Sir (Otunba) Joseph Oladapo Adelusi, KJW Biography

By Olatunde Fapohunda MD

Our Father – Joseph Oladapo Dada Adelusi

Was born May, 1934 into the Usinola Ruling house of Ilero Royal family of Irutu quarters in Oke Aeydun, Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

His father Prince David Dada Adelusi, son of His Royal Highness, Oba Adaba Usinola the Alaaye of Oke-Ayedun Ekiti who reigned 1916-1943 and his mother Madam Famtola Usinola hailed from Ayebode Ekiti. Prince David Dada Adelusi converted early into Methodism in 1911 when Christianity was introduced to Oke-Ayedun.

His mother Madam Lydia Aina Adeyanju Adelusi hailed from Ilogbo quarters of Esun-Ekiti also from one of the Royal families in Ikunri-Ekiti. She was of the Anglican faith so Daddy was born into a Christian home.

Primary School Days

Daddy entered the Methodist Primary School in Jan 1944, infant class 1C (only very determined parents sent their children to school in those days) He spent two years in the infant classes instead of four due to his outstanding academic performance and six years in the primary standards making a total of eight years in the primary school altogether, this was an uncommon achievement at that time. He went on to standard V in 1950 where he wrote an essay that won him a prize at the district level. At the direction of the then Western District of the Methodist Mission in Nigeria there was an essay competition for all pupils in standards V and VI throughout the district based on a campaign tagged “Total Abstinence Campaign” carried out in the district to persuade worshippers of the Methodist Faith in the district to abstain totally from alcohol. The district at that time covered the modern states of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Kogi and parts of Kwara. Daddy’s essay won the third prize early in 1951; the prize won was the combined Yoruba Methodist hymn book, this propelled him the more to take education very seriously, being one of the pupil officers, the Pupil Library Attendant, he did a lot of reading far beyond class text books, this also sharpened his appetite for reading, a hobby he enjoyed till he passed. He placed second in the Primary Leaving School examination in 1951.

Secondary School Days

The task of Daddy’s admission into secondary school was placed on his dear Uncle who sincerely loved and loves the young ones who had ambition and showed promises to do well academically, that grand uncle simply known then as Mr. J.F Ala is the current incumbent Alaaye of Oke Ayedun, His Royal majesty Oba J.F Ala, Okunoye II , the first graduate produced by Ayedun as a whole and certainly one of the first few in Ekiti. He it was that took him to Offa Grammar School, Kwara State, in 1952, where he started his studies on the11^th February 1952, with indelible imprints made by his Royal Majesty on his life in these formative years, that later became some of the principles by which Daddy lived. From form II (1953) Daddy was a regular contributor to the school magazine The Wrestler. He was a member of several clubs and societies among which were the

-Current Affairs Society

-Geographical Society

-2 Different Lawn Tennis Clubs

-Badminton Club

-United Orchestra

-Dramatic Society

Although he featured prominently in the areas mentioned above and in academic competitions, debates, speech making (impromptu or prepared) essay writing, in short anything literary, he was not at all sporty. He played Lawn Tennis and Badminton for relaxation. Daddy was a school prefect, the Student Editor. He won several prizes as a prefect, for societies and associations in the school and outside the school. It was no surprise that when the West African School Certificate Examination results were released he was placed in Division 1, with scores ranging between distinction and high credits in all eight subjects.

Daddy returned home in December 1957, to join his friends particularly Miss Mary Ayibiowu a student of St. Helens College who later became his wife.

