Guardian

HIS Royal Majesty, Oba Oladele Olashore CON, the Ajagbusi Ekun, Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesa on Friday June 1, 2012, left this world to join his ancestors. His demise was shocking.

He was an inspiration to many people. He was known across the country for many things. To some people, he was a banker, to some others, an administrator, some saw him as a philantropist and others as a dedicated traditional ruler. To the students and staff of Olashore International School (OIS), Iloko-Ijesa, he was our Founder and Proprietor. He founded OIS almost 20 years ago to compete with its counterparts around the world and offer quality boarding education of international standard to Nigerians living at home and abroad, and expatriate residents in Nigeria, who prefer to have their children educated locally. Such was the vision of Oba Olashore. His love for his people led him to establish the school in Iloko, his hometown.

Since commencing operation in January 1994, the school has acquired a reputation as a centre of excellence, and now runs a foundation programme in collaboration with Lancaster University, United Kingdom (UK), for students seeking admission to some UK Universities.

Oba Olashore’s life can be described as one filled with various defining moments. Born on February 18, 1935, he was a Chartered Accountant by profession and was nationally recognised as one of the most outstanding bankers and economic analysts in Nigeria. He was also a successful businessman and founded Lead Group of Companies comprising Lead Consult Limited, a financial and management consulting firm, Lead Investment Limited, Community Development Investment Limited (CDIL), as a vehicle for community economic transformation, engaging in Banking, Tailoring and Agriculture, and Royal Park International Hotel Limited, an international hotel and conference centre in Iloko-Ijesa.

Oba Olashore held several positions in his professional career spanning over five decades. He was at various times the Chief Bank Examiner and Director of Banking Supervision and Regulation at the Central Bank of Nigeria, where he initiated the massive training of banking personnel to ensure the exposure of Nigerians to banking knowledge and practices, to meet the growing needs of the banking system. This initiative subsequently translated to the Financial Institution Training Centre (FITC).

He also initiated the Rural Banking Programme under which the commercial bank branches expanded rapidly to the rural centres in Nigeria and he initiated the introduction of Merchant Banks into Nigeria banking system in 1983, which later revolutionised banking in Nigeria.

He later became the Managing Director of International Bank for West Africa, which metamorphosed to Afribank PLC, now known as Mainstreet Bank PLC. In recognition of his outstanding achievements in the banking sector, Oba Olashore was nominated by his peers as the first recipient of the ‘Banker of the Year’ award in 1987.

The visionary Oba served in numerous advisory capacities to government and private sectors and institutions. He was once a member of the Committee of Assessors of National Merit Award from 1983 to 1986. He was the Honourable Minister of Finance and Member of the Transitional Government between January and August 1993.

Also, as an academic, Oba Olashore wrote numerous essays and published some books: Perspectives on Finance, Banking and Economic Reforms (1991); Joy of Service: An Autobiography (1998) and Challenge of Leadership: A Biography (2005).

Oba Olashore whose positive impacts will continually be remembered by humanity, remained committed to the upliftment of the less privileged in the society, providing social services and awarding scholarship to many indigent students at different levels of education through the Oladele Olashore Foundation.

The late Olashore was a distinguished Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants (FCCA); a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria of Nigeria (FCA); a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrators (FCIS); a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (FCIB); a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (FNIM); and a Fellow of the Institute of Directors (FIOD).

He was the Chairman, Board of Directors, Lead Group of Companies; Chairman, Board of Directors, Olashore International School; Chairman, Community Investment Limited; Chairman, Royal Park International Hotel Limited; Chairman, Standard Chartered Bank of Nigeria Limited (1999-2008) and Life Chancellor, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji Arakeji, Osun State.

Some of the honour Olashore was conferred with included Doctor of Business Management (DBM) (Honoris Causa) of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; Doctor of Science Degree in Entrepreneurship (Honoris Causa) of the Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State; Fellowship of the Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke; Fellowship of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede; and Fellowship of the Osun State College of Education, Ilesa.

In recognition of his service and commitment to the service of God and humanity, the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Diocese of Sabongida-Ora conferred on Olashore The Knighthood of St. Lumumba (KSL). He was also conferred with the Diocesan Award of Honour by the Osun North-East Diocese (Anglican Communion). Oba Olashore was the Grand Patron, Ijesa North Missionary Diocese, Ijebu-Ijesa.

The late Olashore was installed the 19th Oba of Iloko-Ijesa on February 28, 1997. He was the Rotational President of the Ijesa North Traditional Council and a Vice Chairman of the Osun State Council of Traditional Rulers. He was the Southwest Coordinator of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria.

Apart from the Merit Awards of Oyo and Ogun States, Oba Olashore was awarded the prestigious National Honour as Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in 2002 by the President in recognition of his valuable contributions to the socio-economic, community and human development of the country.

Today, the late Olashore is still being celebrated. And even though he is no longer physically with his admirers, he continues to live on through the legacies he left behind, prime among which is the Olashore International School.