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 in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
In a statement released late Sunday, the Oyo Global Forum (OGF), a prominent community-interest group, through its Chairman, Taiwo Adebayo, described the late Afonja as a unifier.
Adebayo 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 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.
“Until his last month, Daddy IDS, as he was affectionately known, as a reference to his manufacturing company, remained hardworking, dedicated to realizing one of the most transformative business visions for the country’s economy. It was the E-Customs project.
“His absence leaves a void that will be difficult to fill, but his spirit of generosity and leadership will continue to inspire us. For all of us that he inspired, we shall honour his memory by carrying forward the values he embodied and continuing his legacy of service and compassion, the values that guide OGF, which he supported during his lifetime.”
The OGF extended its deepest condolences to Afonja’s family, the entire Oyo community, and his friends and associates worldwide during this time of mourning.
Afonja served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of First Bank Plc and was appointed as Minister of Labour under the interim government of Ernest Shonekan.
He was also the chairman of Integrated Dimensional Systems and many other companies.
Afonja attended Kingston University in Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, United Kingdom, where he earned a degree in Accounting in 1970. After graduating, he began working with John Mowlem & Co, a UK-based construction firm known for notable projects such as Buckingham Palace, the House of Commons, 10 Downing Street, Westminster Abbey, London Bridge, the Manchester Metrolink, and the Dublin Port Tunnel.
He first served as a subsidiary company accountant between 1971 and 1972 and became the Group Assets Management Accountant in 1972, a position he held for three years before returning to Nigeria in 1974.
