Abeokuta Club is a social and cultural club which became a movement shortly after its inception. It is the foremost club in Nigeria. It’s inaugural meeting was held on 4th June 1972 at the residence of its founding President, late Chief Sobo Sowemimo, SAN in Lagos. It was subsequently formally launched in Abeokuta by the then Alake of Egbaland, His Royal Majesty, late Oba Oyebade Lipede 1, on his coronation day, 5th August 1972.
The Objectives at that time included: • Providing a social platform for all Egbas & their friends • Establishing a suitable clubhouse at Abeokuta • Involvement of all Egbas in the social, cultural, educational and economic development of Abeokuta and environs • The revival, promotion and encouragement of the traditions, culture, festivals and customs of Egbaland.
THE CLUB HAS SINCE INCEPTION BEEN LED BY 11 RESPECTED INDIVIDUALS, NAMELY
1st Chairman – Late Chief Sobo Sowemimo, SAN – 1972-1985, 2nd Chairman – Chief Olatunde Abudu, CFR – 1985-1988, 3rd Chairman – Late Deacon E. Folorunso Oke – 1988-1992, 4th Chairman – Late Apostle S.A. Alamutu, MON – 1992-1994, 5th Chairman – Late Chief L.A. Sofenwa, J.P. – 1994-1997, 6th Chairman – Alhaji Fatai Lawal – 1997-2000, 7th President – Chief A. A. Popoola. J.P. – 2000 -2004, 8th President – Late Chief Kuforiji Rotimi – 2004-2007, 9th President – Late Chief E.V.O. Koleoso – 2007-2010, 10th President – Prof. Afolabi Sovode, J.P. – 2011-2014, 11th President – Chief Adeniyi Lasaki – 2015-2018
12th President – Engr. Tokunbo Odebunmi, mni – 2019 – to date
GENERAL SECRETARIES FROM INCEPTION TO DATE
1st Late Deacon Folorunso Oke – 1972-1986, 2nd Alhaji Fatai Lawal -1986-1988, 3rd Late Dr. T.A. Ogunmuyiwa – 1988-1992, 4th Prof. Afolabi Soyode – 1992-1998, 5th Chief Adeniyi Lasaki – 1998-2010, 6th Engr. Adeniyi Abiola – 2011-2013, 7th Alhaji N.B. Oyedele – 2013-2018, 8th Chief Sesan Okutoro – 2019 – to date.
THE CURRENT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
President: Engr. Tokunbo Odebunmi, mni, First Vice President: Dr. Wale Adeola, Second Vice President: Alhaji N. Bola Oyedele, Hon. General Secretary: Chief Sesan Okutoro, 1st Assistant General Secretary: Prof. Akeem Oyekanmi, 2nd Assistant General Secretary: Mr. Sola Otesile, Treasurer: Chief Oluyinka Ogunsola, FCA, Financial Secretary: Alhaji Jubril Ajose, FCA, Legal Adviser: Barr. A. A. Ayodele.
Below are some of the members of the club. They are:
(1) Engr. (Chief) Tokunbo Odebanmi (MNI) FNSE – President (2) Sir (Chief) Dr. Kessington Adebutu CON (3) His Excellency, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (GCFR) Ph.D – (Vice Patron) (4) His Excellency, Chief Ernest Shonekan (GCFR) – (Vice Patron) (5) His Excellency, Brig Gen. Oluwole Rotimi (CON) – (Vice Patron) (6) His Excellency, Prince Bola Ajibola CFR, SAN – (Vice Patron) (7) Chief Olatunde Abudu (CFR), Chairman Board of Trustee (8) Prof. Afolabi Soyode, JP (Trustee) and ex-President (2011-2014) (9) Hon. Justice Ademola Bakre OON (Trustee) (10) Alhaji (Chief) Fatai Lawal (Trustee) (11) Alhaji (Chief) Fatau Lawal, former President (1997-2000) (12) Chief A.A. Popoola, JP ex-President (2000 – 2004) (13) Chief Kuforiji Rotimi, ex-President (2004-2007) (14) Chief E.V.O. Koleoso, ex-President (2007 -2011) (15) Chief Adeniyi Lasaki, President (2016-2018) (16) Chief Doja Adewolu MFR, Life Vice President (17) Prof. Opeoluwa Adekunle OON, Life Vice-President (18) Hon. Justice Bode Popoola JP, Life Vice-President (19) Chief Sesan Okutoro, General Secretary (2019 to date) (20) Alhaji N. B. Oyedele, ex-Gen. Secretary (2013-2018) (21) Dr. Wale Adeola, First Vice-President (22) Alhaji Bola Oyedele, Second Vice President (23) Prof. Akeem Oyekanmi, 1st Assistant General Secretary (24) Mr. Sola Otesile, 2nd Assistant General-Secretary (25) Chief Oluyinka Ogunsola, FCA (Treasurer) (26) Alhaji Jubril Ajose, FCA (Financial Secretary) (27) Barr. A.A. Ayodele (Legal Adviser).
