November 27, 2022
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12TH LARGEST CITY IN NIGERIA: IKORODU NEWS NETWORK (INN) SET TO RELEASE MUSIC VIDEO, PROMOTING LAGOS WATERBED REGION, CAMEO APPEARANCE BY FOLA TINUBU, JIMI BENSON, FOLASHADE, AMA, OTHERS ®™√ INN Nigeria ©
FOURTH MAINLAND BRIDGE: LAGOS TO ANNOUNCE PREFERRED BIDDER BY END OF 2022 AFTER SHORTLISTING THREE FOR RFP STAGE II ®™√ INN Nigeria ©
GIVING FOR LIVING FOUNDATION COLLABORATE DIVINE HERITAGE CHILDREN’S CENTRE, MARKS ORPHAN DAY WITH PROVISION OF RELIEF ITEMS FOR LESS PRIVILEGED KIDS ®™√ INN Nigeria ©
MASSIVE CAMPAIGN FOR ASIWAJU IN LAGOS, TINUBU URGES NIGERIANS TO PREVENT PDP FROM NATION’S COMMONWEALTH, ASK LAGOSIANS TO RE-ELECT SANWO-OLU ®™√ INN Nigeria ©
CHIEF SHODERU INSTALLED AS 4TH PRESIDENT OF ICCI, SENATOR ABIRU EXPRESSES OPTIMISM ABOUT NEW LEADERSHIP ®™√ INN Nigeria ©
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12TH LARGEST CITY IN NIGERIA: IKORODU NEWS NETWORK (INN) SET TO RELEASE MUSIC VIDEO, PROMOTING LAGOS WATERBED REGION, CAMEO APPEARANCE BY FOLA TINUBU, JIMI BENSON, FOLASHADE, AMA, OTHERS ®™√ INN Nigeria © FOURTH MAINLAND BRIDGE: LAGOS TO ANNOUNCE PREFERRED BIDDER BY END OF 2022 AFTER SHORTLISTING THREE FOR RFP STAGE II ®™√ INN Nigeria © GIVING FOR LIVING FOUNDATION COLLABORATE DIVINE HERITAGE CHILDREN’S CENTRE, MARKS ORPHAN DAY WITH PROVISION OF RELIEF ITEMS FOR LESS PRIVILEGED KIDS ®™√ INN Nigeria © MASSIVE CAMPAIGN FOR ASIWAJU IN LAGOS, TINUBU URGES NIGERIANS TO PREVENT PDP FROM NATION’S COMMONWEALTH, ASK LAGOSIANS TO RE-ELECT SANWO-OLU ®™√ INN Nigeria © CHIEF SHODERU INSTALLED AS 4TH PRESIDENT OF ICCI, SENATOR ABIRU EXPRESSES OPTIMISM ABOUT NEW LEADERSHIP ®™√ INN Nigeria ©

Category: History

Nov
2022
27

12TH LARGEST CITY IN NIGERIA: IKORODU NEWS NETWORK (INN) SET TO RELEASE MUSIC VIDEO, PROMOTING LAGOS WATERBED REGION, CAMEO APPEARANCE BY FOLA TINUBU, JIMI BENSON, FOLASHADE, AMA, OTHERS ®™√ INN Nigeria ©

