Olamidiran Ajose-Willoughby – The Aviator, Humanist, Blue Blood @ 70

By Otunba T.J Abass

He belongs to the class of personages for whom one-word description may never suffice, having plied in fields with no mean reputation.

From aviation to technology, and petroleum services to operations, Omo’ba David Olamidiran Ajose-Willoughby, a blue blood of the Aasi Royal House (Ajose Family) in Isale Eko, Lagos, has left notable footprints there.

And like a lead masquerade which graces town only on rare occasions, this focus is because this man of amiable character just turned 70, a perfect opportunity to accord him deserved honour.

But for the coronavirus pandemic, this is one celebration that would have leaped out of media pages, spilling into halls and residences for a well-deserved cocktail of celebrations with chilled bottles of “Manage De Tois”, the official Red Wine of Eko Club International.

Nonetheless, that Eko Club International, Isale Eko, Lagos, including the celebrant’s city and country of residence, Houston Texas are doffing their hats for him, in this moment of commemoration speaks volumes.

It is in the conviction that the effort would, not only let him know how his efforts are appreciated but to also use that as a tonic of motivation to others.

Omo’ba David Olamidiran Ajose-Willoughby started life as a commercial pilot (Fixed Wings), and later graduated from the University of Texas (UTPB), Odessa, Texas with a degree in Business Administration B.B.A in Aviation Marketing.

He worked as a Banker in Commercial Bank in Houston, Texas after he left college.

Upon graduation, Omo’ba Ajose-Willoughby returned to Nigeria for the National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC, and was in the 1981-1982 set of youth corpers, attached to the Nigeria Airways, Ikeja.

While at the Airways, he was privileged to work in different areas and capacities, such as personnel, charged with senior staff annual leave and other family-related benefits; Logistics whose responsibilities were, but not limited to allocating Aircraft to all the routes operated by the Airline, and later moved to Operations to join the administrative team responsible for the daily running of the organisation until 1987.

In deference to the quest for higher and more in-depth knowledge in his chosen fields, he returned to the United States in 1988. He later attended Texas A & M University in Commerce, Texas where he graduated with a Master’s Degree in Industrial Technology.

He worked as Special Education Classroom teacher; Flight Training Instructor (Fixed Wings), and was once Chairman of Online Houston, an Internet Service Provider company in Houston, Texas, a company he co-founded.

Presently, a certified member of the American Petroleum Institute (Certified API-510/570), he works as a third party inspector for Refineries and Petro-chemical plants, audits in-house inspections all over the world.

He was privileged to be a founding member of Eko Club Houston Chapter, where he served in different capacities, including being Chapter President; Vice Chairman on the ECI (An Umbrella Organisation) board and established the Electoral process which the organisation enjoys today.

Omo’ba D. O. Ajose-Willoughby is co-owner of Roboglobal and serves as Chairman of the Board in addition to overseeing the company’s marketing and administration.

A true Lagosians, and an amiable individual he is unapologetic about his love and passion for Lagos; and his involvement in the advancement of Eko is well known in the public domain.

He is married to his wonderful wife, Oluremi, for over thirty years now, and they are blessed with three wonderful daughters and two grandchildren.

And so much credit goes to that woman for keeping the home front warm, lovely, without which he may not have achieved what he had achieved.

She is one help-meet whose role had remained influential.

As a matter of fact, no honour would be too much for Omo’ba David Olamidiran Ajose-Willoughby,  a man who commits time and resources towards humanitarian courses demonstrative in his invaluable membership of Eko Club International.

While thanking God for the grace to life, he uses the opportunity also to encourage others to align with the government and humanitarian organisations to checkmating further spread of COVID-19, simply by keeping religious faith with all the protocols.

So for you, Omo’ba David Olamidiran Ajose-Willoughby, the prayer is for you to live to see and celebrate many more anniversaries. It is so that, our society would benefit more from your life of service