, has indeed, made a big forest! You have showered and still showering the abundant blessings which God has given you to all who come within your phenomenal field. Though physically endowed by nature and regal in personality, you remain a humble human being. Though abundantly rich, yet not extravagant. Though a high chief from the Source of Yoruba origin, Oduduwa, you remain completely detribalised and absolutely a true Nigerian, incorruptible, principled, honest and frank. I see a perfect semblance of Yeye in you – sharp mind, perfect memory and super cognitive ability. Your generous heart, graceful aging, longevity and other endowments are your true rewards from God.

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Happy Birthday Wishes For

Chief Micheal Ade.Ojo

appy 80th birthday to my brother and a very dear friend Chief Micheal Ade.Ojo. You are one of the most inspirational human beings I know. My 80th birthday wish for you is that your life will be fulfilling in everyway, surrounded by loving family and friends. Interestingly, you have accomplished many amazing things over the course of your life and have therefore raised the bar to all who wants to reach the age of 80. You are a passionate person with a strong zest for life. Chief Michael you are indeed like the vintage wine that gets better and better with age! 80 is a milestone for the strong, but most of all a prove that God is with you.

Happy 80th birthday to an icon!

ADENIKE ADEMOLEKUN (MRS.)

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My Bossom Friend, Chief Michael Ade. Ojo On His 80th Birthday

y bossom friend, Michael Ade-Ojo, is a person who has been richly blessed, and from the blessings, he adds value to the lives of family members, community members, friends, the Church, and the academia, but, without

indulgence. Mike Ade-Ojo and I met on the 2nd day of January 1959 at the School of Agriculture, Akure nearly 60 years ago. My room was next to his in the hostel. He had (and still has) the capacity to reach out to and bond with persons he met, and exhibited characteristics of someone who was determined to move up in life. In our hostel in the school of Agric Akure, he was like the Chief Cook. and as for me, as soon as he began to cook, I would join him, and so, almost instantly, I became his assistant. At that time, while we bought bicycles, he got himself a mobylette, although he often had to push the machine to get it to work. The struggle with the mobylette notwithstanding, he was one step ahead of us his peers. We were always in the same group for practicals and other group works because we bear the same surname; Ojo. Whenever tasks were going to be shared in alphabetical order, we were always in close proximity because of our names. Some naughty classmates like Dr.Osiname, Architect Kukoyi and late Akin Kufeji even nicknamed us: ‘Ojo Big’ and ‘Ojo Small’. They sure have a point, because you need to see us together! After our training in Akure, we were posted to Ministry of Agriculture in Ibadan- he to Research section in Moor Plantation and I to the Extension service. We kept in touch since we all lived in Oke Bola area of Ibadan. Three months after our posting, I resigned and left for further studies at the Nigeria College of Arts, Science and Technology, Enugu. Mike Ade-Ojo also resigned a year after in 1961 to resume academic work in Nsukka. We kept in touch and met whenever he came to Enugu with his then girl friend who eventually became his darling wife (may her soul continue to rest in peace). Regularly we exchange visit until 1964 when I left for United Kingdom to complete my course. His course of study (Business Management) set him on the path of success and greatness. Lest I forget, he has always had good looks and taste. I recently found a photograph of his from when he was in Nsukka in the early 60s, and I thought his pair of glasses was a 2018 design! We linked up regularly and when I returned to Nigeria in early 1972 after working with the Jamaican Government on contract we quickly linked up even though he was in Lagos and I in Warri with Shell BP. our friendship has been waxing stronger ever since. Mike is dogged fighter, he is always forging ahead, and he never looks back, even in the face of challenges. He is a committed Christian who enjoys God’s grace in abundance. He loves his family, and his town, Ilara Mokin unconditionally. He is a gift from God to his people. Mike accords respect and acceptance to us his classmates and he still enjoys our old classroom jokes, even though he stands tall among us in many ways. Mike and I regard ourselves as brothers from different parents. When my son left Forest Lake Academy in Florida USA his own son also went to that same institution. We thank God for our friendship because my family has benefitted immensely from Mike’s emotional and material generosity.

