Prince Ajibola Afonja, a former Minister of Labour and Productivity under the Interim National Governmet is dead.
Gatekeepers News reports that the deceased died on Sunday night while being admitted at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State at the age of eighty-two (82).
He was reported to have been injured in an accident while driving at Ilora which is not far from his country home and was immediately rushed to the hospital.
A prominent community-interest group, the Oyo Global Forum (OGF) through its Chairman, Taiwo Adebayo confirmed the former minister’s passing.
Adebayo said “On this dark day in Oyo, we mourn the loss of Prince Ajibola Afonja, former Labour Minister and Chairman of First Bank Nigeria, who passed away on Sunday night, aged 82.”
“Although a national figure with tremendous influence, he was particularly light for the Oyo community where he made pioneering efforts as an industrialist. His legacy of generosity and open-heartedness touched countless lives, and his presence will be profoundly missed.
“Until his last month, Daddy IDS, as he was affectionately known, as a reference to his manufacturing company, remained hardworking, dedicated to realising one of the most transformative business visions for the country’s economy. It was the E-Customs project.”
He added that Afonja’s death leaves a difficult gap which will he’s hard to replace and added that his legacy of generosity and leadership will continue to inspire the community.
Adebayo continued “For all of us that he inspired, we shall honour his memory by carrying forward the values he embodied and continuing his legacy of service and compassion, the values that guide OGF, which he supported during his lifetime.”
He further sympathized with the deceased family, the entire Oyo community, his friends and associates.
The deceased was once the senatorial candidate for Oyo Central Senatorial District under the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).
