Oba Ajakaiye:  The Uniqueness of Our Name is Blessing to Iyin-Ekiti

The Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Adeola Adeniyi Ajakaiye, speaks to Raheem Akingbolu on the level of preparedness put in place by the Iyin community ahead of the take-off of the newly established Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences (FUTES)

What were you doing before you ascended the throne? 

I had my early life in Iyin and I had my primary school education there. My dad was a teacher, a headmaster in the village. After primary school, I went to Christ School, arguably one of the best schools around then, not only in Ekiti but also around Nigeria. For my university education, I attended Obafemi Awolowo University; the great Ife. After my university education, I had a stint as a teacher in Lagos, where I taught at St. Gregory’s College, Lagos.

 So you were once a teacher?

 Yes, for a few years. I later quit and went for a Post-graduate Diploma. On completion of the programme, I came to my then home state, Ondo State, and joined the Civil Service as an auditor. I was in Ondo State for about two and half years before  moving to the National Provident Fund (NPF). It’s now known as Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund. I was there until around 2003, when we were rationalised. I used to be a comrade, and so because we were questioning the authority of our management and the rest, some of us were rationalised, but I moved. Eventually, I became the General Manager, Public affairs, Federal Airport Authority of  Nigeria. Unfortunately, some political issues crept in, and I was rationalised again. I came back, and went into some media communications activities. I was already enjoying this when fate played a favourable hand, and one of my cousins, Babatunde Omotoba, was appointed Minister of Aviation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. So, he appointed me as Executive Director, Admin, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). I was there for two years. By that time, I had become a member of E-11, a leading socio-political group in Ekiti. The association was allowed to run Fountain Hotel and I was fortunate to be appointed the Manager. We ran it effectively until another administration came and scuttled the arrangement. I went into private business but following the demise of my brother and predecessor, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adeola Adeniyi Ajakaiye, Oyinyosaiye Uyin III, my family beckoned on me to come home and participate in the Oluyin selection exercise.

But there was a contest and many people felt it was wrong for another Ajakaiye to have shown interest at all?

 Yes, but don’t forget that each community has its cultural way of selecting an Oba. In Iyin, the door was thrown open to any male member. Before Oba Ajaikaye, there had been Owolabi I and II. It will also interest you that another Owolabi also slugged it out with the Baba I succeeded. So that allowed me to participate like others in the exercise.

From General Adeyinka Adebayo to Otunba Niyi Adebayo down to the former Minister Omotoba and Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, Iyin appears to be a lucky town when it comes to having the right person in the right place. What’s the magic?

There is no magic other than the fact that God loves Iyin. Let me just give you one simple analysis that would take care of your curiosity. For instance, you just mentioned Iyin. There is no second that will pass that we will not give praise to God here. There is no time that Iyin’s name will not be mentioned. So, to us, we believe spiritually that God is answering our prayers, and Iyin is so unique in the sense that we were so deliberate about our development and God is enabling us. It will interest you also that this modern Iyin came into being in 1950.

 Did you say modern Iyin?

 Yes, just 75 years ago. Before then, we were scattered. We were still Iyin. But you see us scattered about half kilometres away from ourselves. But we still have the same king. So in 1949, our founding fathers that we refer to as the seven wise men met and decided on bringing us together. They were students and teachers in Christ School.  They agreed that it would be better for all of us to come together.

That was a kind of geographical amalgamation?

Yes, we were brought into one location instead of being scattered here and there. Before then, our forefathers tried, but for one reason or another, nobody wanted to leave their own abode to meet others. But we thank God that in 1950, those students and teachers, the seven wise men, made it happen.

Were they able to pull it through?

They pulled it through and we came together. Fortunately, all those people who owned this place (the current location of Iyin), gave us free of charge. They made it mandatory that we must move. Everybody must move. So we came.

How prepared is Iyin for the imminent population surge that would come with the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences (FUTES)?

First, we are peace-loving people here and perhaps that’s why foreigners thrive and love to be with us. It can only get better with our current status as a university town. We love our residents and we don’t disturb them. There is no foreigner that will come to Iyin that will want to leave because we see them as our own. They enjoy equal rights and sometimes, they are more favoured than indigenes. As you observed, we have many accomplished sons and daughters, and we have recorded first in many areas of human endeavours. We had the first military governor, first executive governor, first Chief Justice of Ekiti, first professor of Architecture in the whole West Africans sub-region, Leader of the Senate and a former Director General of NYSC. Besides, just recently, one of our daughters returned as an ambassador and another one on her way to another country as envoy. We have a lot of them, but it’s by God’s grace that we are where we are.

You haven’t answered the other part of the question. How prepared is this town to host a university?

Like I said, we are naturally and structurally prepared for it. We started in 2021. The first public hearing of the law to establish this university was tabled in the Senate in 2021. So, since then, we have been buckling up in anticipation of a new status. So, it’s not that the school just came in like that. We were ready, we were prepared. So when it came, we thank God. So, we are not only ready, we know we have the capacity. 

May God bless the soul of Professor Ekundayo Adeyemi, the doyen of Architecture scholarship  in Nigeria and a former university Vice-Chancellor. He was the one who led the team of brilliant scholars of Iyin origin who went to make a presentation, and nobody would  listen to Adeyemi who would not know that we were ready for the university. 

On the announcement of the principal officers of the university, we made provision for take-off accommodation for them all.  We provided them with accommodation because we want them to start living in Iyin. The school is currently being operated from the permanent site of Science College while work is ongoing at the permanent site. It will surprise you that the clearing of the permanent site was primarily handled by members of our community.

 So, Iyin people have adjusted to their new status as a university town?

 To the glory of God, we are. Having said all these, let me use this opportunity to appreciate President Bola Tinubu, for assenting to the Bill and for making it a reality And then the governor too, Governor Abiodun Oyebanji, for his support. Let me single out our illustrious son and leader of the Senate, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, for his commitment and patriotism in seeing all the efforts through. It is not only about this university, but it’s about turning this town, its abode, and its roots around. So, I want to admonish him and pray that God will continue to uplift him.