On Saturday 15th February 2025, the family of late Chief T.A Oni (MBE, MFR, FNIOB) gathered in Ibadan to remember him, 50 years after. It was his 50-year remembrance and the launch of a pictorial book in his honour. The event took place at Jogor Hall in Ibadan. It was a celebration of this great man, the Balogun of Oke-Imesi and Bada of Igbajo. He died in 1975 at the age of 62.
His children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren gathered to remember him.
Let’s tell you about the man popularly called Oni & Sons in Ibadan.
Theophilus Adediran Oni was born in 1913 in Ibadan, Nigeria, to Prince John James John Adeyemi Oni (the grandson of the 7th Oba of Oke Imesi Ekiti, and a former UAC employee turned successful cocoa farmer) and Mrs. Alice Olufunmilayo Oni.
His early life was marked by a strong sense of discipline and hard work, values that would shape his future. He attended St. James Primary School in Oke-Bola, Ibadan, and Methodist School in Ogbe, Abeokuta.
.A turning point in his life came when he worked as a Tennis ball boy at the Abeokuta Tennis Club. There, he met Mr. Wade, a staff member of the Public Works Department and an avid Tennis player. Impressed by Theophilus’ boldness and enthusiasm as a Tennis ball boy, Mr. Wade offered him a job at the Public Works Department in Abeokuta. This marked the beginning of his career in Civil Engineering and Construction. Theophilus’ passion for building and creating infrastructure drove him to excel in his role, and he quickly rose through the ranks.
Theophilus’ career spanned over 2 decades, during which he rose to become a Senior Road Overseer. He was involved in several landmark projects, including the laying out of the first 6 Trunk ‘A’ roads in Nigeria in 1937. His dedication, expertise, and leadership skills earned him recognition and respect within the industry.
In 1945, Theophilus partnered with his friend Isaac Ojo Ajanaku to establish Nigeria Contractors Ltd. They secured a contract from the Colonial government to auction off scrapped vehicles, trucks, and machinery from the 2nd World War. However, upon discovering that the company name had previously been registered, they dissolved the business, divided its assets equally, and Theophilus Adediran Oni went on to create to T.A. Oni & Sons Ltd in 1946.
T.A. Oni & Sons Ltd was the first indigenous construction company in Nigeria. Theophilus started with an initial capital of £2000 and went on to build a successful building and Construction company that would leave a lasting legacy.
T.A. Oni & Sons Ltd handled several high-profile projects, including:
The construction of the University of Ibadan (roads, staff quarters, classrooms, furniture)
The construction of the University of Lagos (roads, staff quarters & infrastructure)
The construction of the Queen Elizabeth Road in Ibadan, Nigeria’s first dualized road (1958)
The construction of roads, bridges, infrastructures, over 1000 kilometres of roads nationwide, transforming the country’s infrastructure landscape
The St. Peters Church, Aremo
The New Bussa Town
Staff quarters, offices and road network to Kainji Dam
Ikeja International Airport
Tejuosho Market and Ewekoro Cement factory
As Akintola Williams, the Doyen of Accountancy in Nigeria, once said: “T.A. Oni & Son Ltd will always be remembered for standing like a giant during very great competition from multinational companies backed by substantial capital and technical expertise in their countries abroad.”
Honourable Justice Babalakin also noted: “It is vital for the modern generation of Nigerians to know about Chief Oni. His life story serves as a testament to how honesty and industriousness can elevate one from humble beginnings to great heights.”
Theophilus Adediran Oni was also a devoted philanthropist. In 1966, he dedicated his Goodwill House to the Glory of God, which was later handed over to the Oyo State Government in 1985 and is now known as the T.A. Oni Memorial Children Hospital. This hospital has provided medical care to thousands of children, a testament to Theophilus’ commitment to healthcare and education.
Theophilus received several honours and accolades for his contributions to Nigeria’s development. He was awarded the Member of the British Empire (MBE) in 1961 and the Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) for his exceptional contributions to civil engineering and philanthropy.
Theophilus Adediran Oni’s life was a testament to hard work, determination, and philanthropy. His legacy continues to inspire generations, and his contributions to Nigeria’s development will never be forgotten, as we reflect on his life and achievements.
