Chief S. A. Ajayi (2 December 1910 – 11 May 1994) was a Nigerian statesman who played an active role in the negotiations that led to Nigeria's independence. He was a pioneer politician of Okun land in the old Kabba province (in the present day

Kogi State Kogi State is a States of Nigeria, state in the North Central Nigeria, North Central region of Nigeria, bordered to the west by the states of Ekiti State, Ekiti and Kwara State, Kwara, to the north by the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria, Fe ...

), who represented the people of Kabba Division in the Northern region house of Assembly. Chief Ajayi was passionate about educating his people therefore, He played a key role in the establishment of

Kabba Kabba is a town in Kogi State in mid west Nigeria. It lies near the Osse River, at the intersection of roads from Lokoja, Okene, Ogidi, Ado-Ekiti, and Egbe. The town is about 295 kilometers away from Abuja. It is 511 kilometers from Lagos. ...

College of Agriculture, Division of Agricultural Colleges, The University of

Northern Nigeria Northern Nigeria (or Arewa, Arewancin Nijeriya) was an autonomous division within Nigeria, distinctly different from the southern part of the country, with independent customs, foreign relations and security structures. In 1962, it acquired t ...

(now

Ahmadu Bello University The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) is a public research university located in Zaria, Nigeria, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. It was opened in 1962 as the University of Northern Nigeria. The university has four colleges, three schools, 18 faculties, ...

), the firm establishment of Kabba Teachers College now Federal Government Girls College Kabba but for the historic efforts of Chief Ajayi, the Northern Region Government had slated Kabba Teachers college for relocation to Kano, Chief Ajayi fought relentlessly to retain this citadel in Kabba division. The creation of Ijumu Division as an administrative headquarters (now,

Ijumu Ìjùmú is a Local Government Area in Kogi State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Iyara. Other towns in the local government include Ayetoro Gbede, Iyah-Gbede, Ayegunle Gbede, Araromi Gbede, Ayere, Ayeh Gbede, Okoro Gbede, Odokor ...

Local Government Area A local government area (LGA) is an administrative division of a country that a local government is responsible for. The size of an LGA varies by country but it is generally a subdivision of a federated state, state, province, division (politica ...

). was a burning desire for chief Ajayi, a move he started from 1960, unable to achieve this while in Government due to the unfortunate coup of 1966, Chief Ajayi pursued this vision with equally passionate illustrious sons of Ijumu until the Local Government was created.

Early life and education

Ajayi was born on 2 December 1910 in Kabba Province, in the

Northern Nigeria Protectorate Northern Nigeria ( Hausa: ''Arewacin Najeriya'') was a British protectorate which lasted from 1900 until 1914, and covered the northern part of what is now Nigeria. The protectorate spanned and included the emirates of the Sokoto Caliphate ...

, present-day Ogidi,

Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...

. In 1925, Ajayi enrolled into Ovim Central School, Okigwe Division of the old

Eastern Region Eastern Region or East Region may refer to: * Eastern Region (Abu Dhabi): Al Ain *Eastern Region, Ghana *Eastern Region (Iceland) *Eastern Region, Malta *Eastern Region, Nepal *Eastern Region, Nigeria * Eastern Region, Serbia *Eastern Region, Ugand ...

, for his primary school education. From 1930 to 1936, he attended Etinan Institute,

Akwa Ibom Akwa Ibom is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It borders Cross River State to the east, Rivers State and Abia State to the west and north-west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. The state takes its name from the Qua ...

and Ibadan Grammar School, for his secondary school education. He then went to CMS Teachers School, Coal Camp,

Enugu Enugu () verbally pronounced as "Enụgwụ" by the Igbo indigenes is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north by the states of Benue and Kogi, Ebonyi State to the east and southeast, Abia State to the so ...

to gain more knowledge in education and study to become a teacher. After his education, he moved to Enugu, where he taught at Christ Church School, Enugu and later at St. David's Kudeti, High School, Ibadan, before returning home in 1939 to join the

Public Works Department This list indicates government departments in various countries dedicated to public works or infrastructure. See also * Public works * Ministry or Board of Public Works, the imperial Chinese ministry overseeing public projects from the Tang ...

as a career civil servant. He started as a Road Inspector for P.W.D in the Kabba Native Authority and rose to become an Inspector of works in 1953, after he was transferred outside his province. He retired from civil service in 1954.

