By Prince Henry Ojoye
Oba Lawrence Jaiyeoba Adebajo is a man of destiny on the grounds of his reluctance to ascend the throne of Orimolusi of Ijebu Igbo, nevertheless his impeccable character and sterling quality as a man who keeps to his words and maintain his integrity in all his dealings located him and fate entrusted this exalted position on him. Drenched by the appeal of the people and the exigent need for his land to have a king, Prince Jaiyeoba succumbed and submitted himself. In his word, “if my ascension to the throne will uplift my dear town, Ijebu Igbo, so be it.” Now, we have a man who is genuinely committed towards the growth of his town, Ijebu Igbo.
He was born on November 11,1953 in Fowoseje, a remote village in Ijebu Igbo, from the male Royal lineage of Ojuromi from Oke Tako in Ijebu Igbo. Sired by parents, Prince Tanimowo Adebajo and Mama Safuratu Adebajo (Nee Aderibigbe/JB.King) from Atikori.
Young Prince Jayeoba with, a burning desire to get educated, started his elementary education at St. Bridget Catholic Primary School, Fowoseje and, at age twelve, completed his primary education with merits. He enrolled at St Vincent Catholic Secondary Modern School, Oke Sopen, Ijebu Igbo in 1966 and completed his Modern School education in 1968.
Unfortunately, thereafter, his father could no longer afford to pay his school fees to Secondary School. Painful as it was, Prince Jayeoba chose to make lemonade from the lemon life’s circumstances threw at him. He was determined not only to develop himself but also ensure he turned out to be a success in his life endeavours. He embarked on a lot of personal training and development exercises. He became dedicated towards achieving his goals and such dedication and relentlessness eventually paid off.
Through his late father’s wise counsel, he started his career in Transportation business by joining a Transport Company located in Ibadan. As the saying goes, a star that is determined to shine cannot be hidden, not even by darkness. The budding youngster, Prince Jayeoba performed so well, breaking records in his assigned duty that a Luxury Bus Transport Company from Lagos, ICOC engaged and took him to Lagos in February 15, 1975. He resumed duty as a Transport Officer and soon learnt a lesson of life through his then Managing Director, Mr. InfeayinChucku Osondu who later became the Igwe of Umulolo, Okigwe, Imo State.
His Managing Director, at the End of Year party of the company in 1975 told his story of grass to grace – from being a motor boy to Danfo Driver, to Transport officer and vehicle owner who eventually owned fleet of vehicles. This story seemed served like a tinder for the burning ambition of young Jaiyeoba and it prepared him for the challenges ahead and equipped him with all that was needed to succeed in life. He ventured into Transportation business, with this insight from his boss, he started saving from monthly salary.
On December 24, 1977, Prince Jaiyeoba bought his first new car which unfortunately got burnt after second day of purchase. Armed with the lesson from his boss, he did not allow harrowing experience to riven him off balance. He quickly remembered the admonitions of his Boss and realized that even the accomplished suffers setbacks sometimes. The more bitter the lessons, the greater the successes will be. With zeal and determination for success Prince Jayeoba forged ahead.
In 1979, while still working for ICOC, he had started making effort through personal contacts towards buying his first luxury Bus on hire purchase from a company owned then by Alhaji Saidu Gomina at Osogbo. He eventually achieved this goal and bought a bus through a monthly payment that was spread for a period of 30 months. As a man of conscience who would not want a clash of interest between him and his boss, he resigned as a Workshop Manager and
started his own transport business which was later registered as L.A TANMO & Sons on August 1,1984; a business name he coined from his father’s name “Tanimowo”.
It is on record that he completed payment for the bus in a record time of 10 months. He was thereafter introduced to a company in Lagos and he got another luxury bus which he also completed its payment in 8 months. The management of the company was so impressed by his performance that he was offered another bus of which he also completed payment in 7 months. This was how his business grew and he became a proud owner of a fleet of buses.
As an assiduous worker and visionary investor, his company explored other frontiers and succeeded in securing a deal with Lagos State Waste Water Management Office (LSWMO) as an accredited Transport Company for the organization: with years of unblemished service to LSWMO, he was offered a Facility Management contract, and due to the company’s prudent and transparent management process, he was given a commendation letter by the Agency last year, 2021, having performed meritoriously for over 12 years. His facility management contract with LSWMO is still valid till date.
No doubt, Prince Jayeoba is a successful and accomplished entrepreneur who, before the age of 40, built his houses in Aledo Oke Agbo Ijebu Igbo and in Okota Lagos.
Prince Lawrence Jayeoba Adedeji Tanimowo Adebajo is a humble, noble, God-fearing and compassionate personality who is ready to help people rise above challenges. He has been able to assist many people through educational, business and financial support in various ways. He has helped many setup businesses and even stood as guarantors for those who needed huge financial assistance. To the glory of God, some of those he has assisted have become success stories today. His joy is seeing people celebrating successes around him.
A silent achiever, Prince Lawrence Jayeoba Adedeji Tanimowo Adebajo has to his credit a lot of anonymous donations. To him, he would want God to take Glory for enabling him to touch lives in various ways. His philanthropic activities earned him the title of Balogun Ijo of St. Peters Catholic Church, Oke Sopen, Ijebu Igbo where he serially donated toward the construction of the church and the purchase of Choir Robes.
He was responsible for the installation of Windows to a 2 Story Building in Holy Angel Catholic Church, Oke Agbo. He also donated generously towards the construction of Catholic Church in Ukpenu, near Ekpoma, Edo State without forgetting his community, Ijebu Igbo. Apart from his various community support gestures, he also donated a complete set ofMusical Equipment to Christian Association of Nigeria, Ijebu North
Several community support at Oke Tako, Oke Sopen and Aledo, Oke Agbo where he has his house and even in Lagos where he resides.
Prince Jayeoba is not one that discriminates against religious leanings. This is evident in his contributions towards the renovation of several mosques in his neighbourhood. He recently received an award from a mosque in Okota, Lagos, his area of residence for assisting in renovating the mosque.
In his local community, Prince Jaiyeoba was at various times the Secretary, Treasurer and the Chairman of his Community Development Association in Okota, Lagos. He was Chairman for several years before he voluntarily pulled out to allow others to contribute their quota towards the growth of the community.
Prince Lawrence Jaiyeoba Adedeji Tanimowo Adebajo is married to Mrs. Bolanle Mary Adebajo, an Entrepreneur from Osan Ekiti, Moba Local Government of Ekiti State and they are blessed with children and grandchildren
DAILY DIGEST 