BABA IJEBU: NIGERIA ROLLS OUT 80 DRUMS FOR OCTOGENARIAN LOTTO MAGNATE

Sir Kesington Adebutu popularly known as ‘Baba Ijebu’is a ‘Remonian’ who has grown to be a ‘world figure’. People call him a rich man but the perfect adjective is ‘generous’. With his
large heart, he has touched so many lives, institutions & nations. What will surprise you more is that though he is a Christian, his philanthropic gesture permeates all religions in the world.
Public Faces Magazine brings to you what you should know about this rare gift to humanity and also the glitz and glamour of his posh 80th birthday party held at the popular Eko Hotels & Suites.

FACTS ABOUT BABA IJEBU
-Sir Kesington Adebutu was born on the 24th Oct. 1935 to a Muslim family of Alhaji Folarin & Alhaja Selinat Adebutu in Iperu-Remo in the present day Ikene Local Government Area of Ogun state (they both lived up to 97 & 94 years respectively).

-He is the second child of his mother.
-He attended Wesley Primary School from 1942 to 1948 where he stayed till Standard Four before he moved to Ijero Baptist school on Apapa Road in Ebute-Meta, Lagos State between 1949 - 1950.

-He was once offered a Scholarship to train as a teacher at Iwo Baptist College because he came top of his class in the School Leaving Certificate Examination but he turned it down because he wanted to stay in the neighbourhood for his studies; he later enrolled at Baptist Academy in Lagos in 1951 and later in 1953 he moved to Remo secondary school in Sagamu from 1954-1955.

-Kesington Adebutu was a jolly good fellow in school. He attended the same school with late Business Mogul, Chief Molade Okoya Thomas and Justice Hollaway (Rtd).

He started a career in the 60s as a Clerical Officer At Cable and Wire, later as salesman, at Clafin Chemicals Limited in 1967, (the firm that produces Andrew Liver Salt, Cafenol and so on) the company that was later known as Sterling Products.
-One of his major achievements at the manufacturing company was that he led a group that successfully placed Cafenol in the market and made it a household name, the company’s sales increased and profit sky-rocketed, his outstanding success was why he was promoted to lead the Sales Department of Clafin Chemical as Regional Sales Manager for Lagos and the old Mid-West.
-The quest to start his own business started when he stumbled on a book “How to be Your Own Boss” (I guess you will also look for the book if you haven’t read it before); having digested the book, he resigned
at Clafin Chemicals to start the Pool business, which did not cost him much to start because then you only needed a table and chair to start a Pool business. He later joined the Pools promotion where he
formed a partnership with his friend, Solomon Adebayo Ayoku (now late, he died at the age of 69 on August20, 2007), together they established the Face-To-Face Million Dollar Pools Limited Awards and Honours.

-For his numerous achievements and philanthropic gestures in Nigeria and beyond, Baba Ijebu has many feathers to his cap, some of these are; Asoju Oba of Lagos the Prestigious feather newly added to his cap, Babalaje and Olotu of Lagos,Baba Ijo of Methodist church 21, Akogun of Remo-Land, Balogun of Iperu-Remo, he has bagged several Awards from various institutions of learning from Nigeria and other countries, he was accorded with natural honours of the “Officer, Order Of The Niger (OON) Commander, Order Of The Niger, (CON)

PLANS FOR RETIREMENT
He started his career in 1969 and now he is 80 years, when Baba responded to questions on his. Retirement plans, he said “retire!  Why should I retire? Well, I will retire when God say I should, retire and stay at home and
be doing nothing. No, No, No, I am still very fit and healthy". He is fondly called Balogun Dodondawa, Baba Ijebu, Kessy Bobo.

