Aare Mayegun Ogbomoso, Admiral Ajani, says, 'We accept this new challenge' (See background and military career)

Image caption- Aare Mayegun and Yeye Aare Mayegun

Aare Mayegun Ogbomoso, Admiral Ajani, says, ‘We accept this new challenge’ (See background and military career)

FEMI OGUNLANA

JEREMIAH OYELEKE

The new Oloyes with the Soun

“Make the world straight!” sounds the beagle.

“Make the world straight” literally meaning “Mayegun” in Yoruba, has a much deeper meaning and significance. When you make something straight it means it had been in a state of crookedness, bent, has lost its essence, engulfed in rowdiness, and in a state of anomie. The efforts thus applied to bring it into a state of correctness could be described as “Mu-aye-gun,” elided to “Mayegun.” When that state (straightness” is attained in any society, peace, virtuousness, unity, people being on the same page, ensues, and it is a vital condition prerequisite for positive inspiration and innovation, the foundation for growth and development. Therefore, the individual bestowed with the title of “Mayegun” has the onerous and assiduous task of fostering “straightness.” And as “Aare” Mayegun,“ (President-General of Straightness), the expectation is definitely higher, the responsibility is greater. May the Ogbomoso society achieve “straightness” in our time, manifested in quantum developments in all facets! May all crooked edges be made smooth and may we get ushered into a new realm characterized by positive transformation! That is the challenge the newly installed Aare Mayegun of Ogbomosoland Rear Admiral Jacob Adekunle Ajani (rtd) has pledged to meet with a sense of duty along with his wife of 37 years Mary Olufunke Ajani who got installed as Yeye Aare Mayegun of Ogbomosoland.

But who are they?

Aare Mayegun Ajani

Rear Admiral Jacob Adekunle Ajani (rtd) is a retired officer of the Nigerian Navy, who put in some 34 years of meritorious service. He is a man driven by passion and vision, and interestingly, this aspect of him continues to unravel as times pass, becoming more active and active, and visible and visible in the affairs of his birthplace, Ogbomosoland, and under the reigning Soun of Ogbomosoland His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye who ascended the throne of his forefathers in 2023, he came fully into his own, saddled with and indefatigably undertaking various transformative agenda for Ogbomosoland. His contributions did not go unnoticed, hence, he is found worthy of being conferred with the prestigious title of Aare Mayegun of Ogbomosoland and his better half, Mrs. Mary Olufunke Ajani as Yeye Aare Mayegun of Ogbomoso;and. It is another height of honour and glory, one of such that marks his entire life trajectory.

His retirement from the Nigerian Navy afforded him the opportunity of time, and now he devotes it to the service of his homeland, Ogbomoso. He avails the community of his expertise which is dedication and unwavering commitment to noble ideals. He became a strong member of the Ogbomoso Valiant Club, OVC (or Egbe Akogun Ogbomoso), which is an association comprising serving and retired Ogbomosos in the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies. Currently, he is the president of OVC has undoubtedly and laudably made its impact felt in Ogbomoso within about a decade of its founding. Among others the club demonstrated its ingenuity when it constructed a beautiful well-thought out befitting Heroes Arcade at Oja-Jagun, a remembrance epitaph of some past military/police heroes from the city, with their busts affixed. It celebrated their contributions to the evolution and preservation of Nigeria. Those captured included Brigadier General Benjamin Adekunle, Inspector General of Police Sunday Adewusi, General Oladayo Popoola, Col. Shittu Alao, Salahudeen Akano. OVC also upgraded the roundabout at Isale-General interchange and erected a life-size statue of late Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola (GCON), a former Premier of the defunct Western Region of Ogbomoso roots. Furthermore, the Ogbomoso Valiant Club instituted a scholarship programme to support the educational pursuit of Ogbomoso indigenes from primary to university level.

On a personal note, Admiral Ajani’s unquestionable loyalty to Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye makes him a pillar upholding the throne and reign of the loveable Oba, which has taken on the characteristic of successfulness and incredibly re-modelling the city and allied towns and villages into our dreamed city. Ajani was indeed the Secretary General of the Coronation Committee of Oba Ghandi Olaoye which held on December 19, 2023, a role the committee commendably performed leading to the unforgettable success the coronation programme recorded.

