Ayodele “Ayo” Oluyide Ogunmoyero, 55, returned to his heavenly home on May 17, 2015 after a valiant battle with a long illness. His devotion to his family and his firm belief in God supported him in his struggle and ultimately gave him peace.
Growing up for Ayo was not easy. What others took as pure necessities of life were extreme luxuries for him. He worked and strived with all dedication to bring this bar not only to his own immediate reach and constant accessibility but made a fervent promise that his children and the people within his immediate environment will not and never lack the life opportunities that naturally eluded him while growing up. So A.Y.O fought poverty and boy! He won! He made sure that things that are supposed to be necessities of life remain so. He replaced fear with confidence. He moved from disadvantage and a less enviable position to state wide recognized, enviable, respected and advantaged position but with extreme humility, kindness, openness, and constant connections to his roots. He never for once forgot how he started.
Ayo was born to the late Pa Michael Oladunjoye Ogunmoyero and Madam Sabainah Olatundun Akinnusi in Ondo town, Ondo State, Nigeria on October 5, 1959 as the second of seven children. He attended several schools including St. Joseph’s College, Ondo where he completed his secondary school education and University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife where he received his B.Sc degree in Estate Management. He wanted a good wife with beautiful children in a peaceful home, and that he accomplished! On October 5, 1991, he got married to his sweetheart, Olufunke Olubusola Odunuyi, an Estate Surveyor cum Banker and they were blessed with three lovely and God-fearing children: Olabimpe, Ayotunde and Mobolaji.
He prayed for blossom career and God answered him! He worked to create and give back to the community that raised him, and that was achieved. He observed his National Youth Service at Diya Fatimilehin & Co, and thereafter served in various capacities including manager for the Kaduna, Ikeja and Ibadan branches. In 1988, he co-founded Alonge Ogunmoyero & Co with his friend and school mate, Afolabi Alonge where he assumed the role of the Principal partner until his death.
He was a member of several professional bodies; he was a fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors & Valuers (NIESV), an associate member of the Institute of Rating & Valuation, London, an associate member of the Nigerian Institute of Management and a member of the International Real Estate Federation.
As the dynamic, goal-oriented and highly motivated person that Ayo was, he had a stint in the political arena where he served with the Ondo State government as the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Public Private Partnership and then the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Urban Development to the Governor from 2009 till his death. He was also appointed to serve on several boards. From 2006 till his death, he was a member of the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON) on which he served as a member of their Education and Professional Practice committees. He served as the chairman of Kage Security Limited from 1995 – 2009 as well as the Management Committee of Ondo State properties from 2010 – 2013. He served as the director of these companies: Hayes and Salles (Property Developers) Limited from 1990 – 2009; Ore Sunshine Development Company Limited from 2010 till his death; Tetrach Cement Company, Oke-Luse, Ondo State; Kenuod Transformer Company, Bolorundoro, Ondo State; Akunnu Fedkot Farm Settlements, Limited, Akunnu, Ondo State and Conang Investment Company from 2007 till his death.
He was a devout Christian and an active member of the Fountain of Hope International 10NG society in his church, Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral Church (AVMCC), Ikeja, Nigeria and served once as the VicePresident of the society. He served, as the Bishop’s nominee, as a member of the Finance Committee of the Ondo Diocese Anglican Communion from 2007 till his death.In his social capacity, he was a member of Ikoyi Club, Lagos, Nigeria and the Zenith Club of Nigeria, Ondo where he was serving as the General Secretary of the club until his death.
Ayodele is survived by his wife, Olufunke; his daughter Olabimpe; his sons Ayotunde and Mobolaji; his brothers Ebunola and Afolabi; his sisters Ibiyemi, Solaide, Oluwasikemi and Clara; and his aged mother, Sabainah. He is preceded in death by his father, Michael Oladunjoye (M.O.).