Old Oyo State Commissioner, Isola Adepoju, dies at 89
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
A former Commissioner in Old Oyo State, Alhaji Jamiu Isola Adepoju, has passed away.
His demise was announced by one of his surviving sons and Founder/Chief Lecturer, Academy of Islamic Propagation (ACADIP), Alhaji Yusuf Adepoju, on Monday August 12, 2024.
Alhaji Adepoju, who has been buried at his country home of Ilobu in the present day Osun State in accordance with Islamic rites, was aged 89.
Reacting to the news of his death, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Oyo State Chapter, described the passing of Alhaji Jamiu Ishola Adepoju as irreparable loss to Nigeria and Africa at large.
Adepoju was recalled by MURIC to be a distinguished educationist, administrator, philanthropist, community leader, foremost Muslim icon and dogged fighter for social justice, transparency, sustainable Islamic identity and well-known Muslim leader.
According to a statement issued on behalf of the Oyo State Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), by Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade, Alhaji Jamiu Ishola Adepoju was, until his death, a foremost Muslim Icon.
MURIC added, “He was also one of the founders of Muslim Students’ Society Of Nigeria (MSSN).
Alhaji Isola Adepoju was the pioneer Principal of Ilobu Secondary Commercial Grammar School (1972) and Nurudeen Grammar School, Ogbomoso (1978).
He played major roles in the establishment of and the construction works of a number of Muslim Secondary Schools like Ansar-Ud-Deen Grammar School, Ilobu, 2002 and elsewhere.
He taught in many schools and colleges in the defunct Western State of Nigeria before he voluntarily retired on 31st December 1982.
in 1970, Isola Adepoju was elected as the first Chairman of the Muslim Association of Nigeria (MAN), Ijebu-Ode Branch.
He also pioneered the Osogbo branch of MAN and was its first Secretary in 1972.
He became the Association’s Chairman in Ogbomoso in 1976. He was the hosting branch Chairman of the Association’s Conference both at Ijebu-Ode and Ogbomoso.
He was a member and the Secretary of the Oyo State branch of the National Joint Muslim Organization (NAJOMO), formerly WESJOMO, Ibadan, which organized the chieftaincy title of Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, the post to which Alhaji Chief Abdul-Aziz Arisekola Alao of blessed memory was successfully installed in June 1978.
NAJOMO, under the leadership of late Dr. Abdul-Lateef Oladimeji Adegbite, played a prominent role, in conjunction with the Northern Nigerian-based Jamat-ul Nasirul Islam, in the formation of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).
Right from its inception, Alhaji Jamiu Isola Adepoju was one of Oyo State representatives, Engr. Shuaib Gbadamosi of Ibarapa inclusive, as well as a founding member of the Abuja National Mosque Building Committee of the umbrella Islamic organization, the NSCIA.
After retirement, Alhaji Adepoju was appointed the Chairman. Oyo State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board in 1984 when he introduced some necessary reforms into the administration and operations of annual pilgrimage, (Hajj).
Before then, he served as a Member of Western Nigeria PWB and at several times served as a Welfare Officer under the National Pilgrims Board with Alhaji Abdus-salam Olatunde as the Zonal Coordinator in Lagos. Alhaji Jamiu.
Isola Adepoju was appointed a Full-Time Commissioner in November 1989 and on several occasions acted as the Chairman in the Civil Service Commissions of Oyo State and that of Osun State carved out of Oyo State in August 1991, where he served for six years from the pioneer stage.
Alhaji Jamiu Adeniyi Isola Adepoju, a Justice of the Peace, finds much delight in conflict resolution efforts, assisting indigent students in efforts to promote scholarship and participating, in his humble capacity, in many programmes established for propagating Islam.
Alhaji Jamiu Ishola Adepoju was survived by many children, among them is Mallam Yusuf Adepoju, Founder and Chief Lecturer. Academy of Islamic Propagation (ACADIP).