With the Iyalode of Ogbomosoland High Chief Rebecca Oluwakemi Ogundare

The Aare Mayegun is an Ogbomoso chauvinist and no wonder he earlier this year led an Ogbomoso delegation to the Senate Constitution Review Committee’s Public Hearing on the creation of new states, to make a case for the creation of New Oyo State with Ogbomoso as capital. And in accordance with the new requirement of the Oba Olaoye as regards the conferment of chieftaincy titles in Ogbomoso, Ajani is almost completing the construction of a shopping mall and complex at Araada Market. This is a legacy project that commemorates his installation, an eloquent testimony to his flexibility and blend with new Soun model on chieftaincy.

Oba Ghandi’s model embodies selfless execution of developmental project(s) to qualify for chieftaincy title in his Ogbomoso. That is the number one obligation.

What is his antecedent?

Trajectory of his life

Admiral Ajani (rtd) was born decades ago. His is from Bara-Onilu compound, Isale Laka and Adinimodo-Labosinde compound, near Okelerin; both in Ogbomoso North local government area. However, his swirmed into this world while his parents resided in Takoradi, Ghana (then Gold Coast), and he grew up in Somolu, Lagos, where he studied for his primary and secondary education. The military held an attraction for him, and thus he got admission into the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, on January 4, 1980, to pursue a career in the military. He commenced his cadet training as a member of the Twenty-Seventh Regular Course. His brilliant efforts at the NDA were crowned with success on June 4, 1983, when he was commissioned a Sub-Lieutenant in the Nigerian Navy. It was a fulfilling moment of his life.

Not a laid-back individual and ever progressive-minded, he persistently engaged in activities that bolstered his military horizon and standing, thus he honed his skills, attending many professional military courses and training, both at home and abroad, excelling with medals at various times. He specialized in signal communication and became a Signal Communication Officer; his specialty also manifested in warfare becoming a Principal Warfare Officer and an Intelligence Officer.

His path as well cut into non-military education completing some academic courses and programmes, earning the Master of Science Degree in Strategic Studies in 2008. Some of the institutions he attended to expand his knowledge base are the Armed Forces Command & Staff College, Jaji-Kaduna, Ghana Armed Forces Command & Staff College, Teshie-Accra, Ghana Institute of Management & Public Administration, Accra, Obafemi Awolowo(formerly University of Ife, Ile-Ife) and the University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

The knowledge-thirsty Ajani also was at the National Defence College (formerly National War College), Abuja, National Defense University, Washington DC, USA, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Massachusetts, USA, and London Academy Business School, London, UK.

A fine officer, Admiral Ajani served the Nigerian Navy with uncommon dedication holding several command posts both ashore and afloat, with commendations always trailing him. Among others he was Commanding Officer Nigerian Navy Ships DAMISA, DELTA and QUORRA,Deputy Director Research & Development, Defence Intelligence Agency.Director of Logistics, Defence Intelligence Agency, Director of Logistics, Armed Forces Command & Staff College Jaji-Kaduna, and member of the Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command & Staff College, Jaji-Kaduna.

Also, he was Nigeria’s Defence Adviser to the Republic of South Africa, with concurrent accreditation to Botswana, Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe, just as he served as Director of Plans, Defence Headquarters, Director of Naval Intelligence, Naval Headquarters and Chief of Policy & Plans, Naval Headquarters; from where he voluntarily retired on 2 May 2017.

He achieved merits without blemish in various assignments and posts, which were rewarded accordingly. He earned many awards and was decorated with numerous commendation medals, which included the Chief of the Naval Staff Commendation for Outstanding Performance on the Staff Course, Grand Service Star (GSS), Distinguished Service Star (DSS), Meritorious Service Star (MSS), Forces Service Star (FSS), Passed Staff Course Dagger (psc+) and Fellow of the War College (fwc). He is a Life Member of the US Naval Institute (MUSNI) and a Fellow of the International Institute for Professional Security (FIIPS). These are some, testifying to his prowess and mastery as a gallant officer of the Nigerian Navy.

‘We accept this big challenge’: Looking ahead on how to make their impact felt!

A gold fish, it is said, has no hiding place, the man who became Aare Mayegun of his country home has continued to unravel even after retirement, and is being beckoned to serve as a recognition of his worth, resourcefulness and meritorious service he rendered as an officer, and based on what they know he is capable of doing. Hence, the Federal Government of Nigeria has been engaging him in other special assignments, such as appointing him as a member of the Committee for the Reform of the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Nigeria in April 2021. He was also appointed member of the Implementation/Advisory Committee to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations of the aforementioned Reform Committee. The committee proudly submitted its report in December 2021. While still serving on that committee the Federal Government again In September 2021, appointed him as Chairman Governing Council of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, and served till July 2023. Currently, he is serving as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Ab Offshore Marine Services Ltd, Lagos.

