How quest to become Chartered Accountant landed me in London, Oba Luyi Rotimi narrates as he clocks 86

By BASHIR ADEFAKA

His Royal Majesty Oba (Ambassador) Luyi Rotimi, FCA (London), is 86 today December 3, 2024. He is an Ondo State monarch, who rose through the ranks in the Akure Kingdom traditional setup to become the first ever Crown Oba of Ijigba when the now late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu-led Ondo State Government recognized some hitherto chiefs or Olus namely Chief Olu Falae (now Crown Oba of Ilu Abo in Akure North Local Government), and presented Staff of Office to newly coronated Obas of some ancient autonomous township communities like Oba Edward Adewole, the Osolo of Isolo Kingdom and Oba Oluwagbemiga Olofin-Adimula, the Iralepo of Isinkan both in then Akure South Local Government, in 2022.

It will be recalled that the state government also upgraded some hitherto second class Obas like the Alara of Ilara-Mokin, Olujare of Ijare, Olowa of Igbara Oke (all in Ifedore Local Government), Oloba of Oba-Ile, Okiti of Iju and Ogbolu of Ita-Ogbolu (all in Akure North Local Government) and Owa Ale in Ikare Local Government and pushed them up to the rank of First Class Obas.

A London-trained Chartered Accountant and God fearing, selfless leader, Olujigba of Ijigba Kingdom, Oba Luyi Rotimi is proudly an Alumnus of Aquinas College Akure of many first to his credit: First African senior auditor of UAC first Akure Kingdom son to become a Chartered Accountant and first man ever to be Oba of his now autonomous town of Ijigba in Akure South, Ondo State.

In this interview with DEFENDER ROYALTY, he shares his experience on how it feels to be 86, how he came by royalty, narrates how it took him traveling to London to become a Chartered Accountant and gives his take on the Nigeria of his generation compared to the Nigeria of today. Excerpts:

Since February 2016, we have a system of community praise and worship every quarter that is four times a year, under the banner of Ijigba Prays which has continued till date.

Happy birthday, Your Majesty. You will be 86 on Tuesday (today) December 3, 2024. How does it feel to attain this age?

It is great to be this long on this planet, in spite of all the vicissitude of life. It can only be God whose grace, mercy and favour I have copiously enjoyed with gratitude in my heart. I am in good health and strong. I enjoy excellent family life and loving care of my children.

Kabiyesi, when you look at the children and youths of today the way they reason and behave, any difference from what it used to be in your growing up days?

This children and youth of today etc, they are vastly different from the behavioral pattern of my generation. I grew up in the era of Omo nsin Baba (Children serve their parents) but now we are in the era of baba nsin omo (Parents serve their children). You continue to support your children even in the old age. But there are exception, in my case my children are loving and kind to me even to the next generation.

You are a Chartered Accountant. How did the professional journey start, taking it from your elementary school through your days at the Aquinas College Akure to when you qualified?

My journey on the educational ladder started in January 1944 when due to foresightedness and sacrificial love of my father, a farmer who sold a gun and a dog, farmer’s two best friend to raise ten shilling to enable my father to register me to commence primary school at age six (6) in St. Stephens primary school Akure and on finishing standard six at St. Davids primary school in 1951, I was admitted to the Aquinas College, the second set in January 26, 1952.

I finished well in 1957 and went to Ibadan and was employed as a Government Cooperative Inspector grade three (3). I was admitted to the famous Cooperative College Ibadan for one academic session, 1958-1959 as a trainee Government Cooperative Inspector. An internationally famous college, which drew students from all over the country including the Cameroons.

One of the principal subjects was book-keeping and accountancy in addition to cooperative studies as practice. I developed strong interest and competency in accountancy with speed and accuracy. I won all the prizes except one at the final exam.

I decided to travel abroad because I was encouraged that the only way to study chartered accountancy was to be articled as a clerk with a firm of Chartered Accountant in England or Wales. Therefore on arrival in London in March 1962, my mind was set on seeking a Chartered Accountant firm that can offer me a place.

