The
ancient city of Ibadan is expected to play host to very important
personalities from all over the world this weekend when prof. Akinwumi
Ogundiran will be burying his father, Pa Lawrence Adisa Ogundiran who
passed on earlier this year.
Pa Ogundiran died on march 22nd 2022, a month to his 91st birthday.
Pa
Lawrence Adisa Ogundiran , was born on April 21, 1931, to Raji Akande
Ogundiran and Morounfola Asiawu in Alágbáà Odéséye hamlet, Olódó, then a
rural suburb of Ibadan. He was named Lamidi Adisa. The fifth of nine
children by his mother, he was the first child to survive and the only
son to live into adulthood
He began his formal
education at about seven years old in a madrasa learning Arabic and the
Quran. At twelve, he was enrolled at Methodist Primary School, Olódó.
The plans for his education were derailed in July 1947 when his mother
suddenly died. He was then in his fourth year in school
Lamidi
Adisa described 1947-1950 as his darkest years. He later got converted
to Christianity and was baptized and called Lawrence Adisa Ogundiran.
He was grieving, and the future was bleak. He continued to farm and
assisted in his father's cocoa business. He was also caring for his
toddler sister. Lamidi Adisa was industrious. To make ends meet, he
would weave baskets, make brooms, and collect firewood to sell in the
market. After a relative took over the care of his sister, he began to
search for a better opportunity. Now 18 years old, he could see his
former classmates making progress in their studies while he was stuck in
subsistence farming.
Lawrence Adisa was the central figure in his vast extended family. He had the privilege and burden of
being the first to acquire Western education in his family, and he became the guiding light for others.
Immediately he was stable in his teaching job.
He taught at the following schools:
1955-1956: African Church Primary School, Baale Olokemeji village, Ibarapa Division
1957: Ebenezer African Church Primary School, Orisunmibare village, Ibadan
1960: African Church Primary School, Ikirun
1964: African Church Primary School, Oluga village and many other places.
He was appointed as Assistant Headmaster at IMG Orita Aperin in 1986. He rose to the rank of
Headmaster in 1988. The same year, he was made the Zonal Head of fourteen schools in the Orita
Aperin-Aremo-Olorunsogo-Elekuro axis of Ibadan. On December 23, 1989.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mama Janet Iyabọde Agbekẹ Ogundiran, the woman who saved the
House of Ogundiran-Olódó from dying out. She was his confidant and chief adviser, a fierce fighter who
shielded her husband from abuse by ingrates. She gave him the best care during Baba’s last years.
His
children include Professor Akinwumi Olufisayo Ogundiran who is a
Nigerian-American archaeologist, anthropologist, and cultural historian,
whose research focuses on the Yoruba world of western Africa, Atlantic
Africa, and the African Diaspora. He is Chancellor's Professor and
Professor of African Studies, Anthropology & History at UNC
Charlotte. Others are Chief Olutayọ Akinbode Ogundiran, Hon. Olujide
Akinloye Ogundiran, Mr. Akinfemi Oluokun Ogundiran, Chief Olusoji
Akinyinka
Ogundiran, Mrs. Omosalewa Amope Iyanda, Mr. Akinbukola Oluseye Ogundiran (Coach Bukky), and Mr.
Akintomiwa Olukolade Ogundiran. He is also survived by daughters-in-law, a son-in-law, many
grandchildren, many nieces and nephews
The
final Funeral comes up this weekend at the cathedral of St. Peter Aremo
ibadan and St Paul Anglican Primary School Aremo Ibadan
Comments
Post a Comment