Celebrations of the 15th coronation anniversary of Olu of Itori, Oba Abdulfatai Akorede Akamo may have rounded off yesterday, but the businessman traditional ruler, who has a lot to be thankful for, has been speaking on his grass to grace story. Taiwo Alimi reports.
HIS is a tale of grass to grace, of humble beginning to greatness. Flamboyant traditional ruler of Itori Land, the headquarters of Ewekoro Local Government, Ogun State, Oba Abdulfatai Akorede Akamo, has admitted he was not born with silver spoon. As a result, he had to hawk sugar and salt at a tender age to help his struggling parents. He learnt how to make money before his teen and self-realised himself at the age many were still running around the house.
Speaking with a select group of media men recently on the week-long 15th anniversary celebration of his coronation, which rounded off yesterday, Saturday April 6, the successful businessman said his journey to great wealth and honour was because he discovered himself early in life.
“At the age of six, when I was supposed to enter primary school as was customary in those days, I was asked to touch my left ear with my right hand before I could be admitted. As I could not do this, it meant I had to wait for another year. Instead of staying at home, I impressed it on my mother, who was a petty trader then to let me help her hawk her wares. I knew that my parents were not rich, so I was determined to do something to help out. My mother was selling raw beans and rice, and because it was cumbersome to hawk, I introduced salt and sugar into the business.”
His Imperial Majesty said he actually used his own money to buy his first goods. “Whenever people visited us and gave me monitory gift, I would keep it; and it was the accumulated saving that I used to buy my first wares. I also realised that I was gifted in buying and selling and that anything I touched turned to gold.”
That childhood pastime soon turned to big-time business for Oba Akamo and today he has built a business empire for himself and his people of Itori.
“It was not an easy journey for me. My quest for success took me to where I continued to hustle. I started an agency selling ticket and God prospered it with my wife by my side.”
His breakthrough came in 1996 during the summer Olympics, when he got the right to do ticket for about 5,000 people. The rest is history now. So, I have been driving a travel agency before I was called upon to step on the throne of my forefathers. As an Oba, I have used my links and connections to bring in companies, create jobs and bring development to Itori Land.”
The transformation Oba Akamo talks about is quite visible. “Let me start from this palace. Where you are seated here used to be a swampy land. It took us tons of sand to get the foundation erected before it became what we have today. We have many schools now, including an ICT Polytechnic sited along Lagos-Abeokuta expressway. By the time the new Lagos-Ibadan railway is completed, Itori is going to be a terminus. In terms of human resources, God has blessed me with good number of children who are showing determination to contribute to the development of not only Itori or Ogun State but Nigeria as a whole.”
Meanwhile, the royal father, who is also chairman, Progressive Obas Forum of Ogun Central, never dreamt of becoming king as a child.
“It was not in my plan. All I wanted to do was to build my business and make something of myself.”
It turned out that God had other plans. “I wanted to be a pilot. I never thought I would be a king. But God had prepared a higher place for me and when it came, I gladly took it because I had discovered myself early. I am a leader of people, I love to give and build others. As a child, God used me to lift my father and mother. And as a king, God is using me to lift my people and my land. God has deposited in me that gift to be king. This is the place for me. This is where I belong; my destiny in life.”
Activities marking the one-week celebration, which began Saturday March 31, included a health talk, distribution of free eye glasses, special Jumat service on Friday and a Sunday service at the All Saint’s Anglican Church, Itori, Ogun State.
Traditional rulers that graced the grand finale yesterday include the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi; the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Micheal Adedotun Gbadebo; the Elegushi Ikate, Oba Saheed Elegushi; the Olofa of Ofa, Oba Muftau Gbadamosi and other royal fathers drawn from Ogun and other states.
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