•Why He Would Not Be Forgotten In A Hurry
The sleepy town of Aiyepe Ijebu came alive on Sunday 8th May 2022, when the remains of popular Ijebu industrialist, Alhaji Prince Shafi Mobolaji Shittu was laid to rest inside his sprawling Aiyepe compound, in Ogun State.
A lot of Aiyepe indigenes and residents trooped out in huge numbers to pay their last respect in honour of this great man who was the Baba Adinni of Aiyepe. Guests and well-wishers drove in from all the adjoining Ijebu towns and also from Lagos.
Late Alhaji Shafi has many accomplished children who live both in Nigeria and the US, and some of them flew in to be part of the burial. Two of his daughters flew in from the US to witness the burial also. They arrived in Aiyepe just in time, as the remains of Papa was just being lowered into the grave.
Alhaji Shafi passed on, in the early morning of Saturday 7th May. And once the news broke a lot of dignitaries began to troop in to commiserate with the family. As a great and committed Muslim, a lot of Alfa and Muslim clerics and Muslim societies began to visit his house to console his widow and family members.
Because Papa left words that his burial should be delayed till his daughters arrive, his burial was fixed for Sunday.
Family sources revealed that Alhaji Shafi Shittu had a premonition of death as he called to speak with many of his children hours & days before he passed on and kept asking them when they would be coming to see him.
As early as 8 am on Sunday 8th, the compound began to receive the elders of Aiyepe, and Muslim leaders, who came to pay their last respect. Papa’s remains was first placed at the centre of his expansive living room, as well-wishers and Muslim clerics prayed for him.
Alaiyeluwa Oba Abdul Wasiu Ademola Sobowale, the Olowu of Odolowu, Aiyepe Ijebu took charge of arrangements and worked with the family to ensure that all went well.
Hon. Olawale Shittu, the former Chairman, of Odogbolu Local Government from 2012 to 2019 was in his feet all through making sure everything went according to plan. He also coordinated all the state politicians who came. The Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun came with a heavy delegation to commiserate with the family.
All the Muslim groups in Aiyepe and adjoining towns all came out to honour baba, who they called Baba dada. At about 1.15 pm, the body of Baba, beautifully wrapped in white fabric, was put in a Sienna space bus and driven, in a procession to his family house on Ikenne Road, which is about 25 minutes away.
It was his grandfather’s house. His body was brought down from the bus and placed on a well laid out platform, and prayers were offered by Muslim clerics. That was the House where Alhaji’s father was born. After about 25 minutes, the procession left for the Aiyepe Central Mosque with baba’s body. That took another 25 minutes. As the procession was about to move to the next place, Prince Dapo Abiodun, the Governor of Ogun State arrived at Aiyepe and drove past, straight to the house of Baba Shittu to go and see his widow and family members.
At the Aiyepe Central Mosque, his body was brought down and placed outside, on the field, for prayers, by the Chief Imam of the Mosque and other Muslim clerics. About 500 Muslim faithful had gathered to pray for the repose of his soul.
Alhaji Musibau Oyefeso (Barrister), the Chairman, Aiyepe Muslim Community was actively involved and he helped to coordinate the session. Baba’s body was put back in the bus and taken home for burial. It did not take more than 30 minutes, after which service took place conducted by the Muslim clerics, headed by Sheikh Islam Mohammed Hadli Lawal. The service was well attended by many traditional rulers and Muslim leaders. The children were advised to set up a Foundation in honour of their late dad to promote and propagate Islam.
The Awujale could not make it but he sent his 2nd in command, Oba Dagburewe of Idowa to represent him.6 other obas were there. Advertising Czar, Dr Biodun Shobanjo attended. Alhaji Sakiru Oyefeso played a pivotal role in terms of coordination. All the children of the deceased were actively involved in the arrangements. Kudos to Nike, Moni, Thobib, Adunola, Jadesola, Monti, Abolanle, Muritala, Lobito, Katolat, Seki, Aasisat, Doyin, Papi, Ganiu, Alhaja Tairat, Hammed, Kuburat, Dollar, Wale, Kafilat and other siblings.
