Chief Ezekiel Oladapo Olarewaju - The New Obala Of Omu-Aran

Chief Ezekiel Oladapo Olarewaju was born on the 25th November, 1939 at Ilorin Maternity Hospital (Centre Igboro) to the family of Late Chief, Hon. Senator Moses Olarewaju, the former Obala of Omu-Aran and Chief Mrs. Dorcas Adegbemile Olarewaju, the incumbent Iyalode of Omu-Aran of the Amuletodo Compound, Igangu in Omu-Aran. He attended St. Barnabas Primary School, Ilorin between 1946 and 1950, Baptist Day School Ilorin from1951-1953 and the provincial Secondary School (now Government Secondary School Ilorin) between 1954 and 1959. He proceeded to the United Kingdom in August 1961 to perfect his Ordinary and Advanced Level G.C.E at the Handsworth Technical College, Birmingham between 1962 and 1965. He remained in the UK for further studies at the Gosta Green College of Commerce, Birmingham for the Intermediate Laws, University of London external degrees from 1966 to 1968. Between 1968 and 1970, he completed his Part 1 Chartered Insurance Institute.

As a student in Britain, he was at various times the secretary of the Northern Nigerian Students’ Association and the secretary of the African Students’ Union, Birmingham Chapter where he championed the call for the emancipation of some African Countries still under European domination.

Chief Olarewaju as he is popularly known has worked in different offices of human endeavour. For instance, he had a stint as a teacher at ECWA Primary School Omu-Aran between January and May 1960. He was also a clerk at the then Barclays Bank D.C.O (now Union Bank Plc, Ilorin, September, 1960 – August 1961) before his sojourn abroad. He took appointment with the Gateway Insurance Co Plc where he held various positions such as Resident Inspector Two 1971-1972, Resident Inspector One, 1973-1977; he was Public Relations Officer also in Gateway Company 1978-1982, Legal Liaison Officer from 1985-1984. He was Marketing Manager from 1985 to 1987 when he retired. He is the Managing Director of Dapsons Insurance Agency.
Chief ‘Dapo Olarewaju was conferred with a chieftaincy title of Gbobaniyi of Ijara-Isin by H.R.H Oba Omoniyi Banigbe, Olusin of Ijara-Isin in November 1996. A merit award winner of the Government Secondary School Ilorin Old Boys Association of Year 2008, he is also the scribe of club Corcondia of Omu-Aran, former Chairman of Church Council of Evangelical Church of Yahweh, Ilorin. He is always available when called upon to contribute his quota to these various organizations. He is also an active member of Ilorin Golf Club.

He is happily married to his beloved wives and well taken care of by his loving children.