April 28, (THEWILL)- Although he is considered by many as a socialite, Otunba Alex Onabanjo has been less than that these past few years. For reasons best known to him, he decided to take a breather from social affairs, preferring only to attend social functions that are of utmost importance to him. He recently came out of hibernation when he celebrated his installation as the Asiwaju of Ago-Iwoye by His Royal Majesty, the Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye, Oba Abdul-Razaq Adesina Adenugba. The title was previously held by late Chief Jubril Martins-Kuye until his death in January 2021. Ironically, the title was conferred on Onabanjo in 2022 and the necessary traditional rites were performed at the Ebumawe’s palace to confirm the chieftaincy title.
The formal installation ceremony was however deferred to a later date which turned out to be this past weekend. Oba Adenugba said Onabanjo was chosen for the title in recognition of his immense contributions to the development of Ago-Iwoye. He said the footprints of Alex Onabanjo in the annals of Ago-Iwoye will forever remain indelible, noting that he has always been a pacesetter and champion of the good of Ago-Iwoye.
The lavish ceremony which took place at Ogun State, was witnessed by prominent sons and daughters of the State some of whom included, the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebuland, Sunny Kuku, Oba Otudeko, Gbenga Daniel and his wife, Yeye Funke Daniel; Parallex Bank MD, Olufemi Bakre and his wife; Otunba Lekan Osifeso; Moji Dokpesi; Kenny Ogungbe; Idowu Ogungbe; Kenny st Brown and several others. Giving him her full support is his young wife, Kunle who stood by him like the rock of Gibraltar. Onabanjo who was an inlaw to former president Olusegun Obasanjo and is still an inlaw to Caverton helicopters boss, Chief Remi Makanjuola, met and married Kunle when his marriage of 40 years crashed like a pack of badly arranged cards in 2018. Until their marriage crashed, himself and his wife, Yeye Lanre were a model couple to many who looked up to them because of the infectious love and companionship they both radiated. Onabanjo is an accomplished oil & gas magnate with global tentacles.
A philanthropist of note, some of his most significant contributions to humanity were made in the education sector. There is the endowment of Geological equipment worth N200 million to the Department of Earth Sciences in Ogun State University Ago-Iwoye which he made in 1999 and N227 million Otunba Alex Onabanjo Petrochemical Science Laboratory and Office Complex at Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun Ogun State in 2007.
Another contribution he made was his donation of an auditorium and a senior staff Canteen to Tai Solarin University Of Education. Also, he donated an Electronic Library with 500 Computers and two generators. In 2020, to celebrate his 70th birthday, he built and donated an Academic Staff Building at the Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic Ijebu Igbo in Ogun State and donated an Auditorium and a Senior Staff Canteen to Tai Solarin University Of Education. In addition to his current chieftaincy title, he is also the Otunba Sakinmolu of Ago-Iwoye and the Aro Oba of Ago-Iwoye.
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