President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid tribute to Dr. Christopher Oladipo Ogunbanjo, OFR, OON, for a life of consistent dedication to championing causes close to his heart, including grassroots community development and advocacy for peaceful co-existence between Nigerians from diverse backgrounds.
President Tinubu also expressed his condolences to the Ogunbanjo family and the entire Ijebu-Ode community on the passing of the elder statesman, Pa Ogunbajo who made landmark contributions as one of Nigeria’s most celebrated corporate lawyers.
The President’s condolences were contained in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale.
President Tinubu joins the family members, colleagues, friends, and well-wishers of the late legal luminary in mourning the loss of a distinguished figure in Nigeria’s legal and business communities, whose multifaceted roles as an industrialist, corporate lawyer, and philanthropist “had left indelible impressions in the fields as he empowered and mentored numerous professionals from Nigeria and beyond.
“As an honored recipient of several prestigious chieftaincy titles, such as the Olotu of Ijebuland, Larinja of Egbaland, Gbadero of Lagos, Lerinja of Egbaland, Baba Oba of Ijebu Imusin, and Baba Oba of Erunwon Ijebu, the President his extraordinary life of service to his community and the promotion of best business practices as a corporate lawyer of untarnished repute.”
President Tinubu lauded pa Ogunbanjo’s contributions to the economic development of Nigeria and commercial law practice will endure.
Life and Times of Pa Ogunbanjo
The Late Christopher Oladipo Ogunbanjo, OFR, OON, was born on 14th December 1923, to the family of Daniel Ajayi Ogunbanjo, a catechist from Erunwon, Ijebu, Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria. He was educated at St Phillips Primary School, Aiyetoro, Ile-Ife before proceeding to Oduduwa College, Ife for his secondary education in 1936.
Pa Ogunbanjo was a Nigerian corporate lawyer and philanthropist from Ogun State.
He was an early advocate of domiciliary accounts in Nigeria which later came into existence through the promulgation of the Foreign Currency Decree 18 of 1985.
In the late 1960s, he was among the group of businessmen who supported local equity participation in foreign firms operating in Nigeria.
Pa Ogunbanjo’s familiarity with Corporate Law led him to be a significant shareholder in various Nigerian companies like West African Batteries, Metal Box Toyo, Union Securities, 3M Nigeria, ABB Nigeria, Roche Nigeria and Chemical and Allied Products Ltd.
He died on 7th October 2023, at the age of 99.
The Nigerian leader urges all who are mourning the elder statesman, whose life the President said was characterized by an exceptional commitment to philanthropy and the betterment of the country, to reflect on the extensive contributions he had made to the progress of humanity and to carry forward the ideals he lived for.
President Tinubu prays for the peaceful repose of Pa Ogunbanjo’s soul and divine comfort to his family and loved ones over the irreparable loss.
Dominica Nwabufo