998877ujjj7642583381502699338 Media agency, Ikorodu News Network (INN) is set to release a music video promoting the Ikorodu division as the 12th largest City in Lagos State. The video which was shoot at the heart of the waterbed region in November 2022, spotlighted the rich cultural and traditional heritage of the region, paying homage to its ancestral monument recognised generally as 'Oga'. Also captioning notable figures like the Ayangburen Of Ikorodu Kingdom, Oba Kabiru Adewale Shotobi, Hon Babajimi Benson (MHR), Hon Sulaimon Olanrewaju (SKO), Executive Chairman, Ikorodu west LCDA, the video featured a special cameo appearance from Mr Fola Tinubu, Hon. Wasiu Adesina, Executive Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government, Bldr. Olusesan Daini, Executive Chairman, Igbogbo Baiyeku LCDA, Prince Eniola Adeyemi (Wake-Up). Aarebirin Hon. Princess Folashade Olabanji-Oba, Vice-Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government, Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo-Alogba, Executive Chairman, Ijede LCDA, Hon. Balogun Rotimi Olatunbosun (BRO) and Hon. Abiodun Moshood Aro (AMA). With special dance performances by the popular dance group, PainKillers, it exhibited a synergy between the media firm and Bramraj Food & Beverages Nig. Ltd., makers of Black Wood, Erujeje and other products. Sound Track is produced by Darex Beats and Video is Directed by Abiegbe Papiruex (Abiegbe Montage), the video is billed to be released in December 2022.

Media agency, Ikorodu News Network (INN) is set to release a music video promoting the Ikorodu division as the 12th largest City in Lagos State. The video which was shoot at the heart of the waterbed region in November 2022, spotlighted the

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Nov
2022
22

BRIEF HISTORY OF NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS IKORODU BRANCH ®™√ INN Nigeria ©

victor achime7E28939389227865372741. The Nigerian Institute of Architects, Ikorodu Branch (NIALSCIKD) was created by Lagos State Chapter on May 10, 2019, during one of its annual programmes tagged, Lagos Architects Forum, (LAF 10.0). It was borne out of the desire to reach out to Architects who live and work in the localities within Lagos State not so close to the regular and constitutional place of meetings. Before the creation of the Branch, Architects in Ikorodu town and its environs have been demanding a Branch status as enshrined in it's constitution; Article 9, Section 1-3 (Branches of a State Chapter). "Branches may be formed in the State where there exist in a locality a minimum of ten (10) Architects, such Branches shall be part and parcel of the State Chapter". Having fulfilled the requirement, Ikorodu Branch applied to the National body through the State Chapter for the status, and the application was approved. It is the first of its kind in the history of the Institute in the country as Membership of the branch (of all categories of membership) is about 60 today. The pioneer Executives of the Branch are Chairman, Arc. Victor Uchenna Achime, Vice Chairman, Arc. Gbolahan Kukoyi, Secretary, Arc. Abiola Onibon-oje, Treasurer, Arc. A.O Bolarinde, Financial Secretary, Arc. Olusola Amusan, P.R.O, Arc. Oladele Onafowokan, Liaison officer, Arc. Tayo Oladipupo.

The Nigerian Institute of Architects, Ikorodu Branch (NIALSCIKD) was created by Lagos State Chapter on May 10, 2019, during one of its annual programmes tagged, Lagos Architects Forum, (LAF 10.0). It was borne out of the desire to reach out to Architects

