By Damilola Kushimo
One of the most inalienable aspirations of any individual is to live long enough to fulfill God’s plan and make the world a better place. It is safe to say that attaining membership in the exclusive nonagenarian club in a country where the average life expectancy for men is barely 65, due to the everyday hustle and bustle of life, is certainly something to glorify God for. Where these many years were found to have been lived in service to the betterment of humanity makes it even more worthy of being greeted with thanksgiving service and merry-making.
True to the nobility and illustriousness of his family, Chief Martins Ayoade Adegboyega, born into the distinguished family of Chief Julius Okekunle Adegboyega and Princess Johanah Subulade Adegboyega (née Babatunde) on December 11, ninety years ago, has distinguished himself as one of the finest of his generation owing to his virtues and lofty political, religious and humanitarian achievements that resonate with his name.
As Professor Wole Soyinka is to the literary world, so is Chief M. A. Adegboyega to the business and political spheres, having etched his name in gold on both fronts without attracting excessive attention to himself.
Educated at the prestigious Holy Trinity School, Gbagura, and St. Leo’s College both in Abeokuta, Chief Martins Ayoade Adegboyega excelled brilliantly in his studies at South West London College, United Kingdom – passing out of the institution with a distinction in Business Studies.
As an individual who had hoped to deploy his vast knowledge into advancing international business, Chief Adegboyega made a huge impact during his stints with BEAM, Agip, and ITTN by contributing immensely to the solidification of the organisations’ foundation before flagging off his own shipping business in 1985 – a business he runs till date.
As a daring entrepreneur, Baba’s ingenuinty ranks him among the earliest players in the ‘importing and exporting’ industry – a feat he is consolidating by keeping pace with modern technological advancements.
On his part as a renowned politician and change maker, Chief Martins Adegboyega , served meritoriously as the Pioneer Executive Chairman of Oshodi/Isolo Local Government that comprised Oshodi, Isolo and Ejigbo from 1991-1993 during the tumultuous military regime of Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. As a reformer, Baba Adegboyea championed numerous policies that redefined grassroots governance and deepened the development at that tier of government.
To his credit, Baba has engendered numerous reforms that have kept him ever-relevant till date earning him the status of a moniker, a political strategist and juggernaut.
As a true democrat who believes in the tenets of democracy, Baba Adegboyega championed the creation of what is today known as Ajao Estate (Ward G) in the federal government’s long list of political wards in Nigeria. This political development has greatly contributed to the steady growth and development of the elite community and commercial nerve centre of Oshodi-Isolo LGA.
As a typical Egba Man, Baba’s search for greener pastures beyond the shores of his native Abeokuta has never made him forsake home, not even for once. His frequent visits home and immense contribution to the development of his hometown both on his maternal side as a prince, earned him the coveted headship position of the royal Babatunde Family of Ilewo (formerly in Yewa and now in Abeokuta North); the family of the pioneer Elewo of Ilewo, Pa Zacheaus Babatunde who was installed in 1954 and reigned for 30 years exerting rulership over Ilewo Orile and Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, and the Adegboyega/Ojuko Family of the Ikereku Idan in Gbagura, Abeokuta.
Baba holds the title of Acting Balogun of Ikereku Idan in Gbagura – a post that ranks him high among the 17 Baloguns in Gbagura Land, Abeokuta. Also, he has to his name the Akinsigun of Egbaland and Akinyegun of Gbagura.
If piety and reverence for God were a person, no doubt, it’s Chief Martins Ayoade Adegboyega and this is evident in his religious titles as the Baba Ijo of Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Ago-Ika Gbagura, Abeokuta; one of the oldest churches in Nigeria and Lukosi of Egba Christians among many others.
On the auspicious celebration of his 90th birthday today, here’s wishing the Otunba Atobaje of Isolo Kingdom God’s continued faithfulness and the goodness that’s associated with old age.