Brief Period of Work

January 1958

Daddy was employed by the Methodist Schools Superintendent at Ifaki to start work at the Methodist Primary School II Ayedun- Ekiti along with his very good friend Mr. Sam Alao of blessed memory. His stay though very brief January only, he came in contact with three pupils in his class of Primary IV as their class teacher, and two of these three became very helpful to him later in life. The pupils Master Lawrence Kayode Ojo (now the famous Dr Lawrence Kayode Obembe) Master Kehinde Alao (younger brother of his good friend Mr Sam Alao) and Master Benjamin Akinyemi. These three were outstandingly brilliant, from here a bond grew between him and the first two gentlemen that lasted a lifetime. He was transferred to the Methodist Secondary Modern School Ifaki-Ekiti effective 1^st February, 1958, where he introduced a school magazine THE LIGHT, which was well received and publicised the school far beyond Ifaki-Ekiti. In 1959, he was again transferred in January to Ifaki Grammar School, where he met a student Master Peter Olaleye Afolayan, a brave brilliant, non-conformist student leader, a relationship that spanned a lifetime also ensued.

The Nigerian College Days

At the end of September, 1959 Daddy was admitted to read for Advanced levels at the Nigerian College of Art Science and Technology (NCAST) Ibadan branch. He received the admission with a mixture of joy and anxiety because of the cost implication but he went in nevertheless hoping for the best. The best took a while in coming for he had to endure hardship for most of the entire course duration, but for providence, that came in the way of divine intervention through the Federal Government of Nigeria, It was at this time that a friend excitedly brought to him a copy of the Daily Service Newspaper, where his name was on the list as one of those awarded Federal Scholarship with effect from the 1961 University academics year! He made good grades at NCAST and was admitted into the University of Ibadan, Nigeria’s premier University in October, 1961 alongside admissions in Nsukka and Legon (Ghana). He picked Ibadan due to financial constraints.

Things did not immediately become rosy for him as anticipated until he decided to have a talk with Dr (now Professor Sam Aluko) to discuss the fact that he was yet to enjoy the benefits of the scholarship after months of being in the University. Dr Aluko and Mr Afolabi’s kind assistance brought Daddy’s financial problems to an end. (Only our Lord the good Shepherd could have brought me from the bleak terrain to the great green pasture by the riverside – Daddy’s own words)

Daddy was then able to join a few clubs one of which was the De Kapital founded by Mr Yemi Ogunbiyi his friend. He was able to make friends with non-Yoruba ethnic groups as well as Mr Orus Barker an American a lecturer who was his regular visitor in Ayedun and also taught Daddy the rudiments of driving. Daddy graduated on schedule in 1964 to the joy of many.

My Wife

Daddy met Miss Mary Adesola Bosede Ayibiowu during the Christmas students social activities of 1954 (later learnt her name was Akinyemi Alade, the nickname Ayibiowu stuck to her Father and eclipsed the other names). Daddy introduced the play AROWOLO in December, 1954 for that year’s drama by students to entertain the Oke Ayedun Community; two major female roles were required, She, Miss Mary Ayibiowu and Miss Ibukun Bukola Jegede clearly showed good stage confidence, they played their parts commendably. It was not the play however that brought them together, GOD did for HE wanted the association to be much more. Mary’s half-sister (also a cousin to Daddy) lived close by and she used to visit this sister. It was during one of the visits that the coincidental meeting at the AROWOLO Drama turned into a lasting friendship. Thanks be to God for this marvellous arrangement and the happy, fruitful and lifelong partnership that resulted.

The courtship began in December 1954 and continued till July 8, 1961 when they got married. The relatively long time of courtship was spent pursuing their studies because Mummy (Mary) was very serious about her studies which endeared her to Daddy the more. She was and still very brilliant, her views of life as a youth commended themselves to Daddy (which shall be mentioned in the autobiography written by Daddy himself) further held them together during and beyond courtship.

Loving each other passionately all the way they faced life together as a team. (The incident stated earlier on being a lucky winner of the Federal Scholarship took place in her house). She has always provided for me a great moral support and motivation, ever ready to give her all to support us. She has been the main pillar to Daddy in his life’s journey apart from GOD of course! When he got the scholarship in 1961, he had the double joy of a son and a scholarship.