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Oct
2022
17

THE HISTORY OF IPAKODO KINGDOM IN IKORODU WEST LCDA ®™√ INN Nigeria ©

storage emulated 0 pictures comica cartoon16660227753112161443515455302971 Ipakodo was founded over five hundred (500) years ago by Sekumade, son or Loba Koyelu, the 6" Akarigbo of Remo. Sekumade, a hunter had in one of his hunting expeditions sighted an Elephant that he shot and killed. The place where the Elephant fell was very close to the Lagoon and when Sekumade saw the Lagoon, he was amazed and believed that he had seen the place where Earth and Heaven met. Sekumade went back to Orile Offin, present-day Sagamu to inform his father, the Great and respected King Koyelu, the 6th Akarigbo of Orile Offin (Shagamu) about his conquest and his desire to settle there. In accepting his request, Oba Koyelu said to his son "lo pa oko ki o do" (meaning "go and clear the bush and settle"). That was how Ipakodo derived her name. The place is still called Ipakodo today, and now in the present-day Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area. Having assigned Ipakodo to Sekumade, King Koyelu then decided to share the rest of the parcel of land belonging to him amongst his other children. Koyelu gave birth to Eight(8) children namely Oga, Lasunwon, Sekumade, Olaadepo, Anoko, Ogbonyari, Igimisoje and Otutubiosun. Oga and his immediate sibling, Lasunwon stayed at the centre and were thus regarded as co-founders of Ikorodu. It was very unfortunate that Oga had no issue. Sekumade settled where the Elephant fell towards the seaside and founded Ipakodo; Ola Adepo was allowed Owutu; Gberigbe Owa was assigned to Anoko who later returned to Shagamu. Ogbonyari settled in Gberigbe Remade. Igbokuta bequeathed to gimisoje while Otutubiosun got lgbopabut and also returned to Shagamu. Sekumade settled at ARAROMI QUARTERS, meaning this place is peaceful for me and he made the headquarters from where he administered Ipakodo land. Sekumade ruled Ipakodo for a long time, he was succeeded by his son Shiwoloye reigned after Muleruwa. Upon the death of Mabeweje, father of Shogun, Shogun succeeded and ruled for a long time. He died in 1867, two years after the Egba Invasion of Ikorodu in 1865. On his death in 1867, his son Apena Jimbo succeeded and ruled Ipakodo till 1928 when he joined his ancestors. Aminu Ajasa succeeded him in 1928 and ruled for only five (5) years as he answered the call of his ancestors in 1933. Amodu Rufai ascended to the rulership of Ipakodo in 1933, and he joined his ancestors in 1940 and was succeeded by Jinadu Shotonwa as the Ruler of Ipakodo. He ruled for only six(6) years and in 1946 he joined his ancestors Kasali Gbako succeeded him as the new ruler and answered the call of his ancestors in 1957. In 1957, Sule Jimbo ascended to the rulership of Ipakodo and he ruled till he joined his ancestors in 1978. He was succeeded by Oba L. R. Hassan Jimbo in 1979. He ruled Ipakodo and brought great development until he also joined his ancestors in May 1999. Óba Engr. Basiru Aremu Sotonwa Oshomekun II ascended to the rulership of the Ipakodo kingdom in 2018. The jurisdiction boundary between Ipakodo and Ikorodu is the ORIYA STREAM, along the Ipakodo-Ikorodu road. The boundary along lgbogbo is Abule Alfa up to Igbo-Agbowa road and Olu-Modo, Igbelefun South-East. The boundary between Ipakodo and Owutu is the Mologede stream while the boundary between Ipakodo and Ibeshe is Molatori Village. Sekumade and their descendants had been in firm control of Ipakodo since its inception over 500 years ago. There had been the acquisition of parcels of land by the State and Federal Government for Public use. Some beneficiaries' agencies are Government Reservation Area (GRA I), Palapo, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Nigeria Mining Corporation, Ikorodu Lighter Terminal, Ebute-lpakodo, Lagos State Ferry Terminal among others Araromi, Malete, Abule-Onigo, Italian, Ebute-Iga, Oke Church, Ebute-Oja. QUARTERS; Osugbo, Awo-Opa (ljinla Confraternity) Egungun, Oro, Igunnuko. FESTIVALS; CHRISTIANITY (Oke Odo), ISLAM (Leya & Itunnu Awe) INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT; Nigeria Port Authority, Lagos State Ferry Terminal, Voice of Nigeria (V.O.N), Newly Rehabilitated Oba Sekumade Road.

Ipakodo was founded over five hundred (500) years ago by Sekumade, son or Loba Koyelu, the 6″ Akarigbo of Remo. Sekumade, a hunter had in one of his hunting expeditions sighted an Elephant that he shot and killed. The place where the

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Apr
2022
5

NIA FOUNDERS DAY/MEMORIAL LECTURE HONOURS LIFE & LEGACY OF LATE ARC. MICHAEL OLUTUSEN ONAFOWOKAN AT IKORODU TOWN HALL ®™√ INN Nigeria ©

