THE EIGHTY-YEAR ODYSSEY OF LISA ADEJOBI

From a Child of Destiny to a Statesman of Distinction

There are successful men. There are influential men. And then there are men whose lives seem to have been carefully scripted by providence long before they were born.

Chief Lisa Paul Adesina Adejobi belongs to the latter category.

As he celebrates his 80th birthday, what stands out is not merely the longevity of his years but the richness of a life that has traversed continents, crossed cultures, shaped institutions, influenced politics, built businesses, transformed communities and inspired generations.

His story began with an unusual wait. Long before he became the Lisa of Imeko, his mother, Mama Justina Adeoti Aduke Adejobi, endured two decades of childlessness. Twenty years passed without the cry of a baby in the household. For many families, such a situation would have led to despair. Yet the family held on to faith.

Then came July 4, 1946. In a remarkable coincidence, the day marked the 170th anniversary of American independence and also the independence of the Philippines. On that same day, in Kajola village near Imeko, a child was born.

The child was named Adesina.

Few could have imagined that the boy born after twenty years of waiting would one day become one of the most respected personalities to emerge from Yewaland.

His father had his own remarkable story. Pa Francis Akanbi Adejobi had fled from Dinrin in what was then French Dahomey, now the Republic of Benin, to avoid being conscripted into the French Army for a third time. Fate brought him to Imeko. Destiny gave him a son there.

Young Sina quickly distinguished himself from his peers.

At a time when many children had limited access to education, his intelligence attracted attention from Catholic missionaries who frequently visited Imeko. Recognising his brilliance, one of the priests facilitated his admission into school at a much younger age than was customary. The decision changed his life.

What followed was an educational journey that took him from St. Augustine's Primary School, Imeko, to St. Patrick's Modern School and eventually to the Catholic Minor Seminary in Ibadan.

For a while, it appeared that the young man was destined for the priesthood.

He served at the altar with devotion. His teachers admired his discipline. The priests saw enormous promise in him.

But destiny had other plans.

In one of the most dramatic episodes of his early life, his mother returned from the Republic of Benin to discover that her only son was preparing for a life of celibacy as a Catholic priest. Unwilling to lose her only child to the seminary, she personally intervened and withdrew him from the programme. That singular decision altered the course of history. The future priest became a scholar. The scholar became a teacher. The teacher became a businessman. The businessman became a statesman.

After excelling at St. Peter's College, Abeokuta, he proceeded to the University of Ibadan, where he studied French and later obtained further academic training in France.

For a young man from Imeko in the 1960s, travelling to Europe for studies was a remarkable achievement. Yet what made the accomplishment even more significant was the worldview it gave him.

He returned to Nigeria with international exposure but remained deeply connected to his roots.

Instead of chasing lucrative opportunities in multinational corporations immediately after graduation, he chose first to return home and teach.

It was a decision that revealed a defining feature of his character: service before self.

His journey through the corporate world was equally impressive. From the French shipping company Alraine Nigeria to Volkswagen of Nigeria and later SCOA Motors, Adejobi built a reputation for competence, discipline and leadership. Yet he was never content merely to build careers for others. He wanted to build something of his own.

That ambition led to the establishment of Niyola Organisation Limited, an export company that grew into a successful enterprise trading agricultural commodities across Europe, Asia and America.

By every standard, he had become successful.

But success alone did not satisfy him. He wanted relevance. He wanted impact. He wanted to participate in shaping society. Politics offered that opportunity.

His political journey exposed another side of his personality, a man of conviction who was prepared to stand by his principles even when circumstances became difficult.

From the early days of the Unity Party of Nigeria to his later involvement in the People's Democratic Party, he became a respected figure whose opinions carried weight across political divides.

His years in public service would later prove particularly significant. As Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, he brought private-sector discipline into governance. His understanding of business and enterprise influenced policy direction and contributed to efforts aimed at expanding economic opportunities.

Later, as Chairman of the Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board, he oversaw one of the largest educational structures in the state, supervising thousands of primary schools and helping to strengthen the foundations of basic education.

The position demanded administrative skill, political dexterity and human compassion. He brought all three.

Yet perhaps the most enduring aspect of Lisa Adejobi's legacy is not found in government records or political achievements. It is found in people.

Across Ogun State, across Yewaland and beyond Nigeria's borders, there are countless individuals whose lives have been shaped by his advice, generosity, mentorship and leadership. Many know him as a politician. Others know him as a businessman. Some know him as a traditional chief. But those closest to him know him simply as a man who never forgot where he came from.

Today, as the Lisa of Imeko, Apena of Ketu, Fiwajoye of Afon and Basorun of Dinrin, he occupies a unique place in society, a bridge between tradition and modernity, between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin, between the past and the future.

At eighty, Chief Lisa Paul Adesina Adejobi remains a symbol of resilience, scholarship, enterprise, leadership and service.

His story is proof that greatness is not always born in palaces or cities.

Sometimes, it begins in a small village.

Sometimes, it begins with a mother's prayer.

And sometimes, it begins with a child who arrived twenty years late, only to spend the next eighty years leaving an unforgettable mark on the world.

As Chief Lisa Paul Adesina Adejobi celebrates his 80th birthday, Society Track joins family, friends, associates, admirers and the entire people of Imeko and beyond in celebrating a life richly spent in service, leadership, enterprise and humanity.

We salute an elder statesman whose journey continues to inspire generations and whose legacy remains firmly etched in the hearts of countless people.

On this remarkable milestone, we wish Baba continued good health, divine protection, peace of mind, abundant joy and many more years of fulfilment.

May the wisdom that has guided him through eight remarkable decades continue to illuminate his path, and may his remaining years be even more rewarding than the glorious chapters already written.

Happy 80th Birthday to a distinguished leader, a respected patriarch and a living legacy, Chief Lisa Paul Adesina Adejobi.