Ajibola Afonja, a former Minister of Labour and Chairman of First Bank Nigeria, has passed away at the age of 82. According to a family source, Afonja, who hailed from Oyo State, died on Sunday night at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.
Afonja was a prominent figure in Nigeria, serving as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of First Bank Plc and as Minister of Labour under the interim government of Earnest Shonekan. He was also the chairman of Integrated Dimensional System and held leadership positions in many other companies.
He obtained a degree in Accounting from Kingston University, United Kingdom, in 1970. After graduating, he worked with John Mowlem & Co, a UK-based construction firm known for its work on iconic structures such as Buckingham Palace, the House of Commons, and London Bridge, among others.
Afonja returned to Nigeria in 1974 and became a pioneer in the Oyo community as an industrialist. He was known for his generosity and open-heartedness, touching countless lives. His legacy will be remembered, especially his dedication to realizing transformative business visions for Nigeria's economy, such as the E-Customs project.
The Oyo Global Forum, a socio-political group in Oyo, mourned his passing, describing him as a national figure with tremendous influence. They extended their deepest condolences to his family, the Oyo community, friends, and associates, honoring his memory by carrying forward the values he embodied.
