Michael Ade-Ojo OON

On the occasion of his 70th birthday which kicked off on Monday with the public presentation of his biography entitled Mister Toyota, Nigeria’s Super salesman, Chief Michael Ade Ojo, business magnate and philanthropist, has called on the Federal and State government to give education priority it deserves.The public presentation of Chief Ade Ojo’s biography took place at Lagos Sheraton Hotel. Corporate bodies and eminent citizens used the occasion to acknowledge the various philanthropic activities of the man who for over three decades has been the sole representative of Toyota Automobile Company in Nigeria.

Elated with the kind gestures of companies and individuals who poured encomium on him, Chief Ojo promised to continue to give to the less privileged. he also promised to continue to contribute to the educational advancement of the country. He is already making good his promise with the inauguration of Elizade Foundation, a non-profit organisation that will give educational opportunities to brilliant but indigent students. His remarks on the occasion says it all. “First of all, I want to thank God for blessing me and for keeping me alive.

I want Nigerians to be optimistic. They should take a cue from my own experience. I started from a very indigent background but God helped me. If despite my very humble background I can get to this stage then there is no barrier that God cannot surmount. On education, he said, “I have discovered many things wrong with our educational system. I have decided to do something about it.

We have put the Elizade Foundation in place to oversee the affairs of the university which we are starting. It has taken me a long time to raise N2 billion to start the university as Professor Gabriel Olawoyin (SAN) has told you. Ours is a university you should watch out for because we are coming out in a big way with new ideas we do not want to disclose now because we don’t want people to steal our ideas.”

Earlier Professor Olawoyin, Chairman of the Foundation has disclosed that the university already located at Ilara Mokin hometown of Chief Ade Ojo would admit its first set of students next year. The book reviewer, Professor Oye Ibidapo Obe was unable to grace the occasion. He was represented by Professor Duro Oni. Professor Ibidapo Obe, former Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos disclosed that he had known the celebrant since 1968. In addition, Professor Obe’s relation also works for Elizade Nigeria Limited. He is therefore in a vantage position to review the book.

The reviewer said he would have titled the book. The Quintessential businessman, a biography of Michael Ade Ojo, OON - Nigeria’s super salesman.

Professor Oye Ibidapo Obe however admitted that “the book gives a lucid account of the origin, development, education, relationships, family, religion, philanthropy and public affairs of the subject matter.

I must state here that it is an essential reading for those who want to be successful in various endeavours especially students and school children at all levels, the former Vice-Chancellor said.

Professor Obe commended Professor Olawoyin who wrote the forward. “I almost concluded that he excellently summarised the book almost to an extent that you do not need to read the book cover to cover, Professor Obe said.

The book is a 360 page stuff in hard cover or paper back. It is divided into six parts. Proceeds from the launch goes into Elizade Educational Foundation. Over N30 million was realised at the launch which featured contribution from various individuals and corporate bodies.

The occasion afforded Chief Michael Ade Ojo to reap an earlier feat he performed when his company was 30 years old and he donated N10 million to various needy organisations and individuals. This year motherless babies homes and other needy organisations received donations worth N15 million from Chief Ade Ojo.

Among eminent Nigerians on the high table are Apostle Hayford Alile, Chairman Oceanic Bank who was Chairman of the occasion Reverend Peter Adebiyi who said the opening prayer, Mr. Sunny Asemota who donated N3 million to the Elizade Foundation, Mr. Wole Abegunde whose personal donation was N500,000 and Chief Job Fele who donated N200,000 among several other donations by eminent citizens, traditional rulers and corporate bodies.

 Source: AllAfrica.com