Biography of Princess Adunola Olabosipo Onafowokan
February 27, 2021
ADUNOLA – A LOVELY SOUL DEPARTS
In Lagos, on 24th July 1958, the good Lord sent a sweet little angel into the Royal family of Omo Oba J.O. Onafowokan of Ikenne – Remo in present day Ogun State. The adorable child was named Adunola Olabosipo Onafowokan, later to be fondly known and addressed as Adun. In 1966, Adun’s parents (both now of blessed memory) travelled abroad leaving her in the custody of her paternal grandmother in Ebute Metta to enable her complete her elementary education without disruption. In 1968, Adun and her immediate younger brother Kunle Onafowokan (also of blessed memory), joined their parents in England.
Adun attended Dormers Well High School in Southall, Middlesex. After her secondary education Adun schooled at the acclaimed Sight and Sound Secretarial College, London where she began to hone her innate abilities in secretarial duties.
Growing up in England, Adun immersed herself in her studies as well as activities common with all teenagers, like bike riding, sewing and baking. She also developed a love of fish and chips, ham and cheese as well as cheese and onion crisps. This menu shaped her culinary preferences such that they dictated the choices she made for her first meals whenever she arrived in England on her very many visits.
Adun made great friends and established enduring relationships. Indeed, whenever she travelled to England on vacation, after her relocation to Nigeria, she often visited Southall to rekindle fond memories of her younger years whilst schooling in the English town.
On the return of her parents to Lagos, Nigeria, Adun continued her education at the prestigious Lagoon Secretarial College in Lagos between January 1977 and December 1978. At Lagoon her exemplary organisational skills were further enhanced. Upon graduation she landed a job at the then Union Bank of Nigeria Limited, regarded then as No 2 among the top - three commercial banks in Nigeria.
Following Adun’s excellent performance at Union Bank, she was head – hunted and employed by the high - brow International Merchant Bank (IMB), one of the elite new – generation banks that had newly emerged and was a key player in Nigeria’s banking sector. She went on to have a successful career at IMB where she worked as Secretary to some of the top shots of the bank and also made great friends.
In 1987, Adun was blessed with a beautiful baby boy, Omotayo who remained a constant source of pride and joy to her, the family and her friends. To her delight and satisfaction, Adun lived to see Omotayo reward her labour of love with his level – headedness and studiousness. A first degree graduate of a UK university and holder of a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) degree from the famous University of Hull, also in the UK, Omotayo works with a financial institution in Nigeria.
Having garnered years of experience and business acumen at IMB, Adun decided to venture into the communications sector on the introduction of Global System of Mobile Communications (GSM) in Nigeria in 2001. It is remarkable that her journey of self-employment in establishing A & E Ventures, a Communications - support business, kept her fully engaged and fulfilled.
Vibrant and resourceful, Adun later took on the management of Babyland Primary School, Okokomaiko, Lagos which her late mum founded. She was fully engaged and happy within the educational setting. Adun was a member of a variety of focus and community - based groups committed to improving educational standards in Lagos State.
A woman of radiating and striking beauty, elegant poise and compelling presence, Adun was very spiritual and was steadfast in communing with her God through fervent prayers and regular church attendance. Blessed with uncommon organisational skills, Adun was the rallying point in the family.
Very caring, she saw to the comfort of all and ensured that no one was ever left unattended to at every social engagement organised by the nuclear and extended family. This gesture of kindness was extended to the drivers, house helps and security details of family members in attendance at such events as she made sure they were all well taken care of. Adun loved cooking and enjoyed hosting family and friends at home. She was also a sweet tooth who loved her chocolates, cakes and desserts.
Adun was charming, adorable, sociable, of impeccable character and a beautiful dancer, too. Above all, she was a devoted mother to her son, Omotayo. Indeed, so strong was the bond between mother and child that Adun literally answered the home call in the caring arms of her Omotayo.
Adun translated to immortality on Monday, February 22, 2021. She will be sorely missed.
