EARLY CHILDHOOD
Onaolapo Olusegun SOLEYE was born on Saturday 11th November 1933 to Pa John Adeyi Soleye and Madam Victoria Adetutu Soleye. His actual place of birth was in the house of his mothers relative-Chief Oyeteju at the Aro Railway Station in Abeokuta. His mother had gone to the market and fell into labour close to Chief Oyetejus house, hence the closest place to be born. He recalls his names, Onaolapo Olusegun came about because of November 11th being celebrated as Armistice Day when the First world war ended and as payday at that time by the Colonial Government.
His first school was Owu Baptist Day School around 1939. He started school slightly late because he was relatively of a tiny stature. At the time, to determine your age, you had to put your hand over your ears to touch your ears. From Alakobere (beginning of Primary School) to Standard 6 took about Nine (9) Years
He joined the famous Baptist Boys High School (BBHS), Abeokuta in January 1949 for a straight 6-year course to bag the Cambridge School Certificate (CSC). He was very good in Latin and English and not as good in Mathematics. He opted for Geography, Latin and Religious Knowledge.
He was made a prefect in Form 6, alongside Tunji Adetona, Eniola Atanda and Dawodu was the Senior Prefect. There was no designated role for Prefects. He was very rascally at the senior year.
Alongside the Prefects, his classmates amongst others were Oluwole Adebayo, Iretunde Olopade, Kofo Popoola, Oyeleye Oyediran, J.T Okedara, Lola Fadulu , Olugbemi, Ijaola, Olunlade, Sopeyin .
He completed the Cambridge School Certificate in 1954 and did very well. The government of the Western region started a Pivotal Teacher Training Program for those who want to be teachers . It required being sent to the Teacher Training College: He chose to be a teacher alongside some of his classmates, Lola Fadulu and J.T. Okedara. He was in Teacher Training at the Baptist College, Iwo from 1955-56.
JOURNEY TO IGEDE-EKITI
After teacher training, he was sent to a new secondary school, the Ekiti Baptist Boys High School in Igede-Ekiti. Rev Dr. W. R. Ola Ojo, who would later become his brother in-law, was in Igede at that time and knew the Soleyes ; Rev Dr. W.R. Ola Ojo was 1948 BBHS set. He recalls his Mum, Mama Victoria Adetutu Soleye had his cousin, Mrs. Ayoka Adebayo, accompany him to Igede Ekiti, being a completely new territory. At Ekiti Baptist Boys High School, Onaolapo Soleye taught Geography, Latin & English. He taught older students and Baptist pastors who required secondary education.
He stayed in Igede Ekiti from 1956-1959 and thereafter, requested transfer to the BBHS in Abeokuta. He was the church organist at First Baptist Church in Igede- Ekiti. He recalls at that time that you cannot go to Baptist College without reading Musical notation. In the Baptist Setting, it is either you become Choir Master or Choir Master and Organist. You must take Music as a compulsory subject, however, not everyone can play the piano. He was both Choir Master and Organist. It was at Igede-Ekiti that he met his lovely and beautiful wife, Womiloju Modupe Ojo.
THE SOJOURN ABROAD
Late in 1959/early 1960, he applied to the London School of Economics and Political Science, founded 1895, famously known as LSE. To qualify, he was required to take the WAEC entrance exam in Lagos which he passed and qualified him for a place at LSE. He left Nigeria for LSE as a Colonial student on September 30, 1960 and arrived in Britain on October 1, 1960, when Nigeria became an Independent Nation. He was admitted to the 2-year, full-time Diploma in Social Administration (DSA) program with a field practical for 9 months.
Over that period, he worked at the London Euston station loading train coaches with newspapers at night and worked at the Post Office by day (when lecture schedules permitted) dropping mails during and over the Christmas period, to pay his fees and bills. He claims his social life was not great due to tight lecture and work schedules which all paid off with an incredibly good academic record.