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A man with great taste and panache, he suffers no fools gladly around his businesses and the University he established. His university, ELIZADE University (EU), is a testimony to vision and taste. A lover of education, Mike Ade-Ojo conceived of the idea of setting up a Polytechnic with special emphasis on entrepreneurial training. I had the singular privilege of providing the cadastral and topographical data of the available land at that time. A higher thought of a University emerged from the original conception of a Polytechnic, and I was asked to provide similar data for the expanded land space that would accommodate the University. It seems like watching a child grow; from providing survey data, to watching the EU buildings emerge (with superb finishing, in a beautiful terrain), to attending the Founder’s day ceremony, and then hearing about EU graduates who got employment in top rated companies. I am eternally grateful to my bossom friend for getting me involved in the Elizade University project. The fact that he is the founder of a University has not stopped him from providing direct financial support to other Universities, and giving scholarships to Students; a continuing testimony to his love for education and generosity of spirit. I use this occasion of my friend’s 80th birthday to express my appreciation for his use of my professional skills, his unconditional interest in my welfare and his support for my family. Dear Brother, as you mark a glorious milestone, the Lord whom you faithfully serve will strengthen you to witness the further blossoming of the OJO DYNASTY. Hearty Congratulations. Chief Olufemi Adeyanju Ojo. Ibadan, May 2018.

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GOODWILL MESSAGE TO

SIR. MICHEAL ADE. OJO, OON,KJW On The Occasion Of His 80Th Birthday (14Th June 2018).

n this very special occasion when my family and I, as well as our several mutual friends and acquaintances acknowledge the special grace of God to celebrate with you for the attainment of 80years on planet earth, I am delighted at the opportunity and the privilege of wishing you and your family the very best in God’s Grace and Mercy to flourish in good health, happiness and joy with prayers for many happy returns of the day. Chief Ade. Ojo the celebrant says “Attaining the age of 80 in good health and having been able to fulfill life’s many great desires are not occurrences that happen as a result of any personal might, formula or power,(but) by the special grace and mercy of God Almighty who in his benevolence has bestowed various blessings upon me and my family”. Chief Ade. Ojo humbly admits, as a leader and one is left to assume that he knew early enough about the challenge to work and walk within what Marshall Field enjoins man to always remember in their strides as “Twelve things to remember “ (1).the value of time (2). The success of perseverance (3). The pleasure of working (4.) the dignity of simplicity (5) the worth of character (6) the power of kindness (7) the influence of example, (8) the obligation of duty (9) the wisdom of economy (10) the virtue of patience (11) the improvement of talent (12) the joy of originality. This indeed demonstrates that Chief Ade. Ojo’s “foot prints in the sands of time were not made by sitting down”. Once again wishing Chief Ade. Ojo many more years of happiness, joy, prosperity, good health and laughter. The adage of our people about the ‘subsistence ‘ farmer/ hunter /and family bread winner who managed all day and only finally able to come back home with a ‘bush meat’. Would he consider eating it alone? Certainly not, that is chief Ade. Ojo for you in the midst of family, Friends, the Society and Nigeria his country. He is a generous Man indeed and ready to share with people around him. To the endless illumination of God’s grace and still brightly shining in his life all his true friends can attest to it that Chief Ade. Ojo is a man of Integrity. His Yes is Yes and his No is No, unless otherwise for a proven fact and for good reasons. He is Courageous “He gives himself to God who can do more with him than anyone can. He loves Perfection but he accepts the fact that only God is the Perfect Master, otherwise, “The cemeteries are filled with people who thought the world couldn’t get along without them”. No time for idle

