Chelsea football star Tosin Adarabioyo recently visited Nigeria for the first time, expressing a powerful reconnection with his roots and an immediate sense of belonging.
Upon his arrival in Lagos, he conveyed to Arise TV how special the experience felt, emphasizing the warmth of the welcome he received from the people.
He said: “It’s my first time in Nigeria, so it’s been a very nice time. Warm welcome from everybody as soon as I landed, I had a very nice, very nice welcome. I’m experiencing everything for the first time here with my family, with my two brothers, first time being in Nigeria.”
Born in London on September 24, 1997, to Nigerian parents, Adarabioyo shared his plans to launch an annual youth football tournament, the Adarabioyo Youth Cup, in Lagos. Inspired by his desire to give back and connect with young footballers in Nigeria, he aims to encourage and support local talent.
During the interview, when asked about possibly representing Nigeria’s national team, the Super Eagles, Adarabioyo acknowledged that it was a topic he had contemplated for years but was still uncertain about his decision. Strikingly, when questioned about his father’s origins, he confidently stated his mother hails from Ekiti State but struggled to recall his father’s birthplace, eventually revealing that his father is from Lagos. This raised eyebrows, given that he is the youngest of three brothers, suggesting a strong familial connection.
The Adarabioyo family is notable in the football scene, with Tosin’s older brothers, Gbolahan and Fisayo, also making their mark in the sport. Fisayo, born on February 1, 1995, experienced a career as a striker at clubs including Birmingham City and Burnley before an early retirement. Gbolahan has transitioned to a career as a FIFA agent, notably representing Tosin.
Despite the family’s successes, there appears to be a narrative disconnects regarding their father in media portrayals. Observers have noted that while the tale of their mother, Fadekemi Oni, raising the boys is often highlighted, their father Bashir Olatayo Adarabioyo has largely been absent from these discussions. This omission has sparked questions about the family dynamics and the reasons behind their parents’ separation when Tosin was about 17.
Friends of the family, however, contest the narrative that his mother raised the children alone. A family friend from Ado-Ekiti reminisced about Bashir’s involvement in his children’s lives, indicating that he was an active and present figure during their upbringing. Reports suggesting that Tosin purchased a mansion for his mother without acknowledging his father further complicated the public perception of their family’s story.
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Research into the family’s background reveals a deeper history. Bashir and Fadekemi both hail from Ado-Ekiti, a connection that underlines their roots even as they built a life in the UK after emigrating. Having met during their schooldays, they established a life together in Italy before moving to England, where they raised their sons in Manchester.
According to Daily Standard, a UK-domiciled online newspaper, Tosin’s father is Bashir Olatayo Adarabioyo while his mother is Fadekemi Oni. They both grew up at Ado-Ekiti.
Bashir attended A.U.D Primary School, Ajilosun where Mrs Oni (Fadekemi’s mum) was a teacher. Bashir is said to be a brilliant pupil and was much liked by the teachers including his future mother-in-law.
A source claimed Fadeke (as she was known) attended St George’s Primary School while another source claimed she attended St. Louis Primary School both in Ado-Ekiti.
Tosin’s father attended Mary Immaculate Grammar School Ado -Ekiti while the mother attended CAC Grammar School, Efon Alaaye. Both had been traced through social media to belong to the 1981 set of their respective schools.
Tosin’s father was said to have left Ado-Ekiti to Lagos after his secondary school education. After his tertiary education, he worked at the defunct Nigerian Textile Mills, Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja but resigned in early 1986 and travelled to Italy for further studies.
A credible source in Italy confirmed Bash (as he was known) as one of the big boys in northern Italy in the late 1980s and early 1990s and was well known in Milan, Brescia, Mantova and Cremona.
“He was one of the first set of people to move to London among his contemporaries, having moved around 1995,” the source volunteered.
“Kemi came to join Bash around 1990. They were living in San Donato Milanese,” another source claimed.
Despite the positive recollections of family friends regarding both parents, there remains a noticeable absence of Bashir in public discussions about Tosin’s rise to fame. As he navigates his burgeoning career and fame, questions linger about his relationship with his father and the lessons he may impart to his young fans regarding family dynamics.
Barrister Fola Adeyemo, a close family friend of the Adarabioyo family in Ekiti, posted on his X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook handles about his relationship with them: “So many of us who grew up at Ado-Ekiti in the 70s and 80s knew Tosin’s Dad very well. His name is Bashir Tayo Adarabioyo. His family is not of Ekiti origin. Daddy (as my siblings and I used to address him) was a civil servant working for the Ministry of Works & Transport. Daddy retired from the civil service and remained at Ado – Ekiti until his death. He lived in Lagos for so many years. Tosin’s paternal grandmother is a Lagosian.
“Brother Bashir, who I call “Egbon” was and still remains a very close friend of my own elder brother. They started primary school the same day and also attended the same Ile-kewu (Arabic and Islamic evening classes in the 70s).
“ I also know Tosin’s Mum. I had friends who lived in the same area with her family at Ogbon-Oyo in Okesa. Her parents were both primary school teachers. Mrs Oni (Tosin’s maternal grandmother) was as a matter of fact Tosin’s Dad’s teacher at A.U.D Primary School. Ado – Ekiti.”
“Tosin’s parents, I learnt knew each other since childhood. They started being friends as Teenagers. Tosin’s Dad left Nigeria in early 1986 to study abroad and Mum joined him there I believe in 1989/90. They were an exemplary couple, always doing things together.
“It’s interesting and worth mentioning that all the three brothers passed through the Manchester City Football Academy. Their Dad was always there, driving them to training. I remember going to the Platt Lane Academy to meet Egbon on few occasions to watch Fisayo and Tosin during their academy years.”
Also speaking about the TV episode with Daily Standard, an Ado-Ekiti based businessman and sports enthusiast, Kolade Ajenifuja, opined that Tosin’s mother might have failed in certain ways.
“She should have coached Tosin on likely questions he would be asked in a television interview. Is she aware of the UK newspapers’ publications about her family’s story especially the ones suggesting that Bashir is late? What steps had she taken to correct the narratives?”
This unfolding narrative surrounding Tosin Adarabioyo challenges the simplistic portrayals often seen in sports media, opening the door to deeper conversations about identity, heritage, and familial relationships in the context of success.
*Adapted from dailystandard.com.ng
