The month of May, 2025 remains a month to beat in the life of a very revered Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan Old Boy and distinguished son of Ibadanland, Chief Ademola Abiodun Aremu as the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) at the just concluded Ibadan Cultural Festival 2025 recognized him as the Most Patriotic Ibadan Indigene while the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Dr. Owolabi Olakuleyin, Ige Olakuleyin 1 today sealed it with the conferment of the prestigious title of Asiwaju Atunluse of Ibadanland on him in appreciation of his invaluable contributions to the development of Ibadanland.
Chief Ademola Abiodun Aremu was born in Ibadan in December, 1965. His parents were Alhaji Mufutau Aremu and Alhaja Sidikot Aremu. He is from Alliwo Compound, which is the home of the immediate past Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Dr. Lekan Balogun, Ali Okunmade II. May his soul continue to rest in peace. Amin.
Chief Aremu’s formal education started in Ibadan, where he attended Saint Cyprian Primary School, Orita Padi, Oke Offa Babasale and he had his secondary school education at Lagelu Grammar School, Agugu, Ibadan graduating in 1983. Thereafter, he went to Baptist High School, Iwo for his ‘A’ levels before proceeding to the United Kingdom in 1987 for his University education. He obtained a degree in Healthcare and a Master’s Degree in Management.
He cut his teeth in the health sector in the United Kingdom when he joined the United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS) and rose through the ranks to the Directorate level before he left the establishment in Year 2000 to start his own business. He is now the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AK Supported Housing Limited, a company registered in the United Kingdom.
According to Herbert Simon, “it is more important to be a man of value than to be a man of success”. This statement aptly describes the man, Ademola Abiodun Aremu as he never forgot his beloved country and his hometown, Ibadan in about 38years of living in the United Kingdom. He is an active member of Lagelu Grammar School Old Boys Association, Ibadan Oluyole Elite Club and Ibadan House of Lords Club.
Ademola Aremu is profoundly involved in charity works to support the less privileged in the society and the development of Ibadan, his hometown is paramount to him. Some of the charitable ventures he has embarked upon include provision of support to primary schools and financial assistance/resources for the betterment of children’s education such as the provision of classroom furniture, books, school uniforms, shoes, and instructional materials.
Similarly, brilliant but indigent secondary school students are given scholarship to enable them to proceed to the university. It is worth mentioning that part of the criteria for the scholarship award is that the candidates have to originate from Ibadan and to the glory of God, two (2) of his awardees have graduated from the university and they are now working as Chartered Accountants in private establishments. It is on record that among his good works was the sponsorship of Mr. Emmanuel Fakunle of Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan 2014 Senior Prefect to study Accounting where he graduated with a First Class Honors Degree. Also, beneficiaries of his benevolence are young local talents in Ibadan who he is supporting financially through the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) to develop their potentials in order to have a good and promising future.
There in the United Kingdom where he has spent close to 40 years, whenever he came across Ibadan or Oyo State indigenes, who needed job or some form of assistance, he would always guide them appropriately to succeed. He has always been a worthy model and a respected ambassador of Ibadanland. He has assembled some high school leavers and handed them over to good but local artisans for training like Mechanics, Air-Conditioning repairers, Electricians, Plumbers, e.t.c in some communities in Ibadanland while he is presently on the verge of establishing a small vocation centre for youths around Ibadan less city. This gentleman has silently carried out massive empowerment programs for some women and the vulnerable in the community without any publicity because he himself is camera shy. Definitely, he has no choice today. He is doing all these without any political ambition at least to our knowledge.
Ademola is undoubtedly a blessing to many young people of this generation and a tireless philanthropist who prioritizes the upliftment of the down-trodden people in Ibadan.
· Where can we find another veritable asset for Ibadanland? This is one.
· Where can we get a suitable mentor for our youths? This is one.
· Where can we get a respected ambassador of our Ibadanland both home and abroad? This is one.
He is married to Kemi and the union is blessed with four wonderful children who are also doing great in their various endeavours.
I therefore congratulate my benefactor, Chief Ademola Abiodun Aremu who is indisputably an extremely valuable indigene of Ibadanland whose contributions to the development of Ibadanland is topnotch and cherished to the glory of God.
