After several casual meetings at different social gatherings especially in Ibadan and Ilesa, I caught the attention of Asiwaju Olayinka Fasuyi about ten years ago. I introduced myself to him as Toyin Olalemi. With a surprise, he said “come, come, which Olalemi is yours? Do you know Niyi Olalemi my childhood friend in Ilesa Grammar School? I answered in the affirmative that Niyi Olalemi is my elder brother. Asiwaju was excited at this and pronto, I put a call through to my brother, Niyi to talk to his friend, Asiwaju. They exchanged pleasantries. Phone numbers were also exchanged and thus began the foundation of what would become a new relationship for me. A new brother was discovered with strong ties of “t’egbon t’aburo” in the last ten years.
Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi no doubt means different personality to so many people. This is not because he is a clumsy person but because he fits into several roles which he always plays very well with impact.
As a family man, egbon Yinka cherishes his heartthrob, Yeye Dr Olubisi Fasuyi and their children. As a professional, he is a consultant of high repute with international exposure and global acclaim. He has built a successful consultancy outfit in Supreme Management, Training and Consultancy Services LTD with headquarters in the highbrow area of Bodija Estate in Ibadan.
As a businessman, Asiwaju deployed his training as an Economist to create wealth with the establishment of Ibadan Business School (IBS) where human capital and skills development are sharpened and also set up IBS Hotel by the side to provide accommodation for trainees or participants who attend Ibadan Business School for training, seminars and conferences.
My perception of Asiwaju is that he is a true child of God with the consciousness of the fact that we shall all give account of our deeds to the Almighty God after our sojourn here on earth. He engages in true worship in All Souls Church, Bodija, Ibadan and Cathedral Church of Holy Trinity, Omofe Ilesa where he has the honour of being the Balogun Ijo of the Cathedral. I know him as yielding to several other church programs where he has been invited to fellowship and contribute generously to the work of God.
Among his friends, Asiwaju is known and recognised as a very high social mixer, the lively type who has high social interactions, no dull moment with friends and acquaintances. His childhood friends and classmates alluded to this trait which has been displayed from his teenage years, up to adult life, at bachelorhood and even after marriage.
Probably what Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi is mostly known for is his philanthropic gestures. He is a highly generous personality who is ready to share the resources God has placed in his hands with others, especially the downtrodden ones who are at the bottom of the economic pyramid.
No doubt, Asiwaju is a giver! He shares! He distributes! This is demonstrated with the payment of WAEC/NECO examination fees for thousands of students in different public schools in the six local government areas in Ijesa land. He also created an interest free loan scheme with seed fund of N12million as revolving loan for empowerment of youths in Ijesa land. This scheme has no doubt helped some of the beneficiaries to kickstart their journeys into entrepreneurship.
Furthermore, Asiwaju Fasuyi in my estimation and perception is a peace maker. He wants peace within himself, his family, his community at large and encourages peaceful coexistence among people. No wonder, he has championed peace and peaceful coexistence among Ijesa generally and among the traditional rulers in Ijesa land. He has led the way to mend the fractures that once bedevilled the relationship between our traditional rulers in Ijesa land. Asiwaju has to the glory of God made unity among Ijesa his cardinal priority and this has been achieved amongst our Kabiyesis who now relate on one-on-one basis as brothers from the same parenthood of Ajibogun Onida Arara who founded Ijesa land.
Thank God there is no more divisions or dichotomy among our highly revered royal fathers in Ijesa land.
I cannot fully express my perspectives on Asiwaju Olayinka Fasuyi if I fail to bring to the fore his managerial ability and capacity. Asiwaju is not only a visionary who has dreams but a manager of men and materials for overall benefits of all. He is a mobiliser who galvanises people from far and near especially in getting the diaspora Ijesa members towards contributing their quota to the growth and development of Ijesa land.
Asiwaju, through his zeal and organisation acumen has been able to put up strong teams drawn from sons and daughters of Ijesa land together for the different development programmes across the length and breadth of Ijesaland.
His mobilisation and sagacity in bringing people together has led to the building of a befitting ultramodern palace for Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland which was commissioned in December 2020. He also mobilised Ijesa home and abroad to build Ijesa land Geriatric Centre IGC, a multi-billion Naira hospital built for the health care of the elderly from within and outside Ijesa land which was commissioned in March 2022. Asiwaju led the pack of Ijesa patriots to push for the upgrading of former Osun State College of Education to the now University of Ilesa.
To further strengthen his mobilisation campaigns, Asiwaju again initiated and formalised a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) called Ijesa Community Development Assembly (ICDA) which is meant to fly the banner of welfare and developments in Ijesaland.
ICDA is a community development focused group consisting of Ijesa sons and daughters who are committed to self-help and raising the standards of living of different communities throughout the six local government areas of Ijesa land. ICDA has been conscientiously used as a platform to provide scholarships for Ijesa students in Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC) Ilesa for three years in SSS 1 to SSS 3, provide scholarships for one year agricultural training program in Leventis Foundation Agricultural Training School for about 100 youths, provide the launchpad for the sponsorship of payment of insurance premium for 3,000 Ijesa elders under the Ijesa Health Insurance Scheme, ICDA is used to facilitate the training of about 100 Ijesa youths in ICT, telecommunications hardware assemblage and maintenance in partnership with RLG. ICDA platform is has the highest number of members participating in the development of Ijesaland. It’s the reference point for news and happenings in Ijesa land.
What more can one say about Asiwaju. It is to his credit that Ijesa Mineral Resources Development Forum (MRDF) was created to oversee the exploration and mining activities of the gold deposits that dots the landscape of Ijesa land, then he also championed Ijesa land Independent Development Monitors (IIDM) which is to monitor governance at our local government levels in Ijesaland.
All these and other projects were initiated for the overall community developments of Ijesa land through his ability to work through and with people.
As the saying goes, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” as expressed by James Howells in 1659. My dear Egbon Yinka works hard, in fact he is a workaholic. At the same time, he enjoys hard! He believes life is fun and one must enjoy it. He finds time to relax after a hard day’s work. He is an igbaladun person. He loves enjoyment locally and outside the shores of the land. He loves entertainment and entertaining others. He loves having people around him to celebrate life. He makes people happy. He loves putting smiles on people’s faces. He wants to make you laugh and relax your nerves.
Asiwaju is an epitome of celebrations of life while it lasts. No wonder, the lounge in my Rehoboth Resorts and Gardens, Bonnke Quarters in Ilesa was named ASIWAJU YINKA FASUYI LOUNGE. I was intentional about labelling the Lounge after him in recognition and appreciation of his leadership in bringing Ilesa and Ijesa land to the global audience and to reflect his trait as one who is in love with relaxation after hard work. Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi, wa j’aye pe titi l’agbara Edumare Amin.
Happy 70th birthday and welcome to the seventh decade floor and septuagenarian club.
My brother Niyi, my wife Adeola, myself and all Olalemi family members wish you many more years of celebrations in good health and joy of the Lord in Jesus mighty name Amen.
Seventy hearty Cheers to you Asiwaju, the Oke Baba Okuta. Hurray! God bless your new age.
Signed:
Dr. Prince Toyin Olalemi
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