It was a classy event. And Papa’s daughters looked so glamorous in their white outfits.
A few months back, Alhaji (Prince) Shafi Mobolaji Shittu celebrated his 90th birthday in his hometown, Aiyepe. Last Saturday, this highly accomplished man of means passed on and was buried the following day after his children flew in to bury him. He was buried according to Islamic rites and the instructions he left behind.
The nonagenarian superhero father, grandfather and great grandfather was born exactly 90 years ago, on the 5th of February, 1932 into the royal family of Alhaji Seidu Kehinde & Alhaja Humani Shittu, of blessed memory.
He had his primary education at Holy Trinity School Aiyepe and studied stenography at a private commercial school in Lagos. He completed this program with flying colours and qualified as a stenographer in 1951.
Being an enterprising and industrious personality, he ventured into Textiles retail business. Alhaji Sulaimon Ademola Shittu later joined the growing business as a partner. This retail business metamorphosed into wholesale of tailor-made clothing, handkerchiefs, mens’ underwear and footwear under the banner of the Idera-Olu Textiles Industry.
In 1955, Idera-Olu Textiles Industry expanded its horizon to include the selling of embroidery lace materials which were sourced mainly from Italy. The company continued to experience tremendous growth and set the pace of fashion trends in the social scene of Nigeria.
In 1961, Idera-Olu Textiles Industry started sourcing high-quality Damask and classic Guinea Brocade materials from Germany and marketed the same in Nigeria under the leadership of Alhaji Shafi Mobolaji Shittu -the company became the biggest dealer of Guinea Brocade in Nigeria.
In the quest for further expansion Alhaji (Prince) Shafi Mobolaji embarked on a business trip to Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Britain and France in 1966 which paved way for various business contacts that positively affected the expansion of the business. Idera Olu Textiles became a household name among international manufacturers and local consumers.
Furthermore, in 1970, Alhaji (Prince) Shafi Mobolaji Shittu was introduced to Messrs. Franz Maser, an Austrian large embroidery manufacturer. This meeting led to a partnership agreement between the embroidery manufacturer and Idera-Olu Textiles which marked the beginning of a new and bigger business opportunity. Alhaji Shafi Mobolaji moved from the trading of textiles to manufacturing. With this role, change came the sole responsibility of deciding the location of the factory.
Alhaji (Prince) Shafi Mobolaji Shittu proudly decided that the location for this new business should be nowhere other than Aiyepe. For this main decision by a single man, Aiyepe became a household name in Nigeria and internationally.
The construction of the Lace Factory started in 1970 and was commissioned on 9th December 1972 by the then Governor of Western State, Brigadier Oluwole Rotimi. Thus, Idera-Olu Textiles expanded and became Austro-Nigerian Embroidery Factories Limited with Alhaji (Prince) Shafi Mobolaji Shittu as the Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director. Under his able leadership, the company carved a unique brand name of high-quality lace material widely known as “Aiyepe lace”.
“Aiyepe lace” took Aiyepe town to a recognizable level and became popular internationally. Aiyepe lace contributed to the rapid development of our beloved town. This also created job opportunities for so many people in recognition of his role in the manufacturing sector Alhaji Shafi Mobolaji Shittu received many local and international awards.
In 1992, under the leadership of Alhaji Shafi Mobolaji Shittu, “Sule & Shafi” established another company known as Sulsaf Industries Nigeria Limited which specialized in the production of printed fabrics popularly known as jacquard-again, setting the trend in the social scene.
Alhaji (Prince) Shafi Shittu is a philanthropist per excellence. He is a cheerful giver. He contributed immensely to the socio-economic and religious development of his hometown, Aiyepe. He was Vice-Chairman of the Aiyepe Muslim Community, for several years and was later turbaned as Baba Adinni of Aiyepe by the Aiyepe Muslim Community in June 1991. Among his indelible notable legacies are the perception, conception and financing of the building of the new ultra-modern Aiyepe Central Mosque in collaboration with other notable sons and daughters of Aiyepe. As Baba Adinni, he played strong fundamental roles in the activities of the Muslims and Aiyepe in general.
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