37evebej8788341786985934610 Senator Tokunbo Abiru (representing Lagos East Senatorial District), Prof. Kunle Ade Wahab (President, Ikorodu Chamber Of Commerce & Industry), Arc. (Sir) Dipo Ajayi (Architect registration council of Nigeria) and Arc. Enyi Ben-Eboh (President, The Nigerian Institute Of Architects) were among the dignitaries at the NIA founders day/memorial lecture of Late Arc. Michael Olutusen Onafowokan. The lecture and compendium launch which took place at Ikorodu ultra-modern town hall on the 1st of April 2022 was organised to solidify the legacy of Late Arc. Michael Olutusen Onafowokan was appraised as the first Nigerian Architect and planner. With stakeholders, members of Allied Professions in the Built Environment and Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, Building Collapse Guild, NBA, NSE, Surveyors Institute, Town Planning Institute, Institute of Chartered Accountants, Leaders of Religious Organisations, Reverends, Imams, Pastors, the council of Obas and students from the architectural department of Caleb university in attendance, the program was themed: 'Architecture Legacy, The Challenge Of Sustainability. In his welcome address, Arc. Victor Uchenna Achime (Chairman, Ikorodu branch, Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Architects) acknowledged the Late Arc. Michael Onafowokan is his father, boss and launcher. "He launched me into the world of Architecture after my youth service in 1993. Little did I know that I was making history by coming in contact and serving under Nigerian number one Architect." "I am delighted to be the one championing this First Memorial Lecture in his honour. Baba Onofowokan as he was fondly called was born on the 1st of December but we moved the posthumous celebration of his Birthday to the 1st of April to correspond with the day he and his colleagues founded the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) in 1960, 62 years ago. A sixty-year-old institution by all standards is a noble and respectable one." "Ikorodu Branch of NIA has packaged a Compendium of Historic and Iconic buildings in Ikorodu aimed at preserving the disappearing heritage of Ikorodu town for posterity. Urbanisation and retro-fitting due to changes in uses of building especially by Investors have continued to eliminate some of the Monuments and Historical building we met here in Ikorodu some twenty years ago." "We, therefore, concluded to file some of such remaining buildings in pictures and writing in this first edition for keeps at home and in Libraries. Schools of Architecture should also have them as good readings for History of Architecture." "The Compendium will be launched today" Arc. Victor Uchenna added Whilst celebrating the icon of architecture, Arc. Michael Onafowokan (marking about three decanters de he departed the world as a productive sojourn), the program equally honoured the originality of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) Lagos State and Ikorodu Chapter for always living up to its professional obligations. According to Keynote speaker, Professor Michael Adebamowo (Former Dean of Faculty of Environmental Studies, University of Lagos), Architect Michael Olutusen Onafowokan is not just number one on this table as the first Nigerian Architect, but he was the first on the list of Town Planners been the doyen of both professions. He continued, "quoting the former National President of Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (Dr S.A. Olateru Olagbegi) on August 24 1991, Chief Michael Olutusen Onofowokan was; The 1st African Architect and automatically the 1st Nigerian Architect, the 1st President of Nigerian Institute of Architect; the 1st Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects, A Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects; A member of the Commonwealth Board of Architectural Education from 1966-1971, A Pioneer Town Planner in Nigeria and Africa." "He is accordingly, the 1st President of Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, as well as 1st Fellow of the Institute, the 1st government registered Town Planner in Nigeria and a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute, London, the President of Ibadan Tennis Club (1957-58 and 1960-1961), the 1st President of the Methodist Boys High School, Lagos and Representative of Nigeria at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (1957-1960)" Prof Michael Adebamowo highlighted in a visually displayed presentation via a projector Arc. David Majekodunmi (INT'LASSOC) Chairman, NIA Lagos State Chapter, bolting on Architecture Legacy (The Challenge of Sustainability) asserted that the contributions made towards nation-building by Late Pa Onafowokan cannot be overstated and more importantly, should never be forgotten. He proceeded, "Pa Onafowokan laboured tirelessly and with great tact, intelligence, boldness, and confidence. Working together with other shining stars of Architecture such as the late sages Arc. Oluwole Olumuyiwa, Arc. Frank Nwobuora Mbanefo, Arc. John Seyton MacGregor, Arc. Dan Awani, they founded the Nigerian Institute of Architects and established it as one indivisible and independent association." "Pa Michael Onafowokan was not just an Architect but was also a Town Planner and was deeply rooted in Land Surveying, Civil Engineering, and Quantity Surveying, which prepared him for the multiple roles he played in the practice of Architecture in Nigeria. As one of the Chief