Reacting to his new role as a chief under Oba Olaoye, the Aare Mayegun thanked God and expressed appreciation to the paramount ruler and co-chairman of the Oyo State Traditional Council for the conferment, describing it as delightful though recognizing and alluding to the enormous challenge inherent in it.

He said he considered himself lucky to be so honoured among a plethora of eminent personalities, pledging to re-dedicate his life to the service and development of Ogbomosoland. “I give God the glory for this honour by His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III to have found myself and wife worthy of this honour we are very grateful. We are delighted but more importantly we have been challenged to do more for the land and God helping us that is what we shall do, we shall pursue everything that will promote advancement and development of Ogbomosoland and its people. We are happy that among many people we are lucky that we got installed, it is not for festivities, it is call to greater service,” he said while speaking with ogbomosoinsightonline.com.

He added, “It goes beyond rhetoric but the development, peace and security of Ogbomoso. I will be involved in many developmental projects relating to Ogbomoso, I will be involved in empowerment programmes, infrastructural development directly and leveraging on our numerous contacts. I have found out the position is beyond straightening things out but deeply involved in the agenda to create a Greater Ogbomoso.”

Chief Mrs. Mary Olufunke Ajani also celebrated her 60th birthday

Yeye Aare Mayegun

Chief Mrs. Mary Olufunke Ajani was born in Lagos to Pa Michael and Mama Modupe Omoogun, both of blessed memory. Both parents hailed from Isua-Akoko in Akoko South East Local Government Area of Ondo State. Mrs. Olufunke Ajani attended Bishop Oluwole Memorial Primary School, Agege and Government Secondary School. Miango, Plateau State. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology from the Lagos State University, Ojo.

Olufunke met then Sub-Lieutenant Jacob Ajani in 1983 and after 5 years of courtship, they got married in April 1988. She started off in marriage by engaging in buying and selling of household and gift items. She also undertook supplies at the National Fertilizers Company of Nigeria (NAFCON) but later emerged into an international business woman engaging in the importation, distribution and sale of goods; mainly from United States of America, United Kingdom, China, Italy and South Africa. She is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of Liberty Ventures with Liaison Office located at Liberty House, Apake, (opposite Wema Bank) Ogbomoso. Upon undergoing relevant training and obtaining appropriate certification in Occupational Standards for the Catering Sector, she currently works as a Catering Officer in Independent Catering Management Limited, Sevenoaks, United Kingdom.

Mrs. Ajani engages in a lot of philanthropic works and she is on the verge of establishing a Foundation for that purpose. She is a woman of strong faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and very prayerful. She enjoys meeting people, travelling and is an excellent cook. Her priorities in life are the joy, happiness, peace of mind, sound health and well-being of Jacob, her cherished husband and their lovely children; two of whom are a set of twins.

On saturday, December 20, a day after their installation they hosted friends, colleagues and families to a grand reception at Yron Hall along Iresaapa road, Ogbomoso. The occasion was also an avenue to celebrate her sixtieth birthday. Her husband described her as his soul, the maker of what is Admiral Jacob Adekunle Ajani (rtd) today.

Ikolaba of Ogbomosoland High Chief David Ojo (left) who directed the installation ceremony

Congratulations to the Chiefs Ajanis as they assume the magnificent role of Aare Mayegun and Yeye

Aare Mayegun of Ogbomosoland. Long may your reign be!

PHOTO PANORAMA

Otunba Bayo Babatunde (left)

Brig Gen Oladipo (rtd)

The band stand anchored by a military Tungba singer

From left: Oloye Shyna, Oloye Ajani, Oloye Pekun Amstrong (Agbaakin of Okin-Apa) and another guest

From left: Oloolo of Oolo HRM Oba Michael Oyebunmi Ajayi, Alajaawa of Ajaawa HRM Oba Thompson Adeyeye Oyetunji and Onisapa of Isapa HRM Oba Ezekiel Bolarinwa Olajide

From left; Areago of Ogbomosoland High Chief Sobalaje Otolorin, Ikolaba of Ogbomosoland High Chief David Ojo, Abesa of Ogbomosoland High Chief Yusuf Oladipupo and another guest