May the lovely and effervescent soul of Princess Adunola Olabosipo Onafowokan rest in perfect peace in the bosom of the Lord. Amen.
In Lagos, on 24th July 1958, the good Lord sent a sweet little angel into the Royal family of Omo Oba J.O. Onafowokan of Ikenne – Remo in present day Ogun State. The adorable child was named Adunola Olabosipo Onafowokan, later to be fondly known and addressed as Adun. In 1966, Adun’s parents (both now of blessed memory) travelled abroad leaving her in the custody of her paternal grandmother in Ebute Metta to enable her complete her elementary education without disruption. In 1968, Adun and her immediate younger brother Kunle Onafowokan (also of blessed memory), joined their parents in England.
Adun attended Dormers Well High School in Southall, Middlesex. After her secondary education Adun schooled at the acclaimed Sight and Sound Secretarial College, London where she began to hone her innate abilities in secretarial duties.
Growing up in England, Adun immersed herself in her studies as well as activities common with all teenagers, like bike riding, sewing and baking. She also developed a love of fish and chips, ham and cheese as well as cheese and onion crisps. This menu shaped her culinary preferences such that they dictated the choices she made for her first meals whenever she arrived in England on her very many visits.
Adun made great friends and established enduring relationships. Indeed, whenever she travelled to England on vacation, after her relocation to Nigeria, she often visited Southall to rekindle fond memories of her younger years whilst schooling in the English town.
On the return of her parents to Lagos, Nigeria, Adun continued her education at the prestigious Lagoon Secretarial College in Lagos between January 1977 and December 1978. At Lagoon her exemplary organisational skills were further enhanced. Upon graduation she landed a job at the then Union Bank of Nigeria Limited, regarded then as No 2 among the top - three commercial banks in Nigeria.
Following Adun’s excellent performance at Union Bank, she was head – hunted and employed by the high - brow International Merchant Bank (IMB), one of the elite new – generation banks that had newly emerged and was a key player in Nigeria’s banking sector. She went on to have a successful career at IMB where she worked as Secretary to some of the top shots of the bank and also made great friends.
In 1987, Adun was blessed with a beautiful baby boy, Omotayo who remained a constant source of pride and joy to her, the family and her friends. To her delight and satisfaction, Adun lived to see Omotayo reward her labour of love with his level – headedness and studiousness. A first degree graduate of a UK university and holder of a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) degree from the famous University of Hull, also in the UK, Omotayo works with a financial institution in Nigeria.
Having garnered years of experience and business acumen at IMB, Adun decided to venture into the communications sector on the introduction of Global System of Mobile Communications (GSM) in Nigeria in 2001. It is remarkable that her journey of self-employment in establishing A & E Ventures, a Communications - support business, kept her fully engaged and fulfilled.
Vibrant and resourceful, Adun later took on the management of Babyland Primary School, Okokomaiko, Lagos which her late mum founded. She was fully engaged and happy within the educational setting. Adun was a member of a variety of focus and community - based groups committed to improving educational standards in Lagos State.
A woman of radiating and striking beauty, elegant poise and compelling presence, Adun was very spiritual and was steadfast in communing with her God through fervent prayers and regular church attendance. Blessed with uncommon organisational skills, Adun was the rallying point in the family.
Very caring, she saw to the comfort of all and ensured that no one was ever left unattended to at every social engagement organised by the nuclear and extended family. This gesture of kindness was extended to the drivers, house helps and security details of family members in attendance at such events as she made sure they were all well taken care of. Adun loved cooking and enjoyed hosting family and friends at home. She was also a sweet tooth who loved her chocolates, cakes and desserts.
Adun was charming, adorable, sociable, of impeccable character and a beautiful dancer, too. Above all, she was a devoted mother to her son, Omotayo. Indeed, so strong was the bond between mother and child that Adun literally answered the home call in the caring arms of her Omotayo.
Adun translated to immortality on Monday, February 22, 2021. She will be sorely missed.
May the lovely and effervescent soul of Princess Adunola Olabosipo Onafowokan rest in perfect peace in the bosom of the Lord. Amen.