Theodore Oladele Odulesi
About
Chief T.O. Odulesi
Theodore Oladele Odulesi was born on Friday, May 13th 1932 at Irolu Remo, to the late Mr. THEOPHILUS FADIPE ODULESI and late Madam ALICE OTUNYEBO ODULESI (nee AFINSULU). Both were devoted christians, who worked diligently to provide for their family. His father was a goldsmith and his mum was a trader in textiles and kola nuts.
Theodore Oladele went to Abeokuta to live with his aunt (Mrs S.O. Dopemu) in 1938 and started school in 1939 at Ogbe Methodist School, Abeokuta. After 3 years in the Infant department, he spent the next six years in the primary department from 1942 to 1947. He took and passed the First School Leaving Certification Examination (G,2) in 1947. In 1948, Theodore Oladele became a pupil teacher at Itesi Methodist School, also in Abeokuta on a monthly salary of £1 (₦2).
It would be a disservice not to mention that his mother, his senior brother (Dayo Ogundeyin), and his aunt Mrs. Dopemu, jointly shouldered his primary education. Occasionally, another uncle (his father’s only brother) Pa Joseph Aina Odulesi paid for his school fees, especially through the infant classes, immediately after his father died.
Timeline
Celebrating the life and journey of Hon. Chief Theodore Oladele Odulesi, JP
1932
Birth
Hon. Chief Theodore Oladele Odulesi, JP was born on Friday, May 13th 1932 at Irolu Remo, to the late Mr. THEOPHILUS FADIPE ODULESI and late Madam ALICE OTUNYEBO ODULESI (nee AFINSULU).
1939- 1954
Primary and Secondary Education
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1956 - 1959
1st Job
Sales Assistant @ United Africa Company
1959-1964
Further Education
1959-1964 (Building Engineering and Quantity Surveying)
1964
Associate of the Nigerian Institute of Building
24th of September 1964
1964 - 1983
Professional Career Begins
Federal Ministry of Works and Housing Lagos: Started in December 28th 1964 to March 1983 (Chief Technical Officer (quantities)
1983
Political Career Begins
March 1983. Oladele contested and won the elections for the representative for the Remo Central Constituency into the now defunct Ogun State House of Assembly. In the elections, He ran under the now defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). Unfortunately,heI had to leave based on the interruption of the Military in December 1983 but Politics, however, remained a passion of his.
1986
Professional Career Continues
After leaving the Ogun State House of Assembly, Oladele joined and worked for Messrs Oye & Co Ltd., a building engineering construction firm in Ilupeju Lagos as Quantity Surveyor and Project Manager till 1986. In 1987, he moved to Emocci Associates Nigeria Ltd., as Senior Quantity Surveyor.
1974
Marriage
Oladele has been married (and divorced) two times before finally meeting his sweetheart Folashade (1974), and the union has been very successful this far due to good understanding and sincerity of purpose on both sides. Oladeleis blessed with 9 children in all; one (Tola) and three (Jide, Folake and Kole) from the previous marriages, and five (Yetunde, Yemi, Modebola, Ololade and Dele Jr.) from his union with Folashade. Blessed be the name of the Lord for his goodness and mercy!
1982
Chieftaincy
From 1982, the King of Irolu-Remo requested that Oladele take an indigenous chieftaincy title, which he declined on several occasions because he was opposed to the traditional requirements. In August of 1987, the King offered him an honorary chieftaincy title, Mayegun of Irolu-Remo, and he happily accepted as this role mirrored my heart desires for Irolu-Remo.
1957
Community Service
Hon. Chief Theodore Oladele Odulesi, JP co-founded or formed the following bodies with others in Irolu. Here are a few of them:
- Irolu Youth Association in 1957, of which he was the Secretary
- Egbe Omo-Irolu Aganun of Great Britain & Ireland in 1962, of which he was the Financial Secretary
- Irolu Elite Development Union of which he was secretary and later Financial Secretary
- Irolu Development Council (IDC) in 1970 of which he was the first Secretary
Oladele designed the Irolu Community High School complex, and supervised its construction with the then members of IDC. he also designed the school “Emblem.” The Ogun State Government on its establishment in 1980 appointed Oladele as the first Chairman of the Board of Governors.
In addition, Oladele designed the Irolu Town Hall in its present structure. The Ogun State Government appointed him into the Remo Local Government Caretaker Committee in 1990-1992. In 1993, Oladele was elected into the Ogun State House of Assembly, and thus he became the first Irolu citizen to serve in the State Legislature and Government, which is a historical milestone.
2008
BABA IJO
With a storied family history in the Church, and as one brought up within the walls of the Church, it was an honor for Oladele to be installed as the Baba-Ijo (Father of the Church) of the All Saints Anglican Church, Irolu-Remo. Rt Reverend M.O. Fape presided over his inauguration on May 10, 2008.
2021
Transition into the NEXT LIFE
On the 21st of October, 2021, Oladele’s faith became sight, as he peacefully stepped into the life that is to come! He is now resting in the halls of eternity and at the Master’s feet.
Memorial
Chief T.O. Odulesi
Announcing the Glorious Exit of our beloved Brother, Uncle, Father & Grandfather
