A former Minister of Labour and Chairman of First Bank Nigeria, Ajibola Afonja, has passed away at the age of 82.
The Oyo-born prince died on Sunday night at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, according to a family source.
Afonja, who held various prestigious positions in his lifetime, served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of First Bank Plc and was appointed Minister of Labour under the interim government of Ernest Shonekan.
He was also the chairman of Integrated Dimensional System (IDS) and several other companies.
Afonja’s educational journey took him to Kingston University in Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, United Kingdom, where he earned a degree in Accounting in 1970.
Following his graduation, he joined the UK-based construction firm John Mowlem & Co, known for its significant projects such as Buckingham Palace, the House of Commons, 10 Downing Street, Westminster Abbey, London Bridge, the Manchester Metrolink, and the Dublin Port Tunnel.
At John Mowlem & Co. Afonja first served as a subsidiary company accountant from 1971 to 1972 before becoming the Group Assets Management Accountant, a role he held until he returned to Nigeria in 1974.
Expressing their grief, a prominent socio-political group in Oyo, the Oyo Global Forum, mourned Afonja’s passing.
Taiwo Adebayo, the group’s chairman, stated, “On this dark day in Oyo, we mourn the loss of Ajibola Afonja, former Labour Minister and Chairman of First Bank Nigeria, who passed away on Sunday night, aged 82.
Although a national figure with tremendous influence, he was particularly a light for the Oyo community where he made pioneering efforts as an industrialist.
His legacy of generosity and open-heartedness touched countless lives, and his presence will be profoundly missed.”
The forum affectionately referred to him as “Daddy IDS,” a nod to his manufacturing company.
They highlighted his dedication to transformative business visions for Nigeria’s economy, including the E-Customs project, noting, “Until his last month, Daddy IDS remained hardworking, dedicated to realizing one of the most transformative business visions for the country’s economy.
His absence leaves a void that will be difficult to fill, but his spirit of generosity and leadership will continue to inspire us.”
The Oyo Global Forum extended its deepest condolences to Afonja’s family, the Oyo community, and his friends and associates worldwide, pledging to honor his memory by upholding the values he embodied and continuing his legacy of service and compassion.
