Nobility can come in two ways. One may be born into nobility. One may also rebirth oneself into nobility. But whether nobility is transferable or not is a discourse for another day. There have been instances of children of the nobles who fell into ordinariness. Instances of children of the nobles who keep the flame of nobility alive in their dynasties abound. What’s being driven at here is to briefly chronicle the life of a magnificent man born into nobility and also worked hard to attain nobility.
Today, 8th December, is the birth anniversary of an iconic Ibadan son, based in Texas, USA, a shipping magnate, a world renowned geologist and businessman, and the magnificent Mogaji of Anlamole dynasty, a reputable compound in Ibadan, Oloye Surajudeen Abiola Iyiola. He doubles as the President, Ibadan Descendants Union, Houston, Texas, and the General Secretary, Ibadan Descendants Union in the United States of America. Yes, people celebrate their birth anniversaries everyday. But some birth anniversaries are worthier of celebration than others. His birth anniversary is worthier to celebrate!
The Chairman and CEO of Safeway Shipping is not just an Ibadan man, he bore original consanguineous affinity with the defunct old Oyo empire where his great-grandfather hailed from. It explains the reason Oloye Iyiola carries twin aristocratic auras around him.
Oloye Abiola Iyiola lives true to his Oyo identity as a passionate upholder of Yoruba culture and tradition and to his Ibadan identity as an adventurous modern-day warrior. Spending decades in the US, after his university education from the great University of Ibadan, has not been able to separate Mogaji Iyiola from his Yoruba roots as he holds tenaciously to his culture in terms of food, dressing and language. He’s most populous as a gourmet in his local Amala (yam-powder) and Abula (a stew variant of beans). What goes along with Oloye’s obsession with Amala and Abula is his sense of adventure. He loves to explore natures and he has made visits to several historical places across Yoruba land.
Oloye Abiola Iyiola is a philanthropist of note. He has a foundation through which he impacts his society positively in the areas of water supply, education and health. One is aware of many hidden philanthropic gestures he has extended to people, out of public glare.
As a seeker of knowledge, Mogaji Anlamole is a voracious reader, especially historical texts. He has a rich library equipped with an array of voluminous books through which he continues to enrich his mind.
As an irredentist Ibadan person, any Ibadan cause is Mogaji Iyiola’s cause. He thinks, eats, sleeps and lives Ibadan and the progress of the cosmopolitan city remains paramount in his mind. Being the Mogaji of his family compound, Oloye Iyiola is a competent candidate to Olubadan stool. It’s expected that the Olubadan and his Council will soon find it essential to place Mogaji Abiola Iyiola in any of the chieftaincy ladders to begin a journey towards ascending Olubadan throne, Allah sparing his life! For Ibadan to truly grow and develop, a worthy personality like Oloye Iyiola must climb Olubadan chieftaincy ladder soon so he can deploy his passion, altruism, international outlooks and enlightened mind to make the city one to be prouder of.
As he celebrates his birth anniversary today, we beseech Allah to grant Oloye Abiola Iyiola unceasing gifts of breath, of excellent health, of bountiful wealth and of accommodating temperament to see Ibadan to greater heights.
Hearty congratulations to Mogaji Abiola Iyiola!
