Gaming Sector
Baba Ijebu’s Legacy
Hitting The Jackpot Founding father of the lotto industry, Sir Kesington Adebutu, comes from a humble background and has been a major player in laying the groundwork for a better future for Nigeria, while injecting hope through a powerful philanthropic drive.
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“Having no capital, I looked for a business that required little or no capital and what came to my mind was to be a pool agent.” Sir Kesington Adebutu
NIGERIA
Known to be one of the founding fathers of the Nigerian Lotto industry, Sir Kesington Adebutu is founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria’s lucrative and oldest Nigerian lotto game operator, Premier Lotto Ltd, popularly known by its nickname, Baba Ijebu. Long before the advent of online betting, Baba Ijebu catered to Nigeria’s gambling community with Adebutu starting his business as a pool agent in 1963. His honesty and integrity immediately won him his client’s trust and confidence, and under a year later he had already opened another two pool outlets while his business began branching out into the lotto business. Abebutu has said: “Having no capital, I looked for a business that required little or no capital and what came to my mind was to be a pool agent, because to be a pool agent, what you just need is to get a table and your pen. So, you can see it is not capital intensive. I did that briefly and within a short time with my best friend, the late Chief Solomon Adebayo Ayoku, we dominated Africa. We then diversified to other areas like agriculture, manufacturing, estate management, the lotto and entertainment. Today, I have the concession for the gateway hotels Abeokuta for 25 years.” In 2001, the Premier Lotto Ltd. was incorporated and established to carry out the Lotto business in Nigeria, building itself up over the years to become the mega-franchise that it is today, with over 200 principal agents supervising over 16,000 sub agents/sales representatives. Adebutu’s empire currently includes lotteries, betting on major events, entertainment, casinos and pools. An important aspect to Baba Ijebu’s success lies in its pioneering drive and innovative vision within the gaming industry. In order to accommodate the lotto and facilitate the ease of playing to participants, Baba Ijebu has partnered with MTN telecommunications company to provide quick and easy access to the Baba Ijebu Mobile Gaming Service. However, with agents for Nigeria’s most popular lottery all over the country, the company also prides itself with its engagement with Nigerian people, especially its youth; reducing unemployment and providing a means of living for thousands of people across the spectrum of the business value chain, from agents to lucky winners. However, Adebutu philanthropist footprint has not stopped there. In November 2013, he launched the Sir Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu Foundation (KAAF) and generously donates to churches, mosques, schools and various organisations, while establishing important state-of the-art institutions, such as the Sir Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu School of Law at the Houdegbe North American University in Benin Republic, the Medical Laboratory and Maternity Centre and the Lady Kesington Diabetic Centre at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital. Adebutu’s success is not based on luck or chance; through perseverance, hard work, integrity and self-discipline, he has set the stage for Nigeria’s positive social transformation and driven its economy. In October 2019, he was conferred with the prestigious chieftancy title of Odole Oodua by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Eniitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II at the Ile-Oodua, the Ooni’s palace in Ile-Ife, Osun State. An immense honour deservedly awarded due to the decisive and valuable impact Adebutu and his Baba Ijebu platform has had upon the lives of millions of Nigerians.