T.A. Oni & Sons Ltd handled several high-profile projects, including projects that include factories, warehouses, infrastructure, roads, housing estates and buildings
It includes Staff quarters, roads and infrastructures at
Apoje Farm Settlement Fashola Farm Settlement University College Hospital (U.C.H) University of Lagos Forestry Research Institute, Ibadan
University College Ibadan Ewekoro Cement factory Nigerian Cereal Research Institute Moor Plantation (NCRI), Ibadan Cocoa Research Institute (CRIN), Idin-Ayunre, Oyo State •Nigerian Institute of Horticultural Research (NIHORT), Ibadan •Institute of Agriculture, Research, and Training (IAR&T) Ibadan. Rubber Research Institute Iyanomo, Benin Kainji Dam project, including the NEW BUSSA Town West African Council Examination Staff Quarters Nigerian Prison Warders Quarters Abeokuta Shell, Warri Abalti Barracks, Lagos
Other projects include National Archive building, Ibadan, ECN Senior members of staff flats, Alexandria Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, Flats for the Federal Members of the House of Parliament, Lugard Avenue, Ikoyi, 1958 Cocoa Marketing Board, St Peters Church, Aremo •First Baptist Church, Idi-Ikan, Ibadan, St John’s Cathedral Church, Iloro, Ilesha General Hospital, Shaki, Lafia Canning industry, Ibadan Emergency & Accident building Igbobi Orthopaedic hospital, Primary Schools, Western Region, Karo Supermarket, Benin, First Baptist Mission Hospital, Shaki Tejuosho Market, Yaba, Lagos Extension of the Ikeja (Domestic) Airport, Lagos Divisional General Hospital Complex, Ilaro, Nigerian Railways Corporation –semi-detached houses Ebute Metta, Lagos
His company did over 1,000 kilometres of Road that including Opeki Bridge, Oyo State, Majidun Bridge, Ikorodu, Lagos State •Ilisan-Iperu Ila-Ora, Ogun •Auchi-Ekpoma, Edo State •Agbor-Ogwachiuku, Delta State •Shikatu-Ayangba, Delta State •Nawa-Yauri road, Niger state •Iwo-Osogbo, Osun State •Owo-ikare, Ondo State •Ibafon-Agbowa-Ikosi •Osogbo-Okuku, Osun State •Osogbo Control Centre of niger Dam Authority (now NEPA) •Idah-Ayangba, Benue State •Kajimi Dam, Kaduna State
•Osun Bridge, Oke-Imesi •Abeokuta, Ondo Ibadan township roads •Foriku – Okitipupa-Ikare-Kabba Road
T.M. Aluko, the author of “One man one Matchet” and one-time Controller of Works Western Nigeria, Engineer mourned:
“Indeed T.A. Oni lived in deeds and not in years. It is for you in the family and in the business to take consolation in the knowledge that wherever people talk of success in civil engineering construction enterprises which she built so arduously, he ensured for him all the time the topmost position on the role of honour”.
Chief Olu Akinkungbe (the co-Director at Fan Milk) comments: Your past 60 years has been full of outstanding achievements and prayed that his records of success may continue to grow.
General James Oluleye described him as “A man who had a wonderful experience to achieve success”
Justice Olajompo Akinkungbe comments: “Chief Oni need to look back to his past sixty years with maximum satisfaction even though the road had been road, on his boldness, determination, resourcefulness and initiative, the consequence of which is the flourishing business enterprise today”
Chief Bola Ige’s Comment: “In Chief Oni’s lifetime he devoted his energy and talent to the development of the old western state and Nigeria in general. Evidence of his devotion to duty and the development of his fatherland are noticeable in the field of civil engineering with particular emphasis on highway construction throughout the country. As a Nigerian pioneer in that field, he excelled himself in an enterprise which the expatriates and some doubting Nigerians thought no African could venture to enter.”
Papa Theophilus Adeddiran had a unique polygamous family setting. He married from all from all parts of the country and he ensured that each wife had a profession or engaged in one business or the other that would earn her money.
He provided adequately for his family, at the Goodwill House, Ring Road, Ibadan, He provided a furnished apartment for each wife and a boarding house facility for the children, with Mrs John and Williams as Matrons at different times. The boarder encouraged the children to grow up independent of maternal influence, as they ate and went to school together in one school bus, marked “Omo Fadunmila”.
He loved and was involved in the lives of his children, especially his girls.
Christmas and New Year celebrations at his Goodwill House were major events for Chief Oni. He cherished this time with his family, often having the younger children entertain guests by singing Christmas carols. Dancing competitions in the large family living room were a highlight, with winners receiving special prizes. Weddings, naming ceremonies, and birthday parties were frequent and joyous occasions.
He received his MBE medal from the Governor General of the Western region, Kabiyeesi Oba Ooni Tadeniwo Adesoji Aderemi in 1961 and the member of the Federal Republic (MFR) for his exceptional contributions to Civil Engineering & Philanthropy.