Architects and Builders, he was instrumental in laying the foundation for the nation destined to be the leader of Africa and a model for the black race" "Sustainable Architecture is the use of design strategies to reduce the negative impact on the built environment. However, sustainability is not only related to environmental issues. It is also related to social equity and economic development" "However, the main challenge of sustainability is still strongly correlated with the preservation of a communal environment for future generations. When it comes to sustainability at least in the literal sense, we do not need data to demonstrate the performance of older buildings: their continued existence already proves that they hat, been sustained over time" Arc. David Majekodunmi surmised In his remarks, Senator Tokunbo Abiru urged the current theoretical/historical section of architectural education to be localised i.e. the study othe f history of Nigerian Architecture, (beyond the existing traditional architecture) should be infused into the system to prepare the trainees for the reality of the ground. "Architectural works can be preserved by publication or by other means, setting-up of foundations and the building-up of galleries in existing museums or new ones" "The potentials of each architect should be put into optimal use when discovered, the need for continuity of architectural practice should be a bonding for every architectural office as a strategy should be evolved to suit the practices." Tokunbo Abiru asserted Arc. Enyi Ben-Eboh, President & Chairman-in-Council extolled the virtues of the Late Arc. Michael Olutusen Onafowokan and his leadership approach. "Exactly sixty-two years ago several patriotic Nigerian graduates of architecture, who had their training in the United Kingdom and the United States of America, came together to birth the Institute on the 1st of April 1960. The event had the then Prime Minister of the soon to be independent Nigeria, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa not only attending but performing the inauguration." "Arc. Onafowokan or Pa Onafowokan as he was fondly called, became the 1st President of the Institute and from that humble beginning, the Institute has grown in leaps and bounds to have vibrant chapters in all 36 states of the Federation and the FCT in addition to two branches of the Lagos state chapter." "Across the 36 states of Nigeria and the FCT, activities are going on simultaneously to sensitise the public about the unique role architecture plays in shaping our cities, showcasing our identity as a people and defining our civilization." "As custodians of the art of building and urban design, we must use the opportunity of moments like this to appraise our role in defining how accessible the product of our trade is to the average Nigerian within the context of sustainability, energy efficiency and affordability." "I congratulate the Lagos State Chapter and the Ikorodu branch in particular for this bold initiative of initiating the Arc. Michael Onafowokan memorial lecture. It goes to buttress the importance of spreading our tentacles to the grassroots without which today's event may not have come to fruition." Arc. Eyin Ben-Eboh added Prof Adedeji Daramola (Professor of Architecture and Consultant to UN-HABITAT, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Caleb University, Imota) in his remarks scored Pa Michael Onafowokan a shining light, A tenacious leader, who did everything possible to ensure the construction of the road which today is the most celebrated BRT route in Lagos Megacity. He continued, "Travelling the Ikorodu road every morning on my way to Caleb University fetch me into remembrance of the crucial efforts of Arc. Onafowokan and his team mapping and navigating the 13 odd miles of snake-infested jungle between Yaba and Ikorodu" "Pa Onafowokan was an icon that illuminated the architectural terrain in Nigeria after a dogged training in the United Kingdom. A complete environmental designer that combined architectural knowledge with urban planning skills to engineering precision that brought the cradle of city planning ie modern Nigeria. His interpersonal relationship with the British colleagues, commissioner or the colony at the Works department brought tremendous success to the first infrastructural revolution in Lagos city in the 1960s." "Arc Papa Michael Onafowokan left an unforgettable mark in the field of architecture, planning and engineering in Nigeria and indeed, Lagos state specifically. The continuous existence of Papa Onafowokan's architectural outfit (Onafowokan Cityscape Group OCG) more than three decades after his demise, gives credence to the depth and width of knowledge developed and impartation to his mentees whilst he was on earth." "Caleb University currently runs a very formidable school of architecture at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. With the recent 2022, accreditation approval from the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria, we are poised to continue with the legacy of our progenitor and role model, Papa Michael Olutusen Onafowokan (OON), the first president of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) and Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON)" Prof Adedeji Daramola asserted Arc. Michael Olutusen Onafowokan, the first Nigerian Architect and Planner was born on the 1st of December 1912 and died on the 25th of July 1991.