Political career

In 1954, Ajayi returned to Kabba Province and joined the

Northern People's Congress The Northern People's Congress (NPC) is a political party in Nigeria. Formed in June 1943, the party held considerable influence in the Northern Region from the 1950s until the military coup of 1966. It was formerly a cultural organization know ...

, where he later rose to become the vice president of the party in Kabba Province. In 1955, he was elected councillor in the Kabba Native Administration and a year later, he won a seat in the Northern House of Assembly, and became a member of the regional executive council as minister of state for forestry affairs. He was appointed acting minister for education in 1963, in the absence of Isa Kaita, He was also appointed minister for Local Government affairs During his time in the Northern House of Assembly, he was appointed parliamentary secretary to the Premier of Northern Nigeria, Ahmadu Bello from 1957 to 1960. He was among the delegate that negotiated Nigerian Independence at the Lancaster House Conferences in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

and led the Northern Nigeria Delegation to London for the Negotiation and Launching of VC-10

Nigeria Airways Nigeria Airways Ltd., more commonly known as Nigeria Airways, was a one-time Nigerian airline. The company was founded in 1958 after the dissolution of West African Airways Corporation (WAAC). It held the name West African Airways Corporation ...

. He was a member of Nigeria Economic Mission to

West Germany West Germany was the common English name for the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) from its formation on 23 May 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with East Germany on 3 October 1990. It is sometimes known as the Bonn Republi ...

and was a minister till their government was overthrown by the military coup on January 15, 1966. During

Shehu Shagari Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari (; 25 February 1925 – 28 December 2018) was a Nigerian politician who was the first democratically elected president of Nigeria, after the transfer of power by Military Head of State of Nigeria, military head of sta ...

's administration, he was appointed to the first board of directors of National Insurance Corporation of Nigeria (NICON).

Honours

In 1965, the president of Nigeria,

Nnamdi Azikiwe Nnamdi Benjamin Azikiwe, (16 November 1904 – 11 May 1996), commonly referred to as Zik of Africa, was a Nigerian politician, statesman, and revolutionary leader who served as the 3rd and first black governor-general of Nigeria from 1960 ...

, conferred him with the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic, (OFR). He was installed as the Oluwole of Ijumuland, as well as the Balogun and the Bajito of Ogidi-Ijumu. He was honoured with the National President Ogidi Development Union, President Ijumu Development Movement and National Vice Patron, Ijumu Student Union, a recognition for Ogidi-Ijumu men with significant accomplishments.

Personal life

Ajayi married many wives and gave birth to many children. He was a

born-again Christian To be born again, or to experience the new birth, is a phrase, particularly in evangelical Christianity, that refers to a "spiritual rebirth", or a regeneration of the human spirit. In contrast to one's physical birth, being "born again" is d ...

and was honoured with Baba Egbe Akorin and Baba Ijo in St John's Anglican Church Ogidi, Ijumu.

Death and legacy

He died on 11 May 1994 in

, Kogi State and was buried in St John's Anglican Church, Ogidi, Ijumu, Kogi State, a church he built. The S. A Ajayi foundation was established in continuation of his legacy and ideology of awarding scholarships to deserving students. From 1970, he has been awarding scholarships to students, from primary to university level and hundreds of students were awarded.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ajayi, Samuel Aliyu 1910 births 1994 deaths Nigerian Christians Northern People's Congress politicians 20th-century Nigerian politicians People from colonial Nigeria Anglican socialists Nigerian independence activists Yoruba politicians Nigerian Christian socialists Nigerian social democrats Nigerian socialists Government ministers of Nigeria Nigerian Anglicans Members of the Order of the Federal Republic 20th-century Nigerian businesspeople