He recalls a moment after his 2nd year result in 1962, when the Dean of his faculty at LSE requested through his Head of department to see him. For Dad, it was a moment of panic where all sorts raced through his mind -a colonial Student from Nigeria needing to be seen by the Dean, thoughts of I hope I haven’t failed an exam or exams I prepared for, crisscrossed his mind. On meeting the Dean, he was amused to be congratulated on having done exceptionally well in the exams and particularly in a core module he didnt really like- Statistics.
The Dean went further to say that the faculty board suggested he consider completing a degree in Statistics as opposed to Social Administration/Sociology, within the same 2-year period, at the same level of fees. He told us it was relatively easy for him to decline the offer as academic matters requiring extensive mathematical prowess was not his forte. He claims he had spent considerable time cramming everything he needed to know about that module called Statistics and a degree option requiring more cramming for another 2 years was not a consideration for him.
He discussed with the faculty, his concerns, his desired academic pursuit, and career inclinations, to which LSE recommended the older and reputable University of Manchester. The faculty were willing to give him a reference as it was a requirement along with exceptional results. He claims the offer from Manchester was confirmed within days, which at that time, was very fast.
He mentions being fascinated with the works of Prof. Richard Morris Titmuss of the Department of Social Administration and his Philosophy of Second Chance”. After his Diploma in Social Administration (D.S.A) from LSE, he moved to the University of Manchester to study Sociology. Within 2 years, he completed his degree, securing a Second-Class Upper division and secured an automatic scholarship for his masters degree. He wrote the manuscript for his dissertation and his wife (Mom), who joined him in England in 1964, typed it all up, as he could not afford to hire someone to type.
After his Masters’ degree at the University of Manchester, he returned to Nigeria in 1967 and was appointed Junior Research Fellow at The Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research, NISER. He recalls at that time that a Junior Research Fellow was equivalent to an Assistant Lecturer in the University setting. Later in 1967, he commenced his Ph.D. also at the University of Manchester, on securing a Ford Foundation Scholarship. He worked on his Ph.D research predominantly in Nigeria, returning to England in 1969 and awarded in 1970.
MARRIAGE
He got married to Womiloju Modupe Ojo on September 5, 1964 in Manchester, England. At that time, Mom was working fulltime and in part time education while Dad was in full time study and worked part time.
1967 WITH NISER & COMMENCEMENT OF PH.D. PROGRAM.
As a Junior Research Fellow at NISER, he submitted his Ph.D proposal to study the Cement Industry in Nigeria: A Case Study of the Portland Cement factory, Ewekoro. His research was based on Industrial Sociology. He got the inspiration for his theoretical framework “The Principle of Negotiated Order, from a book published at the time, titled: Psychiatrist Ideologies and Institutions. His thesis was titled An Arena for a Negotiated Order: A Case Study of a Factory in an African Community. “If you want to solve conflict anywhere, resort to a negotiated order.
On his return to Nigeria in 1970 after being conferred his Ph.D. at the University of Manchester, he was advised by Prof. Okediji of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ibadan not to return to NISER but to consider a similar, more academic, more fulfilling role at the Faculty of Social Sciences. It was a piece of counsel that proved impactful as he became an erstwhile academic and full lecturer at the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ibadan. He remained and served from that time until retirement in 1996.
ANTI-RACIAL ACTIVITIES- MANCHESTER, ENGLAND.
He took active part in anti racism while in Manchester, England. He recalls racism was rampant at the time. He was a member of The Black Nationalist Movement (BNM) at the Faculty of Social Sciences in Manchester University and participated in the anti-apartheid movement. He took part in one or two anti-apartheid demonstrations through the BNM.
Because of his involvement with the BNM in Manchester, he started the Black Nationalist Movement at the University of Ibadan in 1970 on his return to Nigeria from England. The slogan for the BNM by Malcolm X was Black is Beautiful. He recalls being privileged as a colonial student, to have met Malcolm X in Manchester in December 1964. He admonished students on the need to propagate advocacy and support for Black people, especially in racial and colonial settings, where they are being marginalised, unheard and underrepresented. He recalls encouraging BNM student-members to excel in their academics and outlook on life to be heard and taken seriously by the authorities and fellow students. The Black Nationalist Movement had nothing to do with his career as an academic. The BNM was later proscribed at the University of Ibadan.
