Early Life

Pa Adeyeye Oladokun Jekayinfa was born on June 12, 1932 in Modakeke, Osun State, South-West Nigeria to the family of late Oladokun Jekayinfa and late Mama Emilia Waleade Amori Jekayinfa. He had four other siblings from his own mother who all predeceased him. He was the last man standing.

Education

Pa Jekayinfa was an Alumnus of the prestigious Oxford University in the United Kingdom as well as University of California, Davis. After a primary education at St. Stephen’s School, Modakeke, 1945 – 1951, he proceeded to Kiriji Memorial College, Igbajo in 1952 for his secondary education. He completed this in 1957 obtaining Grade I at the West African School Certificate (WASC) examinations.  With such an excellent result, it was not difficult to gain admission to a higher institution; the School of Agric, Akure where he graduated with a National Diploma in 1959. He then worked for a while as Agric Assistant involved in raising improved seedlings like Cocoa, Rubber, Citrus and Oil Palm and distributing same to interested farmers at subsidized rate. He worked at this job till 1963 when he obtained a scholarship to study for a degree in Agricultural Economics at the University of California, Davis, California, USA.  Part of the degree program was at the Western Illinois University, Macomb Illinois, USA (1963-1964) and completed at the University of California, Davis, California, USA (1964-1966) graduating with a B.Sc. in Agricultural Economics. Afterward, still on scholarship, he obtained a pre doctoral Master’s degree (M.Litt), also in Agricultural Economics from the prestigious Oxford University with specialization in Econometrics and Agricultural Statistics (1970 – 1972). In 1975, he completed course work for a Doctorate Degree as a part-time student at the University of Ibadan, this time, self-sponsored. He completed his PhD thesis, with a rare distinction grade, under the tutelage of renowned Professor S. Olayide (Late), former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan.

Career

Expectedly, Pa Jekayinfa had an enriching and fulfilling career, rising from the humble beginning of an Agricultural Assistant in 1959 and retiring in January 1993 as Director- Planning, Research and Statistics (DPRS), Osun State Ministry of Agriculture. Prior to this, he was Chief Agric Planning Officer (CAPO) at the Oyo State Ministry of Agric and Natural Resources (MANR) representing Oyo State at the Federal level on issues relating to Agricultural Planning, Agricultural Policy and Agricultural Statistics. From 1972 till his retirement in 1993, he was involved in the development of technical coefficients for most agricultural and agro-based projects. He developed marketing programmes for agricultural products, carried out production forecasting for major agricultural crops, generated adequate and reliable current agricultural data to show the true production of agriculture and to provide benchmark for planning and evaluation of agricultural programmes. He was involved in the 1974 – 1975 Nigerian Agricultural Sample Census, the Western State Rural House Survey, the Western State Cocoa Sample Survey and the annual Agricultural Sample Surveys from 1975 – 1981 to name a few. His prowess and ability to design and successfully implement economically sound agricultural solutions for the mass population led many of his colleagues to aptly nickname him “the encyclopaedia of agriculture.”

International Engagements

Pa Jekayinfa was a Consultant to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) offering his services as Agricultural Economist of a four-man team on Sierra Leone North Central Agricultural Development Project (NCAD) and the Rural Financing Sector support projects – Appraisal Mission. Later, 1993, he was sole Consultant on same Sierra Leone North Central Agricultural Development Project (NCAD) – Monitoring and Evaluation Support Mission.

Marriage and Family

Pa Jekayinfa got married on 22 June 1962 to Comfort Abiola Adeleke, a trained teacher. The marriage is blessed with six children: a boy and five girls – Bayo, Funlola, Abimbola, Dolapo, Yetunde and Titilola in that order. All the children are professional in different fields, married, raising their own families and doing well.

