Mr. Eyitayo Ayodeji Kukoyi was born on April 16, 1949 in the present Oyo State of Nigeria. His father, Papa Ezekiel Ayodele Kukoyi was fondly called Pa Ajanlekoko and Mother, Mama Sarian Lydia Adedoyin Kukoyi, both of blessed memory. His father of Ojowo, Ijebu Igbo owned a reputable printing press (Ajanlekoko Printing Press) on Kukoyi street Ososami, Ibadan. His Mother, Lydia Adedoyin Kukoyi nee Osibanjo of Atikori, Ijebu Igbo, a businesswoman at Agbeni market Ibadan. Eyitayo’s parents were both of Christian faith and born of Christian parents.
As the first child of the family, Eyitayo showed early signs of love and responsibility with the way he dealt with his siblings, cousins and family friends. The bond remained strong until he passed unto glory. These traits remained with him into adulthood and accounted for the unity that existed in the family. He was quiet, well behaved, his best friend in his early childhood was Bisoye Okubanjo who went to be with the lord before him, this loss really weighed him down.
EDUCATION BACKGROUND:
Eyitayo attended Methodist School 1, Oke-Ado for his Primary school education between 1955 and 1960. After successfully completing the Primary school education, he proceeded to Awe High School, Awe near Oyo. He later transferred to Molusi College, Ijebu-Igbo where he passed the West African School Certificate in flying colours. Eyitayo’s excellent performance enabled him to gain admission to Ijebu-Ode Grammar School for the Higher School Certificate Course. He also passed the HSC Exam after two years of rigorous studies. His yearning for higher education further took him to the then University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University. He graduated in the year 1972 with 2nd Class Upper division. Eyitayo was still not satisfied with the level of his academic achievement, which made him seek admission to the University of Minnesota, St Paul, Minnesota, USA 1976. This was after working at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan for about three and a half years. At the University of Minnesota, he pursued the Master's degree in Food Science and Technology and did really well.
On May 28th, 1978, after returning to Nigeria, Eyitayo got employed at Ogun State Polytechnic (now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic) as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Food Science and Technology. He functioned as the Head of the Department till March 16, 1988. Before his exit from the polytechnic, his life's story cannot be complete without mentioning the fact that he ventured into Business of farming and also painting, through which he became a major Distributor of Chemical and Allied products in the State and also Askar paints.
MARITAL LIFE:Handsome Eyitayo bumped into beautiful Olayinka (Nee Ladapo), one Friday afternoon at wedding / engagement ceremony in 1979 at Ijebu Igbo, where Olayinka had accompanied a blossom friend of hers and a cousin of Eyitayo, Ayodele Martins ( Nee Adaramaja) of blessed memory. Eyitayo and Olayinka got married later on the 26th of September, 1981. The marriage is blessed to the glory of God, with three girls he loved with passion Temitayo, Oluwatimilehin and Iretimipo. Always advising them, caring and educating them. He combined intelligence, honesty, integrity, fairness, truthfulness and the fear of God amongst many traits. His end came suddenly when he went to rest at God's appointed time in the early hours of Friday, the 23rd of April, a week after his 72nd birthday.
Eyitayo is to God's glory survived by his wife Olayinka Kukoyi, children, son in law, grandchildren, siblings: Mrs Dupe John Darlington, Mr Tope Kukoyi, Segun, Sesan, Bayo and Tunrayo Kukoyi, cousins too numerous to mention, nephews, nieces and larger family and friends.
May the Good Lord accept his soul.
Adieu Eyitayo, Ba Temitayo.