Senator Tokunbo Abiru (representing Lagos East Senatorial District), Prof. Kunle Ade Wahab (President, Ikorodu Chamber Of Commerce & Industry), Arc. (Sir) Dipo Ajayi (Architect registration council of Nigeria) and Arc. Enyi Ben-Eboh (President, The Nigerian Institute Of Architects) were among the dignitaries

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Apr
2022
3

ARC. (CHIEF) MICHAEL OLUTUSEN ONAFOWOKAN, FIRST NIGERIAN ARCHITECT & PLANNER FROM IKORODU ®™√ INN Nigeria ©

img 20220402 wa00027E25393871276966677186. The first generation of architects belongs to about 30 indigenous architects according to NIA/ARCON register. The number one to which 001 is ascribed in the Nigeria Institute of Architects is - Architect Michael Olutusen Onafowokan. He is not just number one on this table as the first Nigerian Architect, but he was the first on the list of Town Planners to be the doyen of both professions. To appreciate this fit, I will quote the former National President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (Dr S.A. Olateru Olagbegi) on August 24" 1991 as follows: Chief Michael Olutusen Onafowokan, you were: - The 1' African Architect and automatically the 1" Nigerian Architect; The 1 President of Nigerian Institute of Architect; The 1" Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects A Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects; A member of the Commonwealth Board of Architectural Education from 1966-1971. A Pioneer Town Planner in Nigeria and Africa. Therefore, the 1" President of Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, as well as 1' Fellow of the Institute; The 1 government registered Town Planner in Nigeria and a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute, London; The President of Ibadan Tennis Club (1957-58 and 1960-1961), The 1 President of the Methodist Boys High School, Lagos; Representative of Nigeria at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (1957-1960). THE MAN (LATE PA SIR ARC. M.O. ONAFOWOKAN) was born on Sunday, 1 December 1912 at Ikorodu. He attended many primary schools in Lagos and Ikorodu but most importantly Methodist Primary school, Ita Elewa, Ikorodu and St. Peter's Primary school, Fiji-Ajele Street, Lagos. For his secondary school education, he attended Methodist Boys High School, Lagos from May 1930 and passed the Junior Cambridge in 1932. Between 1933-and 1937 (5 years) he was in the Public Works Department (PWD) Technical School Lagos. After this, it was in 1938 that he was awarded a Civil Engineering Diploma. This paved way for him to start his modest working career as a junior technical officer in Public Works Department in Lagos. He was initially in the Drawing and Quantity Surveying Section of PWD from 1937-to 1939 before being moved to the Works and Building Section of the Ministry from 1939-to 1946. "This is the peak of colonialism when no one believed that Nigerians were capable of understanding professional courses involving the highest level of technology and creativity, a contribution of science, art, sheer imagination directiveness. He also served in many other provinces in Nigeria and Cameroon as a Junior Technical Staff before going for further studies abroad between 1937-and 1942. While working here (PwD) he attended the University Evening Classes in Lagos from 1942-to 1945 which assisted him in passing the University of London Matriculation Examination in 1940 He entered the Royal Technical College in 1946 to study Architecture and as a result of his brilliance, he was transferred to the University of Glasgow in 1947 for a degree course. He got a Bachelor of Science in Architecture in 1952 (7 years). In December 1953 he also got Post Graduate Diploma in Town Planning from Royal Technical College in Glasgow and was soon awarded MBE. During his student days, he supplemented his limited financial allowance and practical experience by working part-time in an architectural office between 1947-and 1950 (4 years). This is an expression of determination and hard work which he combined to get a flying colour performance at school and thereafter in practice. He returned to Nigeria in December 1953 to start work in the Old Western Region of Nigeria (currently part of Lagos State, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Edo