MHS Ibadan 1965-1970

Daddy had a productive time at the Methodist High School Ibadan, here he broke into the world of book writing and printing with the permission of Professor Chinua Achebe to write study notes on one of his books.

Study notes on Things Fall Apart 1966

English and Verbal Aptitude Tests 1967

English Language Registers 1967

Co-authored by Chief M.O Ogunmola and Mr M.S Adejumo. These books became standard texts that went beyond the shores of Nigeria. He started also a magazine as well as the MHS Literary Society, being Head, Languages department (Proficient in Latin and Greek)

IBADAN

He reported at Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria on 27^th July, 1970 as the Librarian, he had to start the library from the scratch, before long with the help of the Director of the Institute Dr L.K (now Professor) Opeke, the library became a leading natural Agriculture Research Library, second only to IITA International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. Ibadan. What started as the library section became the Library and Information Division incorporating the Library, Printing and Document reproduction Publications and Photographic sections. The responsibility of this office was so tasking time and energy consuming that Daddy could not pursue his writing hobby. There remain many outlines of several proposed publications which were never developed into full-fledged publications (some were published in 1987 after his voluntary retirement from CRIN)

He had several on the job training courses in the U.K, U.S.A, Ghana and within Nigeria. He was Editor of CRIN house journal – CRIN NEWSLETTER and NAALD Bulletin

Editor of CRIN house journal – CRIN NEWSLETTER, NAALD BULLETIN

1973 – 1978 – Part time lecturer in Special Libraries at the department of Library Studies, University of Ibadan.

He got three other families within the C.R.I.N quarters to found the Methodist Church Idi-Ayunre Ibadan, now Akindele Methodist Church, Idi Ayunre, Ibadan.

Life after Retirement from Public Service

With effect from January 1, 1985 he retired voluntarily from public service with the original plan of joining a publishing house to continue writing. He wanted to move from educational publications to Creative writing. However, events at home Ayedun-Ekiti and the role he felt obliged to play did not allow him to pursue his writing ambition and so he left Ibadan in the long-term interest of Oke-Ayedun Ekiti which needed the powerful hand of the current Alaaye, Oba J.F Ala Okunoye II to pull her out of the social and traditional relegation into which she had been thrown at this time. His ambition all the while had been to return home so as to contribute to the development of the community that made it possible for him to become whatever he had been in life, though at great personal sacrifice, so he shunned planting economic power in Ibadan which would have made his return home difficult. He moved back home fully in 1990 to pursue the upliftment of Oke Ayedun in particular to an enviable status. He did this without wavering and tirelessly to his last breath, his love for Ayedun and her Sons and Daughters knew no bounds always willing to give all he could for the betterment of the Town, this personal dream and goal in life was achieved and the baton handed over to the next generation!

1985 – 1988 – He was appointed a member of Ondo State Library Board

1989- 1993 – Baba Egbe Omo Ilu Oke Ayedun

Chieftaincy

He was installed by HRM, Oba J.F Ala as Otunba Alaaye of Oke Ayedun
He was installed by HRM, Oba Adetunla Adeleye II the then Elekole of Ikole Ekiti as the Otunba of Egbeoba Land

With others of like minds, he founded the Kajola Cooperative Multipurpose Society. With other cooperative societies in Oke Ayedun, viable and steadily growing, the Owolowo Cooperative Union was registered in 1996-2009

Patron of Omololu Nursery and Primary School

Secretary, Ikole Local Government Jan. 2000 – May 2002

Chairman, Model High School board of management

Chairman, Oke Ayedun Development Organisation

Chairman, Ayedun Peace Committee

Member, Dr Kayode Obembe Scholarship Foundation

Chairman, Methodist Church Fund Raising and Renovation Committee

Chairman, Land Dispute Investigation Committee

Membership of various traditional Administrative Councils

Life Member, Bible Society of Nigeria

Served as Chairman, Secretary and Member of certain bodies e.g. Marriage guidance and counselling secretary of the movement for the Ayedun Local Government and so on