By Olatunde Sanni
Good name is an item found neither in a trader’s tray nor on the shelf of a mall. It is earned. It is the summative consequence of several denials, calculative steps and productive relationships.
The story of Prince Oladotun Surajudeen Oladele Ajilesoro, the Baba Adeen of Nadif Dawah & Islamic Foundation lends credence to the assertion that failure is one more step leading up to the cathedral of success. Why? Here is a man who has climbed many mountains: the far and high, the steep and rocky. He has sailed through troubled waters and crossed many rivers: the deep and shallow, the wide and narrow. All within a span of five decades or so, he has risen like a kite against the wind of life.
Now consider this reality. As fate would have it, the orphan, the village-to-village hawker of yesteryears is now an employer of labour. Prince Oladotun Ajilesoro is an accomplished farmer, educationist, a real estate agent and hospitality guru. He is the Chief Executive Officer of D-Glowbiz Logistics Limited, Ajilesoro Motors Nigeria Limited, Comfort Zone Guest House and SHEA Globe Logistics Nigeria Limited. He is also the Director of Ajilesoro Farms Ltd, and Abike Hotel and Suites. He is a Senior Partner of Pere-Owei Nigeria Limited. Prince Oladotun is a member of the Institute of Leadership Manpower and Management Development (ILMMD); Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria; Member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), and lots more.
Similarly, Prince Oladotun Ajilesoro has also received several awards. The Thomas Sankara Leadership Award of Excellence: ECOWAS Youth Ambassador (2020); Award of Excellence in contribution to knowledge by Darul-IRSHAD WAL HIKMAH Institute of Guidance and Wisdom, Osogbo Osun State (2020), to mention just a few.
On one cool morning in the early 70’s, Pa Sakariyau Oladele Ajilesoro was blessed with a bouncing baby boy by his lovely wife, Mama Ayisat Abike Koseemani (nee Abodunde). Mama hailed from Odoogun Compound, Eyindi Ila Orangun of Osun State. She was an enterprising trader at Oja Tuntun Market, Odo-Ogbe Ile-Ife. She dealt in cereals, soya beans, melon, pepper with specialisation in yam flour, hence her popular sobriquet: Iya Elelubo (yam flour seller).
On the other hand, her husband Pa Sakariyau Oladele Ajilesoro was from Edun-Ide Compound, Obalufon Ile-Ife. Baba was a famous vulcaniser having many young men coming from far and near to learn the vocation from him. Baba died in 1990 when young Oladotun was in primary school, and not too long in 2011 Mama Koseemani joined her husband in eternal rest. May Allah forgive them and grant them eternal repose.
From the foregoing therefore, to say that Prince Oladotun Ajilesoro was born with silver spoon in his mouth would amount to an irritating hyperbole. However, just like the proverbial cat of nine lives, Prince simply refused to let his dream die. And according to Hellen Keller: “One cannot content to crawl when one feels an impulse to soar”. The educational journey of Prince Oladotun Ajilesoro better reflects this quote.
From St. Murumba Primary School, Lagere Ile-Ife, Prince Oladotun Ajilesoro attended St. David’s Grammar School, a stone’s throw to his primary school. He later proceeded to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife for his B.Sc in Political Science, and Postgraduate Diploma in Public Administration after his youth service. His quest for academic pursuits would not let him be, as Prince Oladotun went to Fountain University, Osogbo for his B.Sc and M.Sc in Sociology and Industrial Relations. He went further to Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho where he bagged Masters in Public Administration (MPA) and Masters in Business Administration (MBA) with specialisation in Human Resource Mangement.
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Not resting on his oars still, Prince Oladotun got B.Sc in Peace and Strategic Studies from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Lagos Study Centre; M.Sc in same course from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. And as at today, he is back in class (300 level) at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife studying Law. So interestingly, Prince Oladotun Ajilesoro now has in his kitty, four Masters degrees, three Bachelors degrees, one Diploma certificate with an LLB in view.
“Growing up was a mixture of sweet and bitter experiences. Bitter, because there were quite a lot of things I could not afford while in school. Four of us, from the same mother were in the university within the period. And that took a great toll on my academics” he said. “However, I loved and enjoyed hawking yam flour for my mother until I wanted to prepare for my WAEC exams. I would hawk to villages around Ile-Ife after school hours, and that background experience is helping me immensely in my businesses today.”
When registering for courses in Political Science, Prince Oladotun Ajilesoro ran into Prince Aderemi Oladosu (Cappo) who came in for Foreign Languages. Ever since, the two princes were like Siamese twins on campus. Prince Aderemi Oladosu now lives in California USA. When interviewed, he said: “I met Oladotun Ajilesoro about three decades ago. What began as a mere friendship gradually deepened; the bond grew stronger and transformed into brotherhood, as he became my brother from another mother”. He added: “Dotun is a responsible and trustworthy man. He stood by me during my moments of turbulence, and has never disappointed me. He is a pillar of support to many… Dotun has gone out of his ways countless times, to help and support those in need: a rare trait he is well known for”.
On holidays, Oladotun Ajilesoro would follow his friend Aderemi Oladosu to Ikoyi Lagos where the latter’s sister, Mrs Abimbola Adeyemo (Mama Shade) lived with her family. Mrs. Adeyemo revealed: “As Deremi’s closest friend, Dotun is someone I have the privilege of welcoming into our home. For the time Dotun lived with us, I can confidently say that having him in our home was one of the best decisions I have ever made. He brought with him an infectious spirit and a sense of responsibility… His diligent nature has always inspired those around him, whether it was lending a helping hand, sharing a laugh or simply being there during tough times.” She concluded: “Throughout the years, I never regretted accommodating him, instead I cherished every moment he spent with us”.
Prince Oladotun Ajilesoro has a home, a small paradise where his humble wife warmly receives guests. Mrs Funmilayo Oladele Ajilesoro said she met her husband in the early 2000. Their relationship was formalised in 2008. The marriage is blessed with flourishing children. She described her husband not just as a loving man, but one deeply rooted in the fear of God, integrity, wisdom and unwavering family values.
“My husband is truly a man of the people. One who listens, uplifts and gives without expectation. His philanthropic heart beats for humanity… He believes that success is incomplete unless it creates room for others to rise”. She declared philosophically: “Some lives speak loudly without shouting. Some men lead without noise. My husband is one of such rare men”.
Our elders say that a tree could only be as powerful as its roots. Prince Oladotun Ajilesoro understood early in life the price and prize of self-discovery and purposeful existence. Obviously, there are vital life lessons to distill from this respectable personality. Aaron Lauristen postulates: “Life’s trials will test and shape you, but don’t let them change you”. For a child to become a spring of joy in life, certainly demands more than kid gloves. Good character, empathy and resilience are threads woven throughout the rich tapestry of Prince Oladotun Surajudeen Ajilesoro.
Olatunde SANNI writes from
Department of Mass Communication,
Fountain University, Osogbo.