and Delta States) as a Town Planning Officer. In 1954, he was in the Ministry of Lands and Housing in Ibadan and later at the Ministry of Transport. He retired on November 30, 1968, as the Regional Chief Architect with arousing thanksgiving service on 1st December 1968 which also marked his 56 birthday. Later he went into practice in the name of ONAFOWOKAN CITYSCAPE GROUP That OCG survives to date, almost 30 years after his passing, is a testament to the pedigree of the business venture that he established more than fifty years ago. He is deeply religious and holds firmly to his Methodist Christian faith to the end, and was awarded Knight of John Wesley in 2021 (Post Humus). He was happily married to Late Chief (Mrs.) Jonna Adetola Onafowokan with children, one of which is the Principal Architect of the Onafowokan CityScape Group till this day (Arc. Ayokunle Onafowokan) and is in the process of being passed to the third generation of Onafowokans. Professionally, Chief Onafowokan achieved more than many people can achieve, given several lifetimes. As the first Nigerian architect, many buildings and projects bear the imprint of his design. These are too numerous to be mentioned here. Most significant of his professional achievements that many of us here can easily relate to is the role he played in the construction of lkorodu Road. There are no official figures to tell us what the daily vehicular and human traffic on Ikorodu Road is. but one thing that no one can dispute is the doggedness and determination of the individual who ensured that the road was built, Chief M O Onafowokan. The idea to build the road was mooted by a group of patriotic Ikorodu citizens when the lagoon tragedy of 1942 took the lives of hundreds of people. In a tribute to Nigeria's first architect on the occasion of his 70th birthday, the late Chief S I Gbadamosi dwelt at length and in great detail about how Chief Onafowokan led the charge; and this was even before he went abroad to study. He recalled that MO, as they called him, organised and led the team that did the first rough exploration of the 13 odd miles between Ikorodu and Yaba, by foot! In Chief Gbadamosi's words, "The team started at Yaba about 7 am, passing through the snake-infested bush and dangerous swamp. He was relentless until we arrived at Ikorodu at about 3 pm. He plotted and arranged for the rooting of the entire length of the road. That done, he used his influence to interest his boss, the Deputy Director of Works, Major Walker in the project. Major Walker was then instrumental in getting the Commissioner of the Colony to accompany the team on an inspection of the route which culminated in the Federal Government constructing lkorodu Road. Needless to say, the construction of lkorodu Road, apart from connecting Lagos, a port city and a centre of commerce to the rest of the South-West of the country. Arc. M.O Onafowokan (as a man) was humble, kind, humane, generous almost to a fault. He demanded not less than high standards in all (either at the administrative or practice level). He was a great administrator dedicated to duty with untiring interest. He was awarded the National Honour of the Order of the Niger (0ON) in 1982 in recognition of his meritorious services and selfless contributions to the country-Nigeria. The diligence with which he served the Institute is always recounted by the many who benefitted first-hand from his wisdom and his expert steering of the Institute when he served as its first president, first fellow and life member of the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria. He left us big shoes to fill, but as a good leader and mentor, he trained us well. We will honour his legacy. His legacy is legendary in the architectural profession in Nigeria. He was a pacifist, a father to all and sundry with inexhaustible wisdom and loyalty to his noble professions. He was a dedicated leader who inspired and led by example; a man of principles good and frank adviser. It was in this strength that he was called "Baba" by all (professional colleagues, national and internationally). He died in 1991 at the age of 79 years. THE PRACTICE OF LATE PA SIR ARC. M.O. ONAFOWOKAN The training of this legend from draught man to pupil architect and finally to Architect was rooted in