Kunle Adelabu
Friday, June 9, was a day to celebrate a great, distinguished and illustrious son of Ikorodu and one of the custodians of its tradition and culture, Odofin Adewunmi Adedeji Ogunsanya, SAN, Chairman, MultiChoice Bigeria, as he clocked 60 years.
Ogunsanya, who is the Odofin of Ikorodu Kingdom and Baba Oba of Igbogbo Kingdom, is also the Chairman and Patron of the Ikorodu Division Peace Initiative Limited (IDPIL).
In acknowledging his impacts and contributions, the royal fathers, eminent persons and residents in the Ikorodu Division area of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, expressed their profound gratitude to the first class traditional chief.
The entire residents of Ikorodu Division have been feeling his direct impacts more in the last couple of years with the huge resources in he committed to combating crimes through the Ikorodu Division Peace Initiative Limited (IDPIL), a divisional security architecture that has dealt decisively with security threats like cultism, armed robbery and other violence that characterized Ikorodu for about two decades.
He’s not only funding the security architecture, but he’s also the sole financier of the IDPIL annual scholarship and bursary schemes. He endows the initiative with N20 Million annually for indigenes and non – indigenes, and about 200 students benefited from the first edition last year. The selection process for this year is already underway.
Odofin Ogunsanya is also financing the construction of a massive Technical College in Ikorodu, which after completion, will be a reference institution in Africa.
IDPIL is also planning to intervene in road construction, hospital establishment and other areas of life.
In a statement signed by Otunba Ganiyu Olusegun Abiru, FICA, FICSS, Executive Secretary, IDPIL, on behalf of HRM Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Oba Ajibade Bakare Agoro, the Ranodu of Imota, Oba Semuiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Oba Adeoriyomi Akeem Oyebo, the Obateru of Egbin Kingdom and other traditional rulers and regent in Ikorodu Division, the entire royal fathers and residents of Ikorodu division thanked Odofin Ogunsanya for his impacts and wished him abundant grace.
“The Board of Directors, Management Committee and Members of the Ikorodu Division Peace Initiative Limited/GTE celebrate our amiable and indefatigable Board of Trustees Chairman.
“Mr Chairman, you are an epitome of visionary leadership, philanthropy and a Community builder per excellence. This is wishing you a happy Diamond Jubilee Celebration.
“We pray that you will continue to age with abundant grace and in sound health as you continue in your service to God, humanity and Ikorodu Division in particular”, they prayed.
A former Special Adviser on Education and former Chairman, Ikorodu – Oga Development Association (IKODASS), Otunba Fatai Olukoga, also wishing the business mogul and foremost community developer on his birthday celebration, said:
“Happy birthday, Odofin Dewunmi Ogunsanya.
“May God continue to bless you with good health and long life, to reap the fruits of your labour on this earth with complimentary joy, love, peace and happiness”, he said.
Mr Lekan Durojaiye, a social media commentator and public analyst, described him as an uncommon brand.
“He’s a very uncommon brand! May God Almighty continue to strengthen all about him. Aseyi samodun sir!”.
A grassroots politician, Comrade Okeowo, in her own birthday wish to Odofin Ogunsanya, said:
“His immense contribution towards the Security, Education and Community Development of Ikorodu Division, is highly commendable and appreciated. ODOFIN ERUJEJE, LONG MAY YOU LIVE SIR”.
Odofin Adewunmi Ogunsanya, SAN, graduated with a Law degree from the University of Kent at Canterbury in 1984. In 1985, he was admitted to the Nigerian Bar. He obtained his LL.M Degree from the University of Lagos in 1987, specializing in the area of Criminal Law. He joined Ogunsanya & Ogunsanya in 1986.
He specializes in Real Estate, Intellectual Property, Insurance and Oil and Gas. In 2016, he earned the prestigious rank of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Ogunsanya is the head, the litigation unit of Ogunsanya & Ogunsanya, and a member of the Nigerian Bar Association and The Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN).
Odofin Ogunsanya remains active in the Business Recovery and Insolvency Practitioners Association of Nigeria (BRIPAN), and a recipient of numerous sterling awards.
