Aare Musulumi of Ilobuland and Asiwaju of Ilobuland Chief Azeez KOLADE has commiserated with the family of Alhaji Jamiu Ishola Adepoju, Olobu of Ilobu and entire people of the community in Irepodun local government on the passing of a renowned educationist administrator, philanthropist, community leader, foremost Muslim icon and dogged fighter for social justice, Alhaji Jamiu Ishola Adepoju.
This is contained in a statement Issued by Aare Musulumi of Ilobuland and Asiwaju of Ilobuland Chief Azeez KOLADE and made available to the newsmen Sunday night.
The statement commiserated with the family of the deceased, described Alhaji Adepoju as devout Muslim and community leader per excellent who contributed immensely to both the development of Islam and Ilobu and its environ .
“It is with a heavy heart that I commiserate with my people in Ilobu ,the Muslim community over the death of a renowned scholar, Alhaji Jamiu Ishola Adepoju enriched countless lives through his insightful teachings and advanced the course of Islam with healthy discourse,
Chief KOLADE prays for the repose of the soul of the deceased and gives the family and people of Ilobu the fortitude to bear irreparable loss.
Alhaji Jamiu Ishola Adepoju was born on Friday, 24th May, 1935 to Adewoyin Opadoyin Adepoju of Ilobu.
Late Alhaji Ishola Adepoju established and funded an Islamic Cultural Centre, (ICC) at Ilobu for the propagation of Islam. The late Alhaji, Jimoh Omotoso Alurin and Fasasi Olayiwola Sadiq, both of Ilobu, who were learned Mualims manned the centre’s free Adult Evening Class for Arabic and Islamic Studies which attracted enthusiastic adult learners in the town.
The centre is currently being revived by as Islamic Cultural and Enlightenment Centre, (ICEC) by his son, Alhaji Yusuf Olatunde Adepoju, the Chief Lecturer of Academy of Islamic Propagation, (ACADIP) Nigeria. Besides, Isola Adepoju was of great assistance to the Young Muslims Society organized at Ilobu by the foremost and popular Islamic singer, Wahab Ademola Olalere Falowo and his closest associates, Moshood Isola Sadiq and Muhib Arogundade Olubuse in 1965.
As a student and undergraduate, Adepoju was an active member of the Muslim Students Society. He succeeded in starting the weekly Jumat Congregational worship at the University of Ife, Ibadan Branch and at its permanent site. Now OAU in Ile-Ife where he also established MSS library at Fajuyi Hall. With the assistance of Prof. Ganiyu A. Jawando, the mini MSS library was well stocked with valuable books and journals.
In collaboration with the University of Ife Muslim Community, he successfully organized the first Fund Raising Ceremony chaired by Barr. Bola Babalakin, now a retired justice, for the construction of a befitting campus Jumat Mosque. His MSS leadership role so much impressed Prof. Aliu Babs Fafunwa who thus invited many Muslim academicians across the country to inaugurate the Conference of Muslim Lecturers and Senior Administrative Staff of Nigerian Universities. The late Alhaji Abdur-razak Afolabi Solaja, the National President of MSS, in his post Graduate Diploma year at the University of Ibadan initiated Islamic Vacation Course, (IVC) for the Muslim Students in the post-primary and tertiary institutions. He co-opted and found Isola Adepoju, who was then the Secretary, MSS, Ife University, Ibadan Branch very helpful in the course of the organizing the maiden IVC held at Ijebu Muslim College, Ijebu-Ode in 1966.
Alhaji Isola Adepoju was the pioneer Principal of Ilobu Secondary Commercial Grammar School, (1972) and Nurudeen Grammar School, Ogbomoso, (1978). He played major roles in the establishment of and in the construction works of a number of Muslim Secondary Schools like Ansar-Ud-Deen Grammar School, Ilobu, 2002 and elsewhere. He taught in many schools and colleges in the defunct Western State of Nigeria before he voluntarily retired on 31st December, 1982.
in 1970, Isola Adepoju was elected as the first Chairman of Muslim Association of Nigeria, (MAN), Ijebu-Ode Branch. He also pioneered Osogbo branch of MAN and was its first Secretary in 1972. He became the Association’s Chairman in Ogbomoso in 1976. He was the hosting branch Chairman of the Association’s Conference both at Ijebu-Ode and Ogbomoso. He was a member and the Secretary of Oyo State branch of National Joint Muslim Organization (NAJOMO), formerly WESJOMO, Ibadan which organized the chieftaincy title of Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, the post to which Alhaji Chief Abdul-Aziz Arisekola Alao of blessed memory was successfully installed in June, 1978.
NAJOMO, under the leadership of late Dr. Abdul-Lteef Oladimeji Adegbite played a prominent role, in conjunction with the Northern Nigerian based Jamat-ul Nasirul Islam, in the formation of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, (NSCIA). Right from its inception, Alhaji Jimo Isola Adepoju was one of Oyo State representatives, Engr. Shuaib Gbadamosi of Ibarapa inclusive, as well as a founding member of the Abuja National Mosque Building Committee of the umbrella Islamic organization, the NSCIA.
After retirement, Alhaji Adepoju was appointed the Chairman. Oyo State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board in 1984 when he introduced some necessary reforms into the administration and operations of annual pilgrimage, (HAjj). Before then, he served as Member, Western Nigeria PWB and at several times served as Welfare Officer under the National Pilgrims Board with Alhaji Abdus-salam Olatunde, as the Zonal Coordinator in Lagos. Alhaji J. Isola Adepoju was appointed a Full-Time Commissioner in November, 1989 and on several occasions acted as the Chairman in the Civil Service Commissions of Oyo State and that of Osun State carved out of Oyo State in August, 1991 where he served for six years from the pioneer stage.
He died on Sunday evening at the age of 89 while his burial holds tomorrow Monday morning.
He survived with wife , Alhaja Hamdalat Adepoju , children and great grand children .
