It was a convergence of the societal bigwigs in Iloko-Ìjẹ̀sà, yesterday as Baba Ijo of Methodist Church in the town, Sir Johnson Itanola Omoniyi was buried.
People from all walks of life trooped to the ancient Ìjẹ̀sà town to pay last respect to the late patriarch.
The host monarch, Owaloko of Iloko Ijesha, Oba Akeem Olusayo Ogungbangbe played host to various monarchs who graced the event.
Also, the children of the late Baba Ìjọ, Babajide Oladiran Omoniyi (ESQ); Dean, School of Communication and Information Technology (SCIT), The Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Dr. (Mrs) Oluwakemi Omoniyi Ogungbamigbe and Tolu Omoniyi, the owner of Bobos Clothing received a large number of persons.
Sir Johnson Itanola Omoniyi (Pappy J) was born in Iloko ljesa on October 28 1937 to the family of Chief Samuel Omoniyi Oguntuberu (The Segbua of Iloko ljesa) and Madam Victoria Aina Ujifitore Omoniyi as the first of five children of his parents.
He spent his formative years in Iloko Ijesa growing up at his father’s House Ogbon titun Idigberesi lloko. He belongs to Idigberesi and Fagbure Family.
EDUCATION
He started his education in February 1945 at the Methodist church primary school in ljeda/Iloko and completed his primary school education at Methodist primary school Otapete llesha in 1952.
In 1952, having secured a scholarship coupled with the financial support received from two of his now late uncles Daddy Hezekiah O. Ogungbangbe and Alhaji Benjamin Ogungbangbe, he was admitted into the Government college Ibadan and remained there until he wrote both his Cambridge West African School Certificate (1957) and Cambridge Higher School Certificate in Dec 1959. While Pappy J was at the Government College Ibadan, he developed a keen interest in sports especially hockey and cricket and he went on to play Hockey actively in his university days up till 1971.
Having completed his high school, he was employed a clerk in Jan 1960 by the Central Bank of Nigeria and worked in the currency office till September 1960 when he resigned to join Oriwu College Ikorodu, Lagos as a teacher in October of the same 1960.
In pursuit of his ambition to acquire university education, in August 1960 he was admitted into the University college (Legon) Accra, but he could not take up the admission due to the absence of funds or an equivalent sponsorship when most of his friends and colleagues who gained university admissions either gained a corresponding federal or regional scholarship or were funded by the secondary schools where they were teaching. In 1961 he gained admission into the University College Ibadan (UI) and was readily sponsored by his erstwhile employers Oriwu College on the condition that he would serve the school for five years after his university education.
Pappy J graduated from the University of Ibadan with a B.Sc honors in History in 1963 and moved to Lagos to start work.
On the premise of his scholarship after completing his university education, he taught at Oriwu College till December 1968, after which he was headhunted by Chief C.F Olaniyan to be the first principal of newly started secondary school called Victory High School Ikeja. It was a short stint lasting till June 1969 when the school was closed down due to bureaucratic reasons by the Lagos state government.
In July 1969, he joined Enterprise Development Company of Nigeria (EDCON) and worked in the pottery section (Richware Pottery limited) for three months before he was transferred to the prints division (Academy Press Limited) as administrative assistant. In Academy Press Limited, he was exposed to various training in the printing industry. He attended many courses home and in the United Kingdom amongst several other countries. which broadened his knowledge of the print industry.
He no doubt rose to become a Guru in the printing industry which exposed him to so many captains of industry in Nigeria at that time. Academy Press was then referred to as Foremost Publishers and as the Executive Sales Director of this reputable he was solely responsible for bringing the jobs of printing of diaries and calendars of notable companies such as Lever Brothers Nigeria, Paterson Zochonis [PZ], Cadbury Nigeria and the printing of brochure and syllabus for JAMB and WAEC at that time. With the advent of the magazine industry in the 80’s, he came in close contact with notable Nigerian journalists such as Dele Giwa and Ray Ekpu of Newswatch, Chris Anyawu of TSM magazine, May Helen Ezekiel of Classique magazine all defunct now. He was not only a business associate but also a mentor and father to many upcoming journalists who printed their magazines in his organization at that time. Perhaps that was where he developed interest in the journalism profession and encouraged his only daughter to become a journalist which to the glory of God she has excelled in.