In addition to his own biological children, Pa Jekayinfa had two other children raised in his home and trained through university education: Femi and Tunde Jekayinfa. They are sons of his late elder brother, Akintoye, who died in 1962. Femi, who is now late was married with three children. His widow (Mrs. Taiwo Jekayinfa) and three children presently reside in the United States. Femi and Tunde (an ordained Pastor of Redeemed Christian Church of God) is married to Joke Jekayinfa and they are blessed with lovely kids. Tunde was an accountant with Osun state Agricultural Development Project in Osun state, he is currently a professional in the field of education.

Pa Jekayinfa was a loving husband and a doting father. In spite of a fulfilling career, he was home with his family all the time he was not at work. He personally supervised the education of all his children to ensure that they followed their strengths in the choice of a course of study at the university. A friend of his commented shortly after his death: “he loved his children; I have not seen a man love his children in such manner.”

A sacrificial giver, Pa Jekayinfa contributed immensely to the education and well being of lots of others in the extended family and in the community. He was a guardian and counsellor to many and his words were always considered words of wisdom. As patriarch of the Jekayinfa dynasty, he was well respected and well loved. He continued to be a pillar of strength and a dependable helper to many until the very end. He was an ‘umbrella of support’ and dad for all of his late siblings' numerous children. His death was devastating to all.

Christian Life

Pa Jekayinfa was a christian of the Anglican Faith and he died a christian. Even though he himself was not a regular church goer, but he made sure all his children were in church every sunday, he instilled in all his children, Godly virtues, in short he laid for us a solid Christian foundation which God has helped us to build upon,

Pa Jekayinfa lived an exemplary Christian life of service to others, throughout his life time, he gave his life to serve others, fulfilling the word of GOd in Mark 8:35 which says that 'If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will find true life'. He believes that the more you give yourself in service to others, the more you will enjoy your life.

He believes that it is better to give to people than to receive from people, so through his hard work, he sowed the seed that God has given him into other people's life, thereby fulfilling the word of the Lord Jesus Christ in Acts 20:35 that says that 'In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said:It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

Towards the latter end of his life, he felt the need to move closer to God, he rededicated his life to God. And he became a committed member of the Anglican church of Oke Ibadan in Ibadan Nigeria till his death, he was also a commited member of the Morning Star of St. Stephens Church Modakeke, Osun State of Nigeria.

Before he died was led to Christ by two of his children (Pastor Akintunde Jekayinfa and Funlola Jekayinfa), this gives us the assurance that he is resting at the right hand side of God.

Legacy

Pa Jekayinfa can best be remembered for his attributes of giving, work ethics, and unparalleled humility. The words – compassion, kindness, humility, and patience – are apt description of his nature. He was a fervent believer in the saying that “it is better to give than to receive for it is in giving that one receives” and he made this concept a cornerstone of his actions. He was able to positively impact the lives of thousands of others directly or indirectly through his acts of mentoring and giving. He was known to open his arms to the weak and downtrodden and lend help, as much as he could, to raise the standard of living of others without expecting anything in return. He personally sponsored the education of many from his extended family and community up to the university level and these individuals have gone on to excel in life.

In his service to the community, Pa Jekayinfa’s work ethics and discipline is exemplary. He is often known to quote the saying that “to work is to pray, he who is working is praying.” What was even more impressive was the way he balanced his work life and family life to educate, train and mentor all of his children as well as several others to successful adults. His other works include formulating and implementing policies that made food and potable water available to hundreds of thousands of people especially in the northern part of Oyo state under the, World Bank Sponsored, Oyo North Agricultural Development Project (ONADEP). His expertise was often sort after locally and internationally and he was able to blend new concepts and leverage innovative ideas to improve the standard of living of people in the communities that he served.

Several of his esteemed colleagues referred to him as a “lesson in humility.”  It is amazing how Pa Jekayinfa was at the helm of power for most of his adult life and wielded so much influence, yet remained remarkably humble, keeping it simple all the way. His generosity, work ethics, humility, and selflessness are all admirable qualities that are worthy of emulation. An elder statesman was quoted to have said that Pa Jekayinfa lived a life of “service to humanity.”Yes he did!