The Story Of The Lovely Couple Revealed!
If you mention their names anywhere in Ijebu-Ode, everybody knows them. In fact once you drive into Ijebu-Ode from any of the entry points and ask any Okada (Motorcylist) where to find Otunba Saheed Adegboyega Alatishe and his lovely wife, Iyalode Fausat Akorede Alatishe, they will take you to their home and office straight away. This is because they are very popular and their names open doors. The surname, Alatishe is synonymous with Ijebu-Ode because Otunba Saheed Adegboyega Alatishe’s father, the late Alhaji (Chief) Jinadu Alaba Alatishe was the Balogun of Ijebu-Ode. So, he is from the Balogun Alatishe royal family.
On Saturday, 1st April 2017, the couple took 2 powerful titles in the royal court of the Awujale & paramount ruler of Ijebuland Alaiyeluwa Oba (Dr.) S.K. Adetona. On that day, Alhaji Saheed Adegboyega Alatishe, who is the Aremo Gbegande of Ososa became Otunba Badero of Ijebu, whilst his wife Iyalode Fausat Akorede Alatishe was made the new Iyalaje Akile Ijebu by His royal majesty, the Awujale. In a one page letter dated 28th April, 2016, the Awujale wrote Aremo Gboyega Alatishe a letter of Conferment of Chieftaincy title as the new Otunba Badero.
“It is our custom from time to time to honour our citizens with Chieftaincy titles wrote the Awujale. “While the distinguished members from the royal families are recognised with Otunba title. The purpose however is not only to appreciate them for their contributions and achievements, but also to motivate others. Of course, we observe with delight your contributions to the progress of our community. Your hard work, patriotism and dedication to the peace and indeed our cultural heritage have always been well recognised. For these and your other sterling qualities, it is our pleasure to honour you as a notable member of Gbegande Royal Family with the title of “OTUNBA BADERO Of IJEBU”
The Awujale also wrote Iyalode Fausat Akorede Alatishe a letter announcing the conferment of the chieftaincy title of Iyalaje Akile Ijebu. “By the ancient Ijebu custom, it is customary for the Awujale of ljebuland from time to time to acknowledge and recognise some of his citizens with Chieftaincy titles in appreciation of their contributions to the development our community OR for attainment of excellence and distinctions in their chosen career.”
“We observe with delight and satisfaction your commercial activities involving the employment of many of our youths since the past 17yrs. As a lover of our culture and tradition, we acknowledge and recognise your noble role as the Iyalode of Egbe Bobagunte Obirin Akile Ijebu being one of the most fashionable and prestigious regberegbe age group of our time.
For all these and your other sterling qualities, too numerous to detail here, we wish to recognize and honour you with the traditional title of “Iyalaje of Akile ljebu”.
It is hoped, however, that you will accept this honour as a mark of our appreciation and a challenge to do more.
Who is Alhaji Saheed Adegboyega Olamilekan Alatishe
City People can tell you a lot about him. He was born on the 30th of January, 1959 to Alhaji J.A Alatishe, the late Balogun of Ijebuland and Alhaja Nuratulah Amoke Alatishe, the Asiwaju Obinrin Adinni of Ijebu Ode Central Mosque and Iya Oba of Ososa, both of blessed memory. He is the second child of the family of five from his mother’s side. Gema, as he is fondly called by his peers started his primary education at Christ Church Porogun School, Ita Alapo from 1966 to 1972. He then proceeded to Luba Comprehensive High School under the great Mr Sanni between 1973 to 1978.While in school, he was an avid sportsman, one time school goalkeeper. He loves Ijebu with a passion hence he speaks the Ijebu dialect more often than other languages. He favours gari to any other food.
After leaving Luba, Gema, as one of the favouritcs of the late Balogun Alatishe, was very close to his parents. His father did not want him to leave his vicinity, hence Gema started business with his mother at a very early age.
They started with polyethylene products from Adeyemi Everbright Industry, then went into beer and beverages. Because of her strong Islamic faith, Alhaja Amoke was persuaded to stop selling alcoholic products, so she shut down the business. Alhaji Adegboyega then moved into Poultry farming which he established in Ososa, near the country home of late Chief Hubert Ogunde. He was also a major distributor offrozen fish with a big fish depot at the new market in Ijebu Ode.
He was also a motor dealer under the name Saheed Motors and specialised in the supply of exotic vehicles from abroad at Folagbade Street, Ijebu Ode. He was a retailer of beers and beverages before obtaining licences from various beer and beverages companies in Nigeria.
Today, Alhaji Saheed Adegboyega Olamilekan Akanbi-Erin (as fondly called by Late Mama Isale Eko, a stepmother and one of the wives of Balogun Alatishe) is the Chairman of the new Amokson Trading Stores Limited which specializes in the distribution of all brands of beer, liqueur, beverages, in Ijebu Ode and its environs.
