Family Urges Kwara Govt. To Rename One Tertiary Institution In Honor Of J.S Olawoyin
…Sets To Launch Foundation, Autobiography To Mark 100th Posthumous Birthday Of Offa Born Nationalist
To recognize and preserve the enduring impact of Late Chief Josiah Sunday Olawoyin’s contributions to society, the family of the first Asiwaju of Offa is set to launch a charity Foundation, autobiography in the name of the revered politician and great nationalist, who died in the year 2000.
The family disclosed this during a press conference held on February 5, 2024, at Pa JS Olawoyin House in Offa, Kwara State, noting their commitment to honouring the great nationalist’s enduring legacy and mark his Portsmouth 100th birthday.
Talking about the giant strides of late J. S Olawoyin, it was revealed that the late Chief Olawoyin, born on February 5, 1925, is a political phenomenon in Kwara State who fought for the division of Kwara State, fought for the creation of Local Government, established Owode market in Offa in 1958 and fought for the creation of Kwara State during the Northern Nigeria Leaders of Thought Forum in Kaduna in 1966.
Shedding more lights on the premise of the press conference, Otunba Lanre Folorunsho said, “… Today, 5th of February 2024, we are in the 99th year of his birth. This occasion coincides with two different occasions; we are organizing a centenary posthumous birthday for him, which has been programmed to come up on the 5th of February 2025. On that day, we will also be celebrating the 25th year of his departure. We have a series of programmes to commemorate these two events, on the fore is the creation of a foundation in his name, named JS Olawoyin Foundation and review with launching of his autobiography to tell the world more about his personality when he was alive”
As part of the commemoration to immortalise the Offa born nationalist, the family urged the Kwara State Government to name one of the institutions in the State after Chief Josiah Olawoyin to honor his selflessness and the exemplary qualities he embodied during his lifetime.
While laying emphasis on the Foundation, the family said the J. S Olawoyin Foundation will cater for education and have a center with a board of trustees. Adding that what the late nationalist will be remembered for, as he always wished, was his fight for education for the masses.
“The JS Olawoyin Foundation, set to be a beacon for education, it will feature a dedicated center and board of trustees. Reflecting Chief Olawoyin’s unwavering commitment to education for the masses, the foundation aims to carry on his legacy by championing educational initiatives that benefit mankind. He always fought for the masses. He felt education is what will benefit mankind,” the family said.
Talking about the reason the launch of the foundation is coming on board, the family stated, “there is always an auspicious time to do things. We have been doing things in his memory over the years. But we feel this centenary posthumous birthday is very strategic, and we feel it should be the highlight of all the activities we have been using to celebrate him over the years. As stated earlier, the event will serve as the focal point for a series of programmes, including the establishment of the JS Olawoyin Foundation and the review and launch of his autobiography.”
On the efforts of the community to appreciate his legacy, the family said, “the Popo Road from Oja-Oba to Orita-Merin was named after JS Olawoyin, so Offa Community has recognized him, owode market was established by J. S Olawoyin in 1958, he was very fundamental to the socio-economic development of Offa, so much that he served as councilor, when he established Owode market, he was a councilor at the Local Government Level, he also served as Council Chairman, Honorable member in the House of Assembly and in recognition of his past services and contributions to the development of Offa Local Government, Popo Road was named after him to immortalise his name.”
The press conference was attended on behalf of the family by Mrs. Jejelola Modupe Ajibade (Nee Olawoyin), Chief (Barrister) Oluwasegun Olawoyin, Chief Akinrogun of Offaland, Otunba (Dr) Lanre Folorunsho, Alhaji Rasheed Ibrahim, Alhaji Waheed Olawale Babatunde and Imam Ibrahim Abdullateef (Oluaye Kende).
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