Author: Tolulope

Chief Dr Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo former president of the federal republic of Nigeria and Aremo Olusegun Osoba former Governor of Ogun State. They are both illustrious sons of the land. Balogun Owu kingdom and the Oluwo Oba. “Aso Adire tun so won poo” and roughly translates to “We are proud of our cultural heritage.” Adire is an Egba traditional Yoruba textile art form. High profile cultural exhibition! Tiwa n tiwa…

The earliest church in Nigeria, Cathedral Church of St. Peter, was completed in 1898 and is located in Ake, Abeokuta, Ogun State. Abeokuta is home to West Africa’s first Baptist Church and Nigeria’s first local administrative division (Abeokuta South). The oldest hospital in Nigeria, Sacred Heart Hospital, is in Abeokuta and remains operational. The Sokori Bridge (1903), the first bridge in Nigeria built independently by a Nigerian (John Adenekan) without European oversight, is in Abeokuta. Nigeria’s earliest Newspaper, Iwe Iroyin, was established in Abeokuta in 1859. The first leader of the Nigerian Union of Teachers and the first woman to…

Standing proudly on Keesi land is the ancient residence of Chief Micheal Sodehinde Idowu, affectionately known as MS. “A Man of Many Talents”.   Chief MS Idowu was a multifaceted individual: An Ilawo Egba man A skilled Draughtsman A successful Sawmiller “A Testament to Egbaland’s Rich Heritage” This enduring structure serves as a reminder of Egbaland’s fascinating history and cultural significance. Would you like to share more about Chief MS Idowu’s life or the historical context of this building? Send email to this platform.

Ancient and Standing at Keesi Egbaland This iconic house was the residence of Chief Akinremi Sorunke, a revered figure in Egba history. He was: The 15th Oluwo Keesi Ojuegbe Oro Sorunke of Agoro Compound Baba Alanjonnu Father of Chief E.B. Sorunke (18th Oluwo Keesi and Amona Oba Egbaland) Grandfather of Chief Babatunde Sorunke (current Amona Oba Egba) A Rich History The house was built in 1937 by the late Mr. Daniel Sogbein, father of the late Senator Samuel Sogbein, former Minister of Works and  Transport. Chief Akinremi Sorunke passed away in June 1963, at the age of 67. His legacy…

Ijaiye, a name synonymous with pottery, is facing an existential threat. This traditional trade, dominated by women and young ones, has been a staple of Abeokuta’s identity and a tourist attraction. However, the relentless march of “progress” and misplaced priorities have pushed this ancient craft to the brink of extinction.  A Brief History In the late 80s to early 90s, the government transformed the pottery market into shops, displacing the potters. Despite initial efforts to preserve the craft, subsequent developments led to the proliferation of shops selling drinks, daily needs, boutiques, and cosmetics. The once-thriving pottery market was relegated to…

As part of  efforts of the Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka to expand the frontiers of knowledge, a giant step was taken today, Tuesday, 17th May 2022 by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) ceding the custody of the Ijegba Forestage to the institution. The Ijegba Forestage, comprising of  residence, library, and writers’ retreat residency is to be managed by the University to promote academic, cultural, ecological, and recreational studies leading to deepening of multicultural studies that can strengthen the integration of science and humanities. At the low-key signing ceremony held at the…

Moses Adeolu Akisanya a.k.a ‘Baba Eto’, Director of Socials, was born on the 18th February 1928 into the family of Akisanya in Totoro-Owu in Abeokuta. He had his primary education at St. Paul, U.N.A School, Lapeleke, Abeokuta. After completing his primary school, he proceeded to Lagos where he continued his educational career at St. Judes School, Ebute-Metta. Adeolu Akisanya worked at Idumota as a Clerk with Motor Spare Parts Dealers. He later worked as a Typist with a foreign company called Gottshalk and Co. Limited and later resumed as a signal Clerk at Mobil Petroleum and then West African Airways…

In a small Orunto village nestled between two great Abedopa rivers, there lived a young artisan named Adisa. Adisa was known throughout the village for his exceptional craftsmanship, particularly in woodworking. His creations were not only functional but also breathtakingly beautiful, imbued with a sense of character and soul. One day, a wealthy merchant approached Adisa with an offer: create a wooden chest that would surpass all others in beauty and craftsmanship. The merchant was willing to pay a handsome sum, but he had one condition: the chest must be completed within a fortnight. Adisa accepted the challenge, but he…

An Author and Founder of SixthSense Initiative, Chief Abiodun Lasile, has called Federal Government to approve reading as a compulsory subject in  Primary and Secondary School Curriculum inorder to imbibe reading culture in pupils across Nigeria Lasile stated this at the 7th annual event of the SixthSense Reading Competition – aimed at fostering love of reading among pupils and students of Primary and Secondary Schools in Ogun State, held at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta. He urged the Federal Government to make reading a compulsory subject like Mathematics and English to enable pupils and students see reading as subject for…

S. O. Adebo, a pioneer of the Nigerian Civil Service, and a former United Nations envoy and University President, died of a stroke on Sept. 30 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Abeokuta, Nigeria. He was 80. Chief Adebo served as Nigeria’s representative at the United Nations from 1962 to 1967 and as United Nations Under Secretary General and Executive General of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research until 1972. He retired as Chancellor of the University of Lagos two years ago. Simeon Olaosebikan Adebo was born near Abeokuta in Western Nigeria, and became an Okanlomo (Chief) of the…