Life And Times Of Ogunlowo ( 1930- 2021)
VENERABLE Godwin Adebayo Ogunlowo ( JP) was born on April 10, 1930 into the family of the late Chief John Ogunlowo and Madam Abigail Awawu Atowuromola Ogunlowo of Aro omo- jogunle compound Oluponna in Ayedire Local Council of Osun State. He died on Saturday, May 29, 2021.
He started his Elementary education at the St. Peter’s Anglican School, Oluponna in 1938 and gained admission to Ibadan Boys’ High School in 1945 but crossed to Remo Secondary School, Sagamu and lastly, to C. M. S Grammar School, Lagos where he obtained his Senior Cambridge ( Oversea) School Certificate in December 1953.
He started work in 1954 at the then Western Region Ministry of Education, Ibadan as a Clerical Officer and was posted to the Provincial Education Office in Abeokuta.
He was later posted to the Planning Office, Ilaro in Egbado where, he along with other officers, worked tirelessly to prosecute the free Primary School Education Scheme then newly introduced by the then Premier of the Western Region, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Ogunlowo resigned his appointment in December 1955 to start a Theological course at the Melville Hall, Kudeti- Ibadan, the course he abandoned after spending a term at the Institute due to financial problems.
He was re- employed to his former post of Clerical Officer at the Ministry of Education and after a spell, he was sent along with an expatriate officer by name Mr. Boothroyd to a newly established Government Trade Centre ( later renamed Technical College) on Awe Road, Oyo in 1962/ 63. He was transferred back to the Headquarters Ibadan in 1964.
Ogunlowo rose through the ranks to the highest grade of Chief Executive Officer ( Administration) in 1984 after serving meritoriously in almost all the ministries and government parastatals, among which was the Governor’s Office, where he served four governors: Military and Civilian, namely: Col. Paul Tarfa, Chief Bola Ige, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo and Col. Oladayo Popoola as Chief Protocol Officer. He was awarded Oyo State Government Certificate of Merit in 1990.
Ogunlowo was sent on an in- service training to the Institute of Administration, University of Ife ( now OAU) and the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria ( ASCON) ( Topo), Badagry, while in service. He successfully completed both courses. Before he retired from the service of Oyo State in July 1991, and to realise his earlier ambition, he, once again, started a theological course at the Immanuel College of Theology and Christian Education, Samanda Ibadan, which he successfully completed in 1990.
Before he bowed out from the service of Oyo State, Ogunlowo was ordained a Deacon in 1989 and later a Priest in 1990. He was installed a Canon in 2000 shortly before he retired from the church ministry. He was on holy Pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 2004, where he was divinely preferred an Archdeacon. His collation was uniquely performed by Rt. Rev. Olusola Fasogbon ( now retired) at the St. Paul’s Cathedral, Gbongan on April 10, 2005 ( coincidentally on his 75th birthday).
In addition, it is pertinent to say that Ogunlowo was an “Anglican to the core”. He was a founding member of the Young Men Christian Association ( YMCA) of St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Oluponna, his home- town. He remained a very loyal, active and financial member.
Also, he was one of the founding members of Immanuel Society of Bishop Akinyele Memorial Anglican Church, Iwo Road Ibadan. He remained a committed loyal, active and financial member till his demise. He was ordained a Deacon at St. Peter’s Anglican Church Aremo, Ibadan ( now Cathedral) and as Providence would have it, he was installed as a Canon of the same church in 2000.