Leadership (Abuja)
Prince Charles Dickson
7 June 2008
Prominent business mogul and Baba Adinni of Nigeria, Chief Wahab Iyanda Folawiyo, is dead. He died yesterday at his 17 Oyinkan Abayomi Street , Ikoyi, Lagos residence. He died 11 days short of his 80th birthday.
Early callers at the residence included the deputy governor of Lagos State, Princess Sarah Sosan; the wife of Lagos State governor, Abimbola Fashola; Head of Service, Mr. Yaqub Balogun, Chief Tunde Fanimokun, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Kayode Opeifa, and Mrs. Derin Disu.
In a tribute sent to LEADERSHIP WEEKEND, former head of state General Muhammadu Buhari described the death of Chief Folawiyo as a profound shock. Buhari stated that Nigeria had lost one of its most prominent business, religious and community leaders. His fame, friendship and achievements have transcended his immediate Yoruba and Muslim community, Buhari said, adding that "He was a great Nigerian who readily mixed with other Nigerians and foreigners in his commercial, religious and philanthropic activities."
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo described Folawiyo as a deeply religious man. Obasanjo said he would be greatly missed.
Also paying tribute, the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji AbdulAzeez Arisekola, said that Nigeria has lost a legend in the late Chief Abdulwahab Folawiyo.
Arisekola, who doubles as the president-general of the Grand Council for Islamic Affairs and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), said the council would sorely miss him."He lived for humanity and was spiritually fulfilled," he said. "The death of Chief Folawiyo has closed the chapter of an entrepreneurial era that symbolised hard work and vintage determination to succeed. He represented the quintessential example of an old war-horse that still subsisted in modern-day business climate. I am proud that he came from Ilora in Oyo State but the truth is that his positive image traversed the entire business landscape".
Gov. Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State praised Folawiyo's contribution to the development of the country. "He was a great Yoruba son and a foremost Muslim cleric whose eight decades on earth were devoted to the advancement of the faith and the building of Nigeria," the governor said through his commissioner for information, Mr Kayode Samuel.
For Dr Lateef Adegbite, secretary-general of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Folawiyo was a very outstanding Islamic leader.
"He was a very conscientious leader who served the Muslim community diligently, promoting Islam and funding charitable organisations.
Gov. Segun Oni of Ekiti State said Folawiyo's death "is a loss to Nigeria particularly considering his giant stature in the economy".
"We commiserate with his family and all Nigerians on the demise of this economic giant and religious leader," Oni said through his chief of staff, Mr Segun Ilori.
Industrialist Aliko Dangote also described Folawiyo's death as shocking. ''He was a great Islamic leader and an astute businessman who meant well for his country," he said.
Alhaji Folawiyo was born on June 16, 1928, to a successful Lagos merchant, Pa Tijani. He attended Methodist Primary School from 1941-1943, and North Western Polytechnic (where he studied management, specialising in ship brokerage).
He returned home in 1957 to establish Yinka Folawiyo & Sons, an export and import business.
The business has expanded to include concerns in property development and energy, shipping and farming.
A philanthropist and supporter of religious advancement, he founded the Bab-es-Salam Home for Orphans. He singlehandedly built the Surulere Central Mosque and was involved in such projects as the Sultan Bello Mosque in Kaduna, Ansar-ud-deen Mosque, Zaria; Nigerian Mosque, Old Kent Road, London; and the Lagos Central Mosque, among several others.
He holds an honorary doctorate degree in Law from the University of Uyo (1991), D.Letters ABU (1992), and Doctor of Science, LASU (1998). He was honoured by his nation with the OFR in 1982, and the CON in 2000.
He joined Socony Vacom Oil (now Mobil Oil) before setting up his own import and export company in 1957. In 1958, Alhaji Folawiyo visited Eastern Europe and was the first Nigerian to develop strong trading ties with the Eastern bloc.
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