Thursday 13th April, 2023 was another special day for elderstatesman, Otunba Funsho Iteola Ajayi who was born on 13th April, 1938. He is a respected Ijebu High-Chief. He is the Agba Akin of Ijebu-Ife in Ogun State. And the Otunba Arijeloye of Ijebu, by the Awujale of Ijebuland.
Many don’t know that this tall and handsome man is a retired Army Major. He joined in 1969 and retired in 1979. Because he is gentle many find it hard to believe that he was once a Soldier who served at the Nigeria Army Signals in Lagos, as a Signals Officer from 1969-1979.
Every year, Otunba celebrates his birthday and his beautiful wife Olori Olayinka Ajayi usually puts this together for him. Papa Funsho Ajayi is true and true a proud Ijebu-Ode indigene both from father and mother side. His father is Pa. Eskeal Ajayi and mum is Princess Taiwo Adeola Ajayi. Both are from Ijebu-Ode. Otunba was born into the Ajayi Jegede family of Itatembo in Ijebu-Ode.
A day before his birthday, City People team visited Otunba at his Lagos home and we chatted randomly with this man who likes to call the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, my Oga. And we found him in good health. He is still full of humour. He is ageing gracefully and does not joke with dressing well. He loves his well embroidered Agbadas or Kaftans made from the Ijebu wool fabric. He also loves to wear his richly designed caps.
He has plenty of them. He told City People that his tailor who has put together his rich collection of natives resides in Ijebu-Ode.
Otunba, who has had a distinguished career in the Army as an Officer and a Gentleman is an award winning Military Officer. During his military career, he won 4 medals, and rose to become Deputy Commandant, Nigeria Army School of Signals, Apapa in 1978. He voluntarily retired from the Army in April 1979.
He says he graceful to the Army for the training he got which has made him a disciplined and no nonesense man, who does not suffer fools gladly.
He is also very sociable. No wonder he is a member of many social club like: Island Club, Yoruba Tennis Club, Lagos Country Club, Ikeja, Moderate Club, Lagos, Fountain of Hope International, Cathedral Church of Our Saviour Ijebu-Ode, Christian Companion of St. Peters Church Faji, Lagos, Brotherhood of Youngmen, St. Peters Church Faji, Lagos, Omo Olu-Iwa Club Ijebu-Ode and Egbe Bobayo of Ijebuland.
He derives his 2 titles as the Agba-Akin of Ijebu-Ife and Otunba Arijeloye of Ijebu from his maternal root, the Adelaja Family of Ipamuren (Pemu Yemu) and Idowa. He is in many ways symbolic of the Ajayi Jegede Family. Of their many attribute is perhaps best known for his ebullient personality, his commitment to family, groups and society and his robust sense of humour. Little wonder that he has been and still remains a valued member of the Ajayi Jegede Family, where he has managed for many years to foster a unity of purpose and a self-less commitment to the welfare of all its members in all works of life, in sickness and in health poverty and in wealth.
But his energies transmit beyond the small family circle. He has been President of Omo Olu-Iwa Club (having attended Olu-Iwa College,Ijebu-Ode, from 1954 -1958) past Chairman of Moderates Club and member of both Island and Yoruba Tennis Clubs, Lagos past President of Christian Companion Society and member Brotherhood of Youngmen of St. Peters Church, Faji, Lagos, member Brotherhood of Hope Society, Cathedral Church of Our-Saviour, Ijebu-Ode, and a host of others.
Community service is not neglected by Otunba Arijeloye. He is a member of the Awujale Palace Building Committee, where he also serves on its Technical Sub-Committee.
His nomination to serve on the Palace Building Committe level of performance is not unconnected with Otunba Funsho Ajayi’s basic training. He studied in Northern Polylechnic, Lincoln (1961-1966) where he got a Diploma in Electronics and Radio Engineering. He broadened his experience in administration by working at the Nigerian Railway Corporation between 1958 – 1961 and his technical education by serving in the Federal Ministry of Transport and Aviation between 1960 and 1969. He joined Nigerian Army as a Signal Officer in 1969 and rose to the post of Major by the time he retired in April, 1979. So much was packed into his 10 years of service in the Army, Courses at Royal School of Branford, U.K., Nigerian Military Training School, Jaji, Nigerian Institute of Management, University of Laval, Quebec Canada and his onerous responsibilities included being a Technical Instruct at the, Nigerian Army School of Signals, Deputy Commander of the 2nd Division Signal Regiment, Commanding Officer at the Signals Technical Workshops etc. etc.
Those energies, knowledge and experience finally explode on the Private Sector which today have found successful expressions in Rural Electrification Projects (Skoda Electrical Works Limited), Civil Engineering Works (F & G International Nigeria Limited), Construction (Rosh-View Nigeria Limited), and Hospitality, his newest project (F & G Hotels and Suites).
Otunba Funsho Iteola Ajayi, Otunba Arijeloye is happily married and blessed with many children.