OTUNBA BADERO OF IJEBU is also a political juggernaut in Ogun State. He is a friend of Senator Ibikunle Amosun, CO, FCA, the Executive Governor of Ogun State. He is the Aremo Gbegande of Ososa and the Otun-Giwa of Egbe Bobagunte Okunrin, Akile Ijebu. He is a big fan of Lionel Messi and a bossom friend of King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, KI De Ultimate.
How about his wife? She also has a rich profile too. Alhaja Fausat Akorede Alatishe, (nee Mayungbe) was born 16th August 1959 at Porogun Idomowo Ijebu Ode to late Mr. Motiriyu Adedeji Mayungbe (alias Mayor) and Alhaja Aolat Adunola Ireti Mayungbe, nee Otubu Lawal as the second of the four children. For her primary education, she first attended St. Saviours Primary School Italajoda and then proceeded to Ideal Girls School, Surulere Lagos. For her secondary education, she attended Royal Polytechnic College, Onike Yaba Lagos before attending Iganmode Grammar School, Ota. She finally completed her secondary education at Luba Comprehensive High School, Ijebu Ode, where she was made Assistant Head Girl and Hostel Prefect as a result of her being one of the brightest science students.
After her secondary education, Alhaja Fausat Akorede decided to join her mother’s grocery, commodity and provision business at Oke Arin Market, Lagos. She later got married to her friend in High School. Alhaji Saheed Adegboyega Alatishe. She joined her husband and his mother, the late Alhaja Nuratulahi Amoke Alatishe, in their drink and beverage business (Amokson Trading Stores) in 1984, after the closing down of the old Amokson Stores by her mother-in-law owing to her religious beliefs, Alhaja Fausat Akorede and her husband set up a Poultry Farm in Ososa and later a frozen fish business at Ijebu Ode. In 1990, a new Amokson Trading Stores was opened. At first, they started as wholesalers buying from various distributors in Ijebu Ode and its axis before getting accredited as Distributors of all drinks and beverages. Today, Amokson Trading Stores in which Alhaja Fausat Akorede Alatishe is the Managing Director, are proud distributors to the following companies; Guinness Nigeria PIc, Nigerian Breweries PIc, Nigerian Bottling Company (Coca-Cola), RITE Industries Limited, ete. The company currently
employs hundreds of staff.
Alhaja Fausat Akorede Alatishe is one of the founding members of “Egbe Bobagunte Obirin Akile Ijebu” where she is the IYALODE. She is the AKEWEJE of Egbe Jagunmolu Okunrin Fehintade Akile Ijebu, Matron of Golden Ladies Club Nigeria and the Treasurer ofIjebu Interegberegbe Council. In 2003, she and her husband, Aremo Adegboyega Alatishe, built and donated an Officers Mess Complex to the Nigerian Police Force, Ijebu Division, Igbeba and funded various water projects at Police Stations and communities in Ijebu.
IYALAJE AKILE lJEBU is very humble, honest, trustworthy, hardworking, respectful, generous, loyal and unassuming. She is blessed with many children.
Who is Otunba Gboyega’s father? His father was Alhaji (Chief) Jinadu Alaba Alatishe (THE BALOGUN OF IJEBU ODE). Late Alhaji Jinadu Alaba Alatishe was born on 16th of August 1901 at Ideyin. He started attending the Quaranic School at an early age at the Olorunsogo Mosque at Ita Ntebo. He later enrolled at an elementary school, but his father made him leave the elementary school as he did not want him to have Western Education. This made the young Jinadu to run to his Mother’s house where he enrolled at the Christ Church Porogun in 1915. He was in the school till 1918 from where he gained admission the Ijebu Ode Grammar School under the Principalship of the late Reverend Ransome Kuti in 1919. In 1922, Alhaji Jinadu left for Ode Remo to start work as a transport Clerk. Two years later, he left for Lagos. In 1926, he entered the produce buying business under Pa Kuti. After the death of Pa Kuti in 1933, the CWS Company decided he should take over the business as produce buying agent. Alhaji Jinadu made name in the produce buying business both in Lagos and throughout the Western Region. In 1959, Alhaji Jinadu was appointed by Oba Gbelegbuwa II, the then Awujale ofIjebuland as the Otun Balogun of Ijebu Ode. Because of political turmoil in Ijebu Ode and for other reasons, it was not until 1971 before he was confirmed as the Balogun of Ijebu Ode under the reign of Oba S.K. Adetona, Ogbagba II, the Awujale and Paramount Ruler ofIjebuland.
Alhaji Jinadu had 8 wives in his lifetime. Seven of them except one had children for him. As a good leader, he took pride in uniting members of his family. He built a family house at Ososa where all members of his family converge on the 26th of December every year. Alhaji’ Jinadu’s insistence that members of his family converge once every year produced the current Gbegande of Ososa, Oba (Dr.) Adetoye M. Alatishe, senior brother of today’s celebrator, Otunba Adegboyega Alatishe.