WHAT HE WILL LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED FOR
-Good name, a good name is better than riches he said
-He has the concession for the Gateway Hotels Abeokuta for 25 years, the hotel which has a brand name of PARK-Inn by Radisson, it is no doubt one of the best if not the best hotel in Ogun-State at the moment.
-He didn’t attend a University (Though his ambition was to study Law) he cherishes education which has made him to extend his philanthropic hand to universities in and outside Nigeria.
-He is a polygamist; he is blessed with sons and daughters, grandchildren and great grand children.
His first son is Hon. Oladipupo Kesington Adebukola who represents the people of Remo-Land as a member, Federal House of Representatives

-He reaches out to the public personally and through Kesington Adebukola Adebutu Foundation (KAAF).

TRIBUTES
May the almighty God continue to protect and prosper our Baba Ijebu and grant you many more years of continuous benefit to our dear nation - Muhamadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

It is certainly not by accident that your name, Sir Adebutu (Baba Ijebu) is a household name known throughout the country today, you revel in overcoming obstacles and blazing trails...I wish a Titan
of our time many more years of useful service to God and humanity-Igba odun odun kan ni - Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

I am much delighted to pay tribute to a great Nigerian sir Kesington Adebukola Adebutu, who has made it to the often-elusive age eighty in such good health and high spirits - Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria.
He believed in the saying that “it is better to teach a man how to catch fish rather than giving him fish to eat”....my wish and prayer for this Gentleman to the core is good health, long life and many
more successful years to serve his father land....Eko oni baje o. Nigeria naa koni daru o - Oba Rilwanu Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu Oba Of Lagos.

The end of his honour is more distant than the earth and the catalogue of the firmament of heaven. Once more I wish him more grease to his elbows. The Remo Obas, Chiefs, Otunbas and the entire people of Remo land join me to wish him many happy returns. - Oba (Dr) Sir, M.A Sonariwo,ERINJUGBO II. The Akarigbo And Paramount Ruler Of Remo-Land

The good people of Yewa-land appreciate you for the singular honour of naming one of the floors of the KAAF building in Ode-Remo in the name of the title of the paramount ruler of Yewa-land “OLU” - HRM Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olubgenle. Olu of Ilaro&Paramount  Ruler Of Yewa Land.

Let us raise our glasses and toast to a man of colourful character and grace. A people-lover and friend of the poor. A fine gentleman and an inspiration to us all. Sir Kesington Adebukola Adebutu, I salute you - Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

I admire and love your energy, particularly the way you share your gift for living fully with your family and friends, the integrity you bring to your work, the joy you find in helping others and your enviable achievements in the field of commerce-  His Excellency Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode. Governor Lagos State.

A devout Family man, Chief Adebutu is fiercely loyal to his Friends, unwavering in support for his country, Chief Adebutu does not wear his values as badge but gives life through his actions and conduct. -  Senator Ibikunle Amosun, CON, FCA, Governor of Ogun State.

Adebutu’s contributions were not limited to education, we persuaded him and he invested in the hospitality industry that is why we conceded the Gateway Hotel in Abeokuta which is now called Park Inn, to him. This has been developed privately courtesy of Chief Adebutu - Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Fmr. Governor of Ogun State.

Sir Adebutu has been an unrepentant pioneer, trail blazer and dare say survivor in these fields of Odds and chance.... I give 80 cheers to the champion of the stock exchange of the common man - Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN).

We always refer to him as a man of God because at a time he surprised our University with an incredible financial bailout when there was the need for us to build more hostels for our students. He volunteered to give us a loan of N80 million without interest. This which we kept paying in the sum of N10 million every year, it is in fact better than Sharia loan. Besides all these, I have enjoyed his deep friendship, advises, reliability, and respectability. - His Excellency, Judge Bola. A. Ajibola.

I have interacted with Sir Kesington Adebutu and I have found him to be a gentle man per excellence, A philanthropist particularly to the needy, above all he is a man of honour, integrity and of his words. He was and is still contributing positively towards the development of Nigeria - Maj. Gen. M. Magoro (Rtd.) OFR USAWC, Galadiman Zuru.

As an industrialist of repute, you have contributed immensely to the socio-economic development of our dear country, Nigeria, this has provided employment opportunities to many of our youths who could otherwise have been unemployed -   HRM Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, CFR. The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egba Land.