I was focused and determined, in spite of discouragements from friends who had sought articleship in vain due largely to racial discrimination prevalent in England at that time, and those who were steadfast in pursuing accountancy study chose other accountancy disciplines like Cost and Works Management Accountancy to get ACMA or Certified and Corporate Accountancy to get ACCA.

But owing to providence, I was able to secure an employment with a firm of Chartered Accountant England and Wales within two months of my arrival in London at a place called Hereford in Herefordshire, a distance of about 150 miles in West Midlands of England.

By God’s grace, I signed an Article of Clerkship on 17 July, 1962 and by 17 July 1967, my final result came through the post and I had passed and thus became Associate member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ACA).

I am the first Akure son Chartered Accountant member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (FCA, London).

And by convention 10 years after qualification, I became a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales in 1978 (FCA). And to God be the glory I am the first Akure son Chartered Accountant member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (FCA, London).

It can only be God. A five years program duly executed in five years not one day more or less.

The Olowu of Owu Abeokuta, Oba Olusanya Adegboyega Dosunmu, CON, fta, and former Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, both of them late now, once respectively told me about the Nigeria that made them and how that was different from the Nigeria that made me. Any similar experience coming from Your Majesty to share with readers of The DEFENDER across the world at 86?

Nigeria of my time must be similar to the Nigeria of the time of the former Governor and the late Monarch. Opportunities for education were few and far between, for example, Akure had its first secondary school, a mission promoted Aquinas College Akure in 1951; Oyemekun Grammar School, a community promoted Grammar School in 1953.

Before that time, our senior had to travel far to Ado-Ekiti, Ilesha, Osogbo, Ondo, Ikare, Ibadan, Lagos and Oyo, the home of the famous St. Andrews College Old Boys Association (SACOBA), the products of which are called old Andrians – the source of our Headmasters of old.

The education revolution for boys and girls occurred in 1957 with substantial numbers of stakeholders passing the West African School Certificate Examination. Our time was competitive and we had a number of role model to emulate in the pursuit of academic excellence.

A notable achievement in this narrative is the performance of the 1952-1957 Aquinas College set, amongst whom four were professors and two of them National Merit Award winners and of course a Chartered Accountant, the first African Senior Auditor of UAC of Nigeria, a subsidiary of Unilever London and now a King of his domain in Akure Kingdom, Alayeluwa Oba Ambassador Reverend Luyi Rotimi, FCA (London) The Olujigba of Ijigba Land.

How did you come by Royalty?

That is a long story – Lati Orun wa ni Edumare ti fun Kiniun ni Ade (from Heaven the lion was crowned the king of forest by God). By divine arrangement, I have a Royal DNA by both sides of my parenthood. In 1981 at the age of 41 years, I became one of the Chiefs in the Deji of Akure Kingdom.

In 2012 by the kind benevolence of Deji and Paramount Ruler of Akure Kingdom, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida Afunbiowo II, I was appointed the Olujigba of Ijigba, a non-Crown Oba. On 24th August 2022, the Ijigba throne was recognized as a Royal Stool by the Government of Ondo State thus becoming a Crown Oba.

Your Majesty is also a notable king that believes strongly in God as a devout Christian. How do you manage the Church and the responsibility of being a king?

I do not manage the church but by the grace and favour of God I became the Patron General of a Pentecostal Fellowship in October 1996 and became the Olujigba of Ijigba in 2012 and a Crowned King in 2022. Both institutions called for adult service for God and humanity, within a ministry of reconciliation.

Since February 2016, we have a system of community praise and worship every quarter that is four times a year, under the banner of Ijigba Prays which has continued till date. The last being the 36th edition held on 17 November 2024. We have over the years enjoyed the help and common acceptance of the community and we have been rendering public service without idolatry of any kind in Ijigba Land. God has been answering our prayers based on Ijigba Prays five (5) prayer points request:- Unity, Love, Peace, Progress and Development.

To God be the glory, mercy and favour to be received.