•Celebrating Prince ANIMASHAUN @ 90
At the Ikeja Club, in Lagos, all the members know Prince Adebisi Teliat Animashaun, the founder of the club. He and a few friends came together to start this great club very many years ago. The big news is that this elder statesman turned 90 a few days back and it was a classy event befitting of this distinguished Nigerian.
Prince Adebisi Teliat Animashaun was born in Modakeke in Osun State to the family of late Alhaji Yusuph Ibironke Animashaun and late Madam Aishat Jolaade Animashaun on the 27th day of July 1932.
He attended Baptist Day School, Modakeke in 1945 and St. Stephens School from 1951 to 1953. He later proceeded to Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife where he obtained the General Certificate of Education (GCE) in 1959. All the while in Ife, he lived right inside the palace of the late Ooni of Ife, Sir. Adesoji Adererni. The monarch adopted him as his son.
In the year 1960, he travelled out of Nigeria to the United Kingdom and was admitted into Blackburn Technical College Lancashire where he obtained a Diploma in Textile Technology and became a licensed member of the Textile Institute of the United Kingdom. He further went for special training in dyeing and printing in Switzerland between July and December 1963.
Back home in Nigeria, Prince Animashaun joined the Nigeria Textile Mills Industry as a Manager in training and worked in various departments as Spinning, Dyeing, Stores etc.
In 1965, he invited some of his friends and close associates to found Ikeja Club as a serene place to relax and socialize after work. He invited late Abiodun Akerele, late Ben Olaiya, Prince Koya Dairo, M. Omokanwanye, Chief Titus Akinwolere, Felix Agbonselobo, Prince Bisi Oyelade, late Biodun Pitan and Mr Adekayaoja. These were the group of friends that had the maiden meeting on the 27th of July 1966 which coincided with his birthday. To the glory of God, Ikeja Club is one of the most vibrant recreational clubs in the country today.
As a Trade Unionist, Prince Adebisi Teliat, at the Nigeria Textile Mills invited his bosom friend, late Alhaji YPO. Sholarin and they both fought the expatriates of the company to a standstill because of injustice meted out on the junior staff. Though they tried to bribe them, they refused to be compromised.
He left Nigeria Textile Mills in 1977 and started his own private company, Sadetan & Sons Limited, They were into farming, real estate consulting etc. According to the Modakeke Prince, “I don’t like them, dented image of Police, I, therefore, want to be part of a group to panel-beat their dented image”. This was what led him to join the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) through his friend Chief Olabode who was then the Chairman, PCRC Area F, Ikeja. In a short time, his passion for the Police grew and came to the fore that all the members of the group decided to make him the Vice Chairman from 2001 to 2003. He was later seconded to be the first Chairman of the newly created MAN Centre Division where he was for over ten years. He brought in all the CEOs of Industries in Ikeja Industrial Estate to build the division together… Part of his contribution was that he singlehandedly travelled to Abuja to meet the then Inspector General of Police (IG) to complain about how the Police are being treated. It was his complaint that even led to the changing of Police Uniforms from black to blue.
He was a Patron of Area F Division and also a grand patron of MAN Centre Divison. He retired from active service in 2015.
He was the Chairman of Olu-Akerele, Ajiboye, Modupe and Itohan Streets Residence Association, Ikeja and Patron of Modupe/Awolowo Community Development Association.
A lover of sports, he was a member of the Table Tennis, Lawn Tennis and Darts Section of Ikeja Club.
He was married to Madam Funke Stella (nee Sonupe) but the marriage shortlived as they both parted ways after a few years. He went on to marry Mrs Aderonke Animashaun, a princess from the Adesanya Royal Family of Ijebu-Ode. However, she died in 1992 and Baba remained unmarried for twenty years, making sure his children had all settled down. He eventually got married in 2012 to Madam Helen Mma who has been a soothing relief to him in old age.
He is blessed with children and many grandchildren, many of whom are doing well in their chosen careers.
Let us also tell you about the IKEJA CLUB, described by one of the foundation members as ‘a child of circumstances’, It came into being, following the realization of the need for a serene place of decent relaxation and socialization after work.
The initial idea came from Alhaji A.T. Animashaun, who drew from his experience as a member of The Black Table at Blackburn, Lancashire, England. He invited the late S.A. Otunkoya.
The 3 gentlemen met at the then Victoria Hotel Ikeja. Alhaji AT. Animashaun disclosed his vision of a prominent social club. The 3 founding members agreed to invite other friends who attended the maiden meeting on the 27th of July 1966 at Victoria Hotel, Ikeja.
Those that attended the meeting along with the pioneers included: (1.) Late Mr Abiodun Akerele – Nigerian Textile Mills Ltd (2.) Late Chief Ben Olaiya – Nigerian Textile Mills Ltd (3.) Prince Adekoya Dairo – Dunlop Nigeria Ltd (4.) Mr M.O. Omokanwaiye – Western Nigeria Housing Corporate (5.) Chief T.O. Akinwolere – Business Man (6.) Mr Felix Agbonselobho – Dealer Mobil Petrol Station Maryland (7.) Prince Bisi Ojelade – American Embassy (8.) Late Mr Abimbola Pitan – American Embassy (9.) Mr Adekayaoja – ECN (now PCHN).
The following were appointed officers during the maiden meetings: (1.) Chief Abiodun Akerele – President (2.) Prince Adekoya Dairo – Vice President (3.) Alhaji A. T. Animashaun – Secretary (4.) Mr Felix Agbonselobho – Treasurer (5.) Chief T.O. Akinwolere – Financial Secretary (6.) Mr S.O. Otukoya – Social Secretary (7.) Mr S.O. Onasanya – Ex-officio (8.) Mr M.O. Omokanwaiye – Ex-Officio.
The inaugural meeting of the club was held at Victoria Hotel, Ikeja. Three other meetings were held at the same venue.
The club shifted its meeting venue to Mr M.O. Omokanwaiye’s residence on Adeniyi Jones Avenue, Ikeja. Four (4) meetings were held there. Chief T.O. Akinwolere volunteered the use of the top of his decked building at No. 156, Isheri Road now 134, Awolowo Way (Adetiba House) at Balogun Bus Stop, Ikeja. Meetings were held at this venue for over one year. The membership strength of the club increased with the inclusion of Mr T.O. Gbajobi, Albert Olubakinde, Tokunboh Alii, T.A. Awoleye, Gregory Asemota, Pade Odanye, Afolabi Fadairo, Mr Ajetunmobi and others.
Consequently, the executive membership increased with the appointment of some new members to executive positions. Thereafter, the club moved into a rented flat at No.19, Olowu Street, Ikeja.
Late Akinola Ajose, the then Assistant Secretary in the service of Lagos State Government, informed members about a building used by the Colonial District Officers. The use of the building was abandoned because of the flooding of the area. Members were advised to see the late Aba Johnson, the then Secretary to the State Government, who was also a close friend of late Abiodun Akerele, the then President of the club. Following necessary contacts that were made, the club was advised to submit a formal application to the then State Governor, Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson for consideration. The application was submitted in June 1971.
The late Akinola Ajose monitored the application up to the approval stage and delivered the keys of the building to the club in September 1971. Thereafter, the club faced the problem of flooding in the area.
Members took various actions including the construction of temporary footbridges and tarring of the whole compound. At this juncture, let all of us pay tributes to the version and efforts of our founding fathers. To those of them who have answered the call of the Almighty, may their souls rest in perfect peace (AMEN) and to those that are alive, we say a big thank you for a job well done. Last week, City People spoke to the 90-year-old Prince Animashaun. He revealed a lot about his life.
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