civil engineering, quantity surveying, town planning, land surveying in addition to the act of designing; prepared him for the multiple sides he played in the practice of architecture in Nigeria. He spent five (5) years in the PWD training school, another seven (7) in Glasgow study architecture and one (1) year for postgraduate studies in Town Planning. Eight (8) years of jobs in PND (1938-1945) and four (4) years on part-time jobs (1947-1950). This lengthy academic practice, interwoven with inter-disciplinary practices built-up the solid foundation of Arc i. of Onafowokan's architectural practice. Therefore, in the practice, he belonged to the blocks of Old architect-administrator and architect-designer. The first part will cover the years he spent at Western Region Service (1953-1968 i.e. 15 years) while the second part will be on the practice through communal efforts to provide linkage from Ikorodu to Lagos, He with another member of the ijebu Road Construction committee trekked through the 13-mile swamp route and by construction put this route into usage for pedestrians and motorcyclists before it was taken over by Federal Government. The 1942 Owolowo Motor launch disasters were the motivating strength of this legend In this communal service It is on record that before 1942 and until 1952, the only linkage between Ikorodu and Lagos was by water transport, (Canoe or Motor launch). THE MONUMENTS OF THE PRACTICE As an architectural administrator, Western Regional Secretariat Ibadan, Cocoa House in Ibadan and some blocks at Obafemi Awolowo University at file Ife should be regarded as monuments. As an architect designed the works of art in some Methodist Churches at lkorodu, Agbeni (lbadan), Ogbomosho, Otapete (lesha), Holy Trinity Church at Aiyepe, African Bethel Church at Irene Road Ikorodu should be regarded as the monument. The religious affirmative of this legend might have brought out the best of him in course of the design of these churches. Communal services as an architect, Lagos-Ikorodu road remains the monument of that part of the practice. The development of Town and Country planning laws, the establishment of Town Planning Authorities at the Local government level as well as development schemes such as for Ibadan, Ikenne, Ikeja, Epe, Akure, Sapele, Warri, Alesha Oru, Okigwe, Oguta, Afikpo and Ohafia are monuments. He was very meticulous in detailing drawing boards. These can be seen in the production drawings of the Ikeja General Hospital, lkorodu General Hospital and the O & T Buildings. The artistic language of this legend is purely functionalism of the British brand i.e. "forms follow function optimum of every usable space. Moreover, the usage of vertical concrete fins as a sunshade (functionally) and as a tectonic element in the architectural composition is the personal fingerprint he left in the architectural development in Nigeria. This can be seen in most of the churches building his office on Lagos Road at Ikorodu and in Obafemi Awolowo University Ife practice of this legend, the need for a functional space goes beyond the two-dimension but also into three-dimensional as the length, breadth and heights allocated for any architectural space were justified. In-office and residential spaces, the module 3 metres headroom was common while in congregation halls as in the case of Ikorodu town Hall and Johnson Memorial Methodist Church at Ita-Elewa in Ikorodu, they were in double or more modules of 3 metres. The compositional development of this designed object often blends with the site. The shape of the Methodist church at Ita-Elewa is a witness to this fact. The multiple levels of the blocks in lkorodu General Hospital form multiple levels due to the topography of the site being a product of blending his two professions (planning and design) in architectural composition. he is a fund of asymmetry compositions. The tower as in the churches at Ita-Elewa Aiyepe and Ikorodu Town Hall was used to break the symmetry.

The first generation of architects belongs to about 30 indigenous architects according to NIA/ARCON register. The number one to which 001 is ascribed in the Nigeria Institute of Architects is – Architect Michael Olutusen Onafowokan. He is not just number one on

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