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talk “busy souls have no time to be busybodies”. He believes ,”honesty is easier on the nerves” and “In Friendship every minute you are angry, you lose 60 seconds of happiness”. We learn every day “since people will judge you by your actions, Not your intentions”. “The ultimate value of a man is to be measured not by what he says, nor even by what he does but by what he becomes”. Chief Ade. Ojo has become a man of honor with Awards from Religious organizations, Traditional rulers, Educational Institutions, Professionals, Business utions including Chambers of Institutions merce; he is a fellow commerce; veral Professional in several ness and Charitable Business nizations. Organizations. hief, Doctor, Sir Chief, Ade. Ojo is a darling orts with special of sports ence to Golf, reference ball, Squash Football, et etc and a lover Racket usic and physical of music ise. exercise. He is a fan of home n Nigerian Music grown an dance and and can dancee for hours. It iss amazing how the he brain and energy age, the work perfectly but underably they are part standably of thee blessings. deed Ade. Indeed Ojo iss a jolly good w. fellow.

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Clocks 80! Lord, we thank you for blessing our town, Ilara-Mokin DC with Chief (Dr.) Michael Ade.Ojo, OON - Baron of Klova Club, Ilara-Mokin. We appreciate you Lord for all that he is and has been in you. We also thank You that you knit him together in his mother’s womb; created him as one unique, special and deeply loved by all and most especially by You, our Creator. We ask now that you would bless this day, may it be a day to remember and aﬀectionately cherish. May your beloved son, Chief Michael Ade.Ojo, enjoy it to the fullest, and revel in the excitement! And may this be a foretaste of the years to come for him one that is abundant in happiness, overflowing in blessings, and great in advancement toward eternal glory.

You’re a mentor to many Mokins, a real COACH! We are all proud of you! Hearty Congratulations on your 80th birthday sir! From all of us @ KLOVA CLUB, ILARA-MOKIN Members:

1. Tayo Olofinlade - Ag. President 2. Gbemi Olaloye - Secretary 3. Chief Kayode Adedun 4. Dr. Wahab Adegbenro 5. Ayodele Fadola 6. Abiodun Oluwaluyi 7. Surv. Henry Adegbenro 8. Prof. Solomon Fakinlede 9. Biodun Fadola 10. Engr. David Arowojeun

11. Justice Kunle Lawal 12. Isaac Adewole 13. Kayode Olatomirin 14. Femi Ojo 15. Prof. Gbenga Fakoya 16. Chief Omololu Adegbenro 17. Abiodun Fadola (Jnr.) 18. Chief Yomi Fasalojo (late) 19. Olu Pojo (late) 20. Chief Abiodun Ajayi - Honourary.

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Tribute

Elizabeth Wuraola Ade.Ojo:

Life And Times Of A Golden Mother

rs. Elizabeth Wuraola Ade.Ojo got officially married to Chief Michael Ade.Ojo on the 26th of February, 1966. She was described as an epitome of a virtuous woman, refreshingly modest, exceptionally amiable, and an embodiment of graceful panache, according to Onyeche Opene in the book, Mister Toyota: A biography of Michael Ade.Ojo. Early May 2018, during a chat with Realitylife Magazine Chief Ade.Ojo explained how he fell in love with his wife. According to him, “I met my late wife, Elizabeth, at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The first year in the university was pretty easy but, in the second year, the management was bent on ensuring that school fees were paid. Unfortunately, I was unable to pay the fees which nearly resulted in my withdrawing from the university. “Luckily, my Head of Department and some lecturers who knew my challenge decided to help. I was employed in the departmental library so that I could finance my education. One of the evenings in the school fellowship, I was in the church and two other young girls were seated beside me. I knew they were Yoruba girls. Elizabeth was seated next to her friend who sat beside me. We were not talking to each other but I noticed that while we were singing, the two of them were laughing and I was embarrassed. But I soliloquized, ‘These people do not

