The Founder of Punch Nigeria Limited, the late Olubunmi Aboderin, and the man who financed the secondary education of Dr. Lekan Are, the late Alhaji Amusa Are, had
their names written in gold as two sections of the Kakanfo Inn and Conference Centre, Ibadan, were named after them.
One of the wings was named James Olubunmi Aboderin Autographs while another was named Alhaji Amusa Olaniyi Lawal Are Signature.
The rooms at both wings come with state-of-the-art facilities, mostly fashioned out of local materials except the electronics.
They also come with Energy Management System that switches off power in a few seconds after the removal of the e-card from a socket.
The Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, who was present at the ceremony with his wives, Olori Rashidat and Olori Kudirat, praised the ingenuity of the chairman of KICC, Dr. Are, its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Damola Are, and the management of the company for honouring both ‘heroes’ of the two families.
He also paid glowing tributes to both men for their enduring legacies.
The Chairman of Punch Nigeria Limited, Mr. Wale Aboderin, his sister, Bunmi, the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper, Mr. Ademola Osinubi, were some of the guests present at the event.
Others are one of the children of the late Alhaji Amusa Are; High Chief Emiola Adesina; head of Aboderin family in Ibadan, Chief Olutunde Aboderin; and elder statesman, Ambassador Olusola Saanu.
Are said he shared a lot of fond memories with the Punch founder, whom he described as a true visionary leader, a philanthropist, a family man and a diligent business manager who oversaw the expansion of the defunct National Bank in Nigeria and the establishment of its branch in London.
Are noted that he saw him for the last time a month before he died on February 28, 1984, adding that despite the shock of his death, he was comforted by the late Aboderin’s legacies.
“We grew up together as relatives and from 1946, we travelled to Lagos for holiday. We used to stay with his sister, Mrs. Adisa, who happens to be my aunt. Her daughter is Chief Mrs. Onikepo Akande. We formed a strong family bond at the time. One day, I met my uncle, Alhaji Are, who asked me to spend a few days with him. I later convinced my aunt to allow me visit him. I started spending a few weeks with him.
“He lived in a rented room and each time I was returning to the Government College, Ibadan from my holiday in Lagos, Alhaji Are would give me money for the whole year. I later understood that he was just a poor clerk and that he would borrow the money just to make me a comfortable pupil in the school.
“He told me one day that he was ready to give me what he did not have the opportunity to acquire. He did not study beyond Standard Six but he sponsored my education. All his children are also graduates.”
Are said his own mother, (Olu) Aboderin’s grandmother, christened him Ayokunnu and that he acted as her account officer informally in those days.
“I was like a personal adviser to Olu’s grandmother. She had little education but she was very rich. Each time she returned from the market, she would give all her money to me to count.
“Olu went to Ibadan Grammar School while I attended GCI. He was the school prefect and played football for the school just like I did in GCI. The last time we met, we took a photograph before he died a month after. But he lived a good life,” he said.
Dr. Are later led the Olubadan, his entourage and guests at the event on a tour of the hotel, visiting the gym, Funke Pool Bar, Awero spa, Fitness Centre, Ogunsola Court, Awero Terrace, the VIP lounge and Aremu mini golf area.
All Credits :PUNCH
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