After 22 years of active service, he resigned from his appointment with Academy press Plc in May 1991 as the Executive director of Sales and Administration to strike out on his own and established Print Konsult Limited which was a consultancy company in the print industry. He was for several years the President of Association of Nigerian Printers [ANP],
SOCIAL LIFE
While in UI, he was an active sportsman and a member of the college cricket team. Pappy J was socially aware and together with his friends while in Ut, they founded The Grand Order of the Nucleus, a social club still active till present times. Above all, he was a charismatic leader as he also became the president of The Ijesa Student Union, a position which brought him in contact with the love of his Life Lady Chief R.O Omoniyi in 1963.
Pappy J, together with his best friends from college Chief Olu Falae, Mr Femi Adefela, Late Mr B Adesina together with Late Mr. Duro Agboola built a strong bond of friendship the culmination of which was their formation of a group of five together with their wives called The Security Council.
As part of his continuous service to his society, he joined the International Rotary Club and on account of his welfarism effort on behalf of the less privileged and also his active participation in the club, be became the fourth president. A torch which be passed on to his brother High Chief Somo Omonly who was the former District 911 Governor. On account of his meritorious efforts in the club, Pappy was also awarded as an International Paul Harris fellow.
RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY
As a Christian born into a Methodist family, he served in Ikorodu as the secretary of the Leaders meeting later renamed as the Methodist Church Council meeting. In Lagos he attended the Methodist Church Palm Avenue parish where he served as society steward now known as church steward and later as Senior Society steward. While there he belonged to the Christian improvement Association and he together with his wife and children were very active members of the church.
In January 1983, in furtherance of his service to God his family together with some other families from Palm Avenue Church namely; The Amoyes. The Adenirans, The Popoolas, The Supo Akinolas and the Very Rev S.S Okelolas (The late Mr Brown’s The Late Mrs J.O Akinola) moved to Ikeja to start the Methodist Church Opebi where he was the pioneer Senlar Society Steward and his son Mr. Tolu Omoniyi is the current Senior Church Steward at the same Methodist Church Opebi. The first take off service of the church was held in his 68 Opebi road residence in January 1983 and in June of the same year the church was planted on its present location. He and his family were extremely active and took upon many roles at different times. When the church was still struggling to find its feet, he made his children take up the cleaning of the church for the first few years until the church could afford a sexton. Along with his family he worked assiduously to see to the sustenance, growth and upliftment of the present Methodist Church Opebi and his pioneering efforts cannot be quickly forgotten.
He was extremely active and took upon many roles at different times, he was a past President and member of Men Christian League, an Accredited Lay Preacher, Patron of Ladies Improvement Association, and Patron of Young Women Christian Association amongst others.
On the 10th of November 2001, in recognition of his lifelong service and immense contributions to the Body of Christ, the Methodist Church conferred him with the role of Baba ljo of Methodist church of his hometown lloko ijesha, a role he diligently served in until his demise. On the 27th of February 2011, he was inducted into the order of the Knights of John Wesley of the Methodist Church.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Pappy J was no doubt a great community man and has so much passion and love for his people and lloko community at large, having grown up from a very a humble background and struggle his way through life to be educated, he genuinely wished every child around him in the community had an opportunity to be educated, right from time he moved to Lagos and started working he made it a point of duty to assist many around him relations and even those not related to him in the community.
As a family man,he ensured he trained all his heavenly Sleep on our beloved till siblings,nieces and nephews that came his way. again. While in Academy press, Pappy J helped lots of lloko sons and daughters by providing them job opportuni- ties at the famous Academy Press, Lagos and all areas he could spread his tentacles in the late 60s and 70s. He provided countless assistance to hundreds of Iloko sons and daughters in securing jobs, gaining admission to higher institutions of learning, rendering financial support, etc.
An avid trail blazer and community developer, he and his contemporaries in the 60s laboured in persuading parents to offer their children western education through the lloko Literate Elements Union. His uniqueness and creativity were demonstrated for a perfect period of fifteen years (1989-2004) when as the Chairman he led the lloko Community Develop ment Association. During the period, the first floko Day Celebration was organised, the Community Town Hall was completed and massive intellectual and infrastructural developments were embarked upon. In the 70s, he was a major stakeholder in the collective pioneering efforts of Iloko sons and daugh ters that brought electricity to Iloko,
As part of his ways of contributing to the socio-economic development of Iloko-ljesa. Upon retirement from active service and work in 2003/2004 and moving back to his hometown lloko ljesha, he begar. the production of Savcom pure water named after his parents in 2004 and which he ran until the time of his demise. He also during the reign of late Oba Oladele Olashore, joined efforts with kabiyesi to see to the peace, progress and upliftment of Iloko community Community Development.