Who is Otunba Gboyega’s mum? His mum was the late Alhaja Nuratu Amoke Alatishe. Late Alhaja Nuratu Amoke Alatishe was born on the 12th of April, 1930 to the family of Agbasale Ishado. Her father was the Chief Imam ofIshado Mosque in Ijebu Ode. Alhaja Amoke was unlettered in Western Education but attended Arabic School to learn how to read the Quaran and to know the tenets of Islam. Alhaja Nuratu Amoke got married to Alhaji Iinadu Alaba Alatishe (the Balogun ofIjebuland). She had five children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. As a devoted Muslim, her first pilgrimage to the Holy Land was in 1960 followed by several other trips. Because of her significant and active roles in Islamic activities, the Ijebu Ode Central Mosque honoured her with the title of Asiwaju Adinni Obirin. She was a member of FOMWAM and Hal-Hujjaj associations.
She was a successful businesswoman, selling popular wines and spirits that was in vogue at that time such as Dubonnet, Campari, White Horse, etc. Being an enterprising women, her business grew so big that she became a distributor to Nigerian Breweries then. She was the founder of Amokson Trading Stores. She was a politician to the core since her early life Among all the politicians in Ijebu Ode, she was referred to as Iya Pama. Her popularity assisted her son Pama to become the Chairman, Ijebu Ode Local Government in 2004-2007. She was a family woman who loved everyone and her children most. She was a socialite, she belonged to Egbe Mafowoku and AMOVA Club.
How about Iyalaje Akorede’s dad? Who is he? He is nee Mayungbe. Iyalaje’s dad is late Mr. Motiriyu Adedeji Mayungbe (aka Mayor). He was born to the family of late Kasali Operekete Mayungbe and Morinatu Mayungbe (nee Arowogbadun Adinni) both of Idomowo Quarters Ijebu Ode on 30th December, 1931. He started hie Elementary School education at Porogun School, Ijebu Ode. He later gained admission to Olu- I wa College, now Adeola Odutola College, Ijebu Ode. He was nicknamed Mayor at the school by one of his friends. After passing out from the college, he proceeded to Lagos and got employment at UAC of Nigeria, Marina, Lagos where he worked for many years.
He married Miss Adunola Lawal Otubu in 1956. He left for the United Kingdom in 1962 to study Salesmanship and upon completion of his studies, he was employed by UAC of London where he worked till his return to Nigeria in 1966. On his return home, he was employed by G.B. Ollivant Nigeria Limited attached to BEAM section, Marina, Lagos where he worked until his death on the 17th of March 1968.
Mayor is one of the pioneers of Obanta Club of Ijebu Ode. Mayor was humble, charming, jovial and loving to all. He died very young leaving both parents behind. He was survived by four children of which Alhaja Fausat Akorede Alatishe, Iyalaje Akile Ijebu is one. We pray Almighty Allah to grant him Aljanan Fidaous.
How about Iyalaje’s mum? Alhaja Aolat Odunola Ireti Mayungbe (nee Lawal Otubu) She was born in 1935 to the family of late Alhaji Amusa Otubu (of Balogun Otubu family Ijebu Ode) and Alhaja Ramotalahi Aderantiola Otubu (nee Ademowo ofEgbo family also in Ijebu Ode). She attended Muslim Primary School Isoku and Muslim Modern School, Imepe where she bagged a Modern School Certificate.
In 1954, Alhaja Aolat went to Lagos where she attended the first Lagos Teacher Training College and bagged a Grade II Teachers Certificate. She later taught at St. Mathias Primary School, Lagos and Saviour High School also in Lagos to mention but two. She later joined the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of the then Western Region. She later came back to Ijebu Ode as a Welfare Officer (Social Worker). She then visited London to study Secretariat Course – Shorthand, Typing, etc at Pitman Secretarial College, London in the United Kingdom after which she later joined the association of Commonwealth where she served as Secretary for so many years.
In January 1967, Alhaja came back to Lagos from London and got an appointment as Secretary at .B. Ollivant in the BEAM Section. She got married to late Mr. Motiriyu Adedeji Mayungbe of blessed memory and they were blessed with children, one of whom is the new Iyalaje Akile Ijebu, Alhaja Fa Akorede Alatishe being installed today Ist April,2017.
After the death of her husband in 1968, Alhaja went into business, buying and selling provisions at Oke Arin Market, Lagos and became a prominent distributor. Coming from a purely Islamic home, Alhaja Aolat is very versatile in Quaranic recitation and this made the Ijebu Muslim Community to turban her as the Iya Adinni ofIjebuland by Ijebu Ode Central Mosque as well as Iya Adinni of Idomowo, Porogun.