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Tribute know who they are dealing with’. “In the university, my popular name was ‘Ade.Ojo Lumumba’. Lumumba was a Congolese politician and independence leader who served as the first Prime Minister of independent Democratic Republic of the Congo from June till September 1960. People said I looked like him and I used to shave my beard exactly like his. To my surprise, as soon as the fellowship was rounded off, both of them rushed out. I wanted to go after them but I could not get up in time. But when I finally got out of the hall, I saw them waiting for me aside. They said, ‘We knew you were embarrassed by our laughter. But it was not about you; rather it was about the man seated next to you’. They apologized and that was how I used the opportunity to know their names and did little introduction. I knew my late wife’s friend was a girlfriend to my friend but she (Elizabeth) was not engaged. I then asked for permission to be checking on her and she obliged and that was how our love story started. One thing that fascinated me about Elizabeth was her kind gesture. As a student, I was unable to pay my school fees but she was on scholarship. We became friends and, to my greatest surprise, she gave me 40 pounds which was her allowance. I was overwhelmed by that gesture. “That was how I made up by mind to marry her. We were married when she was still in Nsukka because I was one year ahead of her in school. We were married on February 26, 1966 in Enugu. There were 14 people who attended the marriage. We were happily married and blessed with two children, a girl, Deola and a boy, Demola.” Born to Mr. & Mrs. John and Fapoopo Itagbemi at Ipoti-Ekiti in preset day Ekiti State on March 19, 1944. Her parents believed strongly in the education of the girl-child. She began her academic career at St. Saviour’s CMS Primary School, Ipoti Ekiti in 1948. She was later transferred to Ijana Methodist Primary School, Imesi-Ile in 1954 and completed her primary education in 1955. Described as hardworking, obedient, and determined, after obtaining her First

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School Leaving Certificate, she proceeded to the Methodist High School, Agunrodo, Ilesa, 1956. She eventually sat for the West African School Certificate Examination and passed with Grade Two. She was later to teach briefly at Iwo Baptist Primary School, Iwo, Osun State before gaining admission into the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1962 for a degree programme in History. On completion of her programme and after obtaining a degree in History in 1966, Elizabeth Wuraola began her working life as a teacher at Imesi-Ile High School, Oke Aye in June 1966. This was said to be in fulfillment of scholarship bond given to her by the Methodist Church of Nigeria. In January 1969 and by the permission of the Church, she was transferred to Methodist Boys High School, Lagos to enable her join her husband, Chief Michael Ade.Ojo. She was to however, resign in March 1972 to team up with her husband to run the fledgling Elizade Independent Agency. At the incorporation of Elizade Nigeria Limited in June 1973, Wuraola played her role well, supporting her husband in running the company while her role revolved around office administration. While this was going on, she maintained a garment making company as a small unit of Elizade Nigeria Limited. Wuraola’s strong religious inclination was said to have made her humble, peace loving and prudent. Her son, Demola

Ade.Ojo told Onyeche Opene in his father’s biography that “She showed how a mother should be towards her children and to others outside the family. She was the softer side of my parents. She was so motherly that sometimes, I felt irritated.” Ade.Ojo himself captured his wife in these words: “In every respect, you were a wife in a million –honest, truthful, humble, loyal, devoted, loving, helpful, dutiful, responsible, delightful, joyful, diplomatic at appropriate times in order to help others.” Speaking last year at the gala night climaxing the 14th edition of the Elizabeth Wuraola Ade.ojo Memorial Golf Tournament, Chief Ade.Ojo an avid golf pundit took time out to extol the virtues of his late wife who passed on November 2003, and also spoke of his plans to make Ilara-Mokin and indeed, Ondo State so endearing to visitors at first visit in the 15th edition of the tournament. “ Life is not worth living if one does not have anything to be remembered for. The woman in whose honour this tournament is organised was everything a woman wants to be. Beyond being a wife, she was a dutiful mother to her children and a compassionate boss to her colleagues. She was the silent force behind various successes of the Group and a mentor to her colleagues. Great lives like hers never go out, they go on. Notwithstanding her departure, the family has continued to stand in unity, ” he said.

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