MASTER OF INDUSTRIAL & LABOR RELATIONS- M.I.L.R
Sometime in the early to mid-1980s, the Federal Government of Nigeria felt that part of industrial sociology is a study of trade unionism and workers behaviour. He recalls someone at the Federal Level suggested “we should have a program to train industrial relations experts” The Federal Government approved it. Because of his training, activities, and experience in Industrial Sociology, he became the first Director of MILR at the Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Ibadan.
SABBATICAL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES (UCLA), U.S.A- 1980-1981.
One of his areas of theoretical interest-Symbolic Interactionism, led him on Sabbatical to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in the United States. He was designated a visiting Professor. There, he taught African Social Structure.
SABBATICAL TO INDIA- 1986-1987.
He later studied Indian Community Development Strategy and taught Industrial Organization briefly in Ranchi College of Technology. The sabbatical was an eye opener. He delivered a lecture about his experience in India in 1987 at the Institute of International Affairs as part of the events to mark the 40th year of Indian Independence from the British.
SERVICE TO THE NATION.
Western State
He was inaugurated as Commissioner in the Western State on November 1,1975 and assigned to the Ministry of Industries. He served under Major General David Jemibewon. He was nominated for the role at that time by his bosom childhood friend and life-long brother- General Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo.
The Achievements in Western State.
Secured Area F Reserve in Ibese from the Portland Cement Factory in Ewekoro.
Instrumental to the establishment of The Odua Investment Group to prevent rancour amongst the newly created Oyo, Ogun and Ondo States and foster cooperation in the management of all joint assets of the Odua Group.
Creation of Ogun State
The announcement of the creation of states came in February 3, 1976. He was appointed as one of the pioneering Commissioners by the first Governor of the newly created Ogun State, Major General Saidu Ayodele Balogun. His portfolio was Commissioner for Trade Industries and Cooperatives (T.I.C) following on from his portfolio in the defunct Western State.
One of his major achievements as Commissioner for TIC was the construction and commissioning of the Ogun State Hotel in Abeokuta. He was a year and a half in the role and was reassigned thereafter as Commissioner for Works and Housing under Lt. General. Aliyu Muhammed-Gusau.
Some of his major achievements as Commissioner for Works and Housing are as follows:
The Construction of the Second bridge over the Ogun River in Abeokuta.
Construction of new roads and refurbishment of existing ones
The expansion of the Ogun State Housing Corporation residential properties in Abeokuta and the Commissioners Quarters.
In the last one year of his tenure, he served as Commissioner of Finance under Brigadier H.O.D Eghagha, then Military Administrator of Ogun State. One of his major achievements amidst managing the States Budget, the prudent allocation of resources for various projects and leaving a healthy balance for the next elected administration, was the personal emolument of civil servants, paid as and when due, as a first charge.
During his tenure in Ogun State, he served under Maj.Gen Saidu Ayodele Balogun, the first Governor of Ogun State, then Lt-Gen Aliyu Mohammed-Gusau as acting Governor and then under Brigadier H.O.D Eghagha as State Administrator.
Federal Government Service.
He served as Federal Minister of Finance under Gen. Muhammadu Buhari from 1984-1985. Major policy actions during his tenure are as follows:
Policies preventing drastic devaluation of the naira.
Refinancing of trade debt arrears insured by international organizations.
Supported the rationalization and restriction of imports.
Did not stop the trend of budget deficit financing.
Creation of new naira notes to halt currency smuggling.
ADVENTURES & INTERESTS, HOBBIES
Scouting
He joined the Scouting Organization in 1947 at Owu Baptist Day School. Carried it on to BBHS and became a patrol leader. He continued scouting at the Baptist College in Iwo. He was one of those appointed to represent Iwo & Western State to meet the Queen Elizabeth II in 1956. They met the Queen in Ibadan around Molete, the Headquarters of the Boy Scouts Movement at that time.
He was appointed as Scout Commissioner by the Chief Commissioner in Lagos.
Hunting
He loves to hunt. He attended shooting and firearms lessons during his Sabbatical sojourn in the United States and returned to Nigeria with his first firearm (licensed).