The club has a lot of eminent members who are Patrons, Vice-Patrons, Royal Fathers, Trustees, Past Presidents, Life President, Life Vice Presidents. The Patrons are made up of the 5 Royal Father; HRM Oba Adedotun Gbadebo (the Alake of Egbaland, HRM, Oba Saburee Babajide, Isola Bakre (Agura of Gbagura), HRM Oba (Dr.) Adedapo Tejuosho (the Osile of Oke Ona Egba), HRM Oba Jacob Olufemi Omolade (the Olubara of Ibara) and HRM Oba (Dr.) Olusanya Adegboyega Dosunmu (the Olowu of Owu Kingdom).
There are other members like Chief M. Akanni Dokunmu (JP), Alhaji Chief Fatai Lawal, Chief Olusegun Osoba (a former Honourary Vice-Patron, Prince Olanrewaju Adebo, Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, Chief Yomi Ademefun, Alhaji Sina Egberongbe, Chief Fadare, Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole, Chief Bode Mustapha, Barrister Leke Adewolu, Dr. Lanre Tejuoso, Are Olalekan Adegbite (current Minister for Mines), Chief Tunji Isola Sarafa, Mr. Tunde Lemo, Chief Joju Fadairo, Sen. Okunrounmi, Chief Olapade, Chief Afolabi Sodunke (28) Engr. Ademola Agboola (29) Chief Sofela Sowemimo (30) Engr. Oyewole Oyewunmi (31) Dr. M.T. Olowonyo (32) Alhaji Ambali Ishola (33) Alhaji Kamarudeen Adedo (34) Chief Ayodele Koleade (35) Amb. Leke Adebiyi (36) Dr. Nofiu Aigoro (37) His Excellency, Navy Capt. Rasheed Raji (rtd) (38) Chief Niyi Adegbenro (39) Chief Ogo-Oluwa Bankole (40) Asiwaju Maxwell Ayinla (41) Alhaji Muyideen Wola Salau (42) Dr. Soji Vaughan (43) Bashorun Festus Kehinde (44) Mr. Diji Akinhanmi (45) Alhaji Samusideen Adenekan (46) Elder Lekan Famuyiwa (47) Engr. Mutiu Odesanya (48) Engr. S.B. Akinsanya (49) Chief Kehinde Sofenwa (50) Alhaji Musibau Onifade (51) Engr. Kola Obadina (52) Alhaji Taofeek Olabode (53) Mr. Adekunle Adewolu (54) Mr. Musibau Adeyeye (55) Chief A.A. Popoola ex-President (2000-2004) (56) Mr. Bola Adeneye ex- Asst Gen. Sec. (57) Alhaji T.A. Aliyu (FCA) former Fin. Sec. (58) Mr. Dele Folaranmi (59) Rev. Babatunde Dokunmu Arch. Abdulwaheed Adetona (61) Prof. Dapo George (62) Dr. Adebola Akinsanya (63) Engr. (Chief) S.B. Akinsanya (64) Alhaji Olayiwola Salami (65) Barr. Olawale Baiyewunmi (66) Dr. Kayode Akinlawon (67) Chief Segun Sorunke (68) Prince Biodun Karunwi (69) Chief (Dr.) Sakirudeen Tunji Labode (70) Alhaji Layi Labode. He is a Broadcast Journalist and an Entrepreneur. He joined Abeokuta Club in 1985 and was a Social & Publicity Secretary, as well as the Assistant Social Secretary of the club at various times.
