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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba (Dr) Lekan Balogun, CFR, Alli Okunmade II will on Friday, June 23, confer the honorary chieftaincy title of Jagunmolu Apesinola of Ibadan land on the former General Secretary of Oyo State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Chief Laja Akintayo.
At the epoch-making event where a serving Suprintendent of Police, Mrs. Adetoyese Sefiat Olatoyosi, will be conferred with the title of Yeyeoba, the adorable wife of Akintayo, Olukemi will become Yeye Jagunmolu Apesinola, both of Ibadan land.
An industrious Ibadan son, Akintayo’s conferment is in recognition of his valuable contributions to the social, economic and philanthropic development of Ibadan land and to Ibadans in the diaspora, according to statement made available to journalists in Ibadan by the monarch through his Personal Assistant (Media), Oladele Ogunsola.
The United States of America (US) based Akintayo, who is an entrepreneur of international repute was born in Itutaba area of Ibadan a little over six decades ago and he is an alumnus of The Polytechnic Ibadan, University of Ibadan and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso.
A serial investor and well-grounded communication and public relations expert, the new Jagunmolu Apesinola has diverse business interests in healthcare, real estate development and oil and gas.
A community man, a consumate, and silent phillantropist, Chief Akintayo is a member and founding President of Ibadan Youth Front (IYF) and member and sponsor of other several socio-cultural organisations in Nigeria and diaspora. He had served as the Public Relations Officer, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) in the 90s under the presidency for late Chief Oyetunji Bello, before relocating to the United States.
A former President of Ibadan indigenes in Dallas, Texas and National President of Ibadan Descendants Union in the United States, the new Jagunmolu Apesinola of Ibadan land is a trustee and board member of various non-political, professional, philanthropic and religious organisations in Nigeria and overseas.