He was a member of the Ifelodun Hunting Club.
Because of his interest in Hunting, The Alake of Egba land, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo gave him the honour and title of Jagunmolu of Egba Hunters.
Travel & Adventures
He was a dog lover and lover of wildlife and safaris. He loved to travel and had visited almost all the tourist sites in Nigeria. He also visited significant historical and ecotourism sites when he travels abroad.
Singing & Playing Piano
He loves to sing.
He played the piano, accordion, and mouth organ.
Formed singing groups.
He was Patron of Egba Musical Society
Photography
He loved photography: always captured memorable events with his camera. Had his binoculars with him on his adventures.
Organisation
Co-Started the Yoruba Parapo with Chief Bode Akindele & Alhaji Bayo Adetunji.
He was involved with Radio Kudirat- A Revolutionary Radio Station during the military era of 1996-99
COLLECTION OF QUOTES- IT WAS HIS HOBBY TO COLLECT QUOTES.
A few of his favourite quotes are-
If wise men are asked to govern and they refuse, foolish men will govern, and they will pass foolish laws which wise men have to obey. Cannon. Akinyemi (Father of Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi)
Abraham Lincolns Letter to His Sons Teacher
Abraham Lincoln wrote a letter to his son’s teacher instructing him to teach his son that not all men are good or truthful, but also that behind every bad person is a good person trying to do good. Lincoln wanted his son to be taught the value of books but also nature, and to stand up for his beliefs even if others disagree. He wanted his son to treat all people with respect, regardless of whether they are kind or cruel, and to think for himself rather than follow the crowd. Teach him to be gentle with gentle people, and tough with the tough. Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone is getting on the band wagon … Teach him to listen to all men … but teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth and take only the good that comes through.
OTHER QUOTES:
You gravitate where you are celebrated and appreciated; a place where you are not appreciated and celebrated but tolerated will ultimately become a place of relegation.
At different seasons of life, as you come across different personalities, you may within reason, need to put in place a relationship of avoidance, should your relationship become unhealthy.
Be nice to people on your way up, you might need them again on your way down.
In the game of life, it is better to score by honours than by tricks.
The remembrance of the past is the teacher of the future.
Keep your eyes open before marriage and half closed afterwards.
Beware of the silent man and the dog that does not bark.
Do not be afraid to ask dumb questions.
BOARD AFFILIATIONS
Adesoye Holdings
Okitipupa Oil Palm Company
Modandola Group of Companies
Member, Technical Committee on Privatization & Commercialization, TCPC
Board Member, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC
Chairman, Gateway Board- Gateway Bank
Chairman, Afromedia Plc
Board Member, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library
Board Member, Citadel Savings & Loans
Chairman, The Bells Secondary School, Otta.
Chairman, Adesoye College, Offa
SERVICE TO GOD
Member of the Royal Ambassador
Choir member at Owu Baptist Church
Choirmaster and Organist, First Baptist Church, Igede-Ekiti
Patron- Egbe Afadura Jagun Obinrin
Patron- Iriju Kristi Society, Owu Baptist Church
Chair- Board of Trustees- Owu Baptist Church
He was a Unionist. He always fought for equity and justice. He was a loyal and dependable friend.
He was blessed with:
Mrs. Womiloju Modupe Soleye – Wife
Children-
Late Major General Olufunmilola Soleye
Dr. Olamide Soleye
Ms. Abimbola Soleye-Fadimu
Mr. Olufunmilakin Soleye
Mr. Eyitayo Soleye
Daughters-In-Law-
Tenimasunwon Soleye, Kumbirai Soleye, Olubukola Soleye and Iniobong Eyitayo-Soleye
Grandchildren-
Olufunso Soleye, Oreoluwa & Tobiloba Oyinloye, Iretunde Soleye, Peyibomi Fadimu, Eyimofe Soleye, Irelolu Soleye, Segunfunmi Fadimu, Eyilope Soleye, Eyitoni Soleye, Eyitoba Soleye
Great Grandchild- Iyanuoluwa Oyinloye
His Beloved Cousins, Nieces, Nephews, and Friends.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL RICHLY.
