How time flies! It is 25 years ago that Alhaji Chief Bolarinwa Yaqub Abioro, a Big businessman and Muslim leader passed on. In his lifetime, his personality and image loomed large on the horizon. He was a great man. He was the Seriki Musulumi Egbado & Balogun Ipokia. He was the owner of the popular TYC Records, among his many other businesses.
Its 25years since he died and his beautiful widow, Chief
Alhaja Atinuke Abioro, her daughter Mobola and granddaughter, Oluwatamilore are
all remembering him.
What sort of a person was he? Citypeople can reveal a lot
about this accomplished businessman who was well known across the South West.
He was one of the most successful businessmen of his generation and the
richest.
Let's tell you more. He was truly accomplished.
Alhaji Chief Bolarinwa Abioro was born on the 2nd of August
1927 to the humble family of Alhaji Ismail and Alhaja Falilat Abioro.
He started his early
school life at a local primary school Ipokia and later a secondary modern
school He attended teaching college and
worked as a school teacher in various secondary modern schools in the then
Egbado district. He retired as a School Principal and set up a local Gbedu
band.
He developed so much interest in music and that really
brought him to limelight with the establishment of TYC Take Your Choice. TYC
became a household name for searching for musical talents and promoting them by
buying instruments and outfits for them and also sponsoring them for overseas
trips.
Apart from musical
interests Chief Abioro was a big Cocoa Merchant with the likes of his childhood
friends like Chief Lekan Salami and others. They later came together to form an
association AWAM Egbe Awawa Association of West Africa Merchants. It was
extended to some of the men even outside Nigeria. Only one of them is alive now
to the Glory of God Almighty. The late members were Hector Omooba, the retired
Commissioner of Police, General Adeyinka Adebayo, Chief Kolawole Balogun, Chief
Adeleke Oshinjinrin, Alhaji Adeyemi Odueke, Chief Omotayo Alowonle, Chief
Olalekan Salami, Barrister Abiola Oshodi, Chief Oladipupo Onanubi, Kabiyesi Oba
Okunade Sijuade, Olanrewaju Oshikoya and Alao Oladipupo Baba Oja. The surviving
member is Chief Moses Odunuyi.
He was a strong supporter of Awolowo and contested an
election and won to the house of Assembly in the Defunct Western Region.
He ventured into
hospitality business and established Hotel Frontier in Idiroko and Royal Bed
Hotel on Allen Avenue. He also ventured into furniture and furnishings. A great
and well contractor and to the Glory of God he furnished Aso Rock Presidential
Suite during the tenure of Shagari but unfortunately he couldn’t occupy the
place before the bloodless coup that ousted his regime. He established Modern
Domus Furniture Company and also Abidomus Furniture Making Industry dealing in
both local and imported furniture and furnishings.
He had a very humble beginning but died a successful and
well fulfilled man. He was the Seriki Musulumi of Egbado Land and Balogun of
Ipokia. He left various marks in Egbado district. He was a great God father to
many successful Governors and Senators without asking for personal rewards but
good governance all over Nigeria. He was
the greatest humble successful man of great integrity. He was a very good
friend to many great and successful men both living and late too numerous to
mention, A great philanthropist and generous to a fault. He bought Records
Manufacturers of Nigeria Limited which remains the first pioneer recording
company for many artists on or not on TYC labels.
His widow describes
him as the best husband any woman could pray for and a wonderful father and
grandfather. His busy schedules did not prevent him from taking his wives and
children to Mecca for Haji and also yearly overseas trips for holidays. His
houses in Lagos, Ipokia and London are open to all his friends and family
members.
He died on the 28th of February 1996 suddenly without any
sickness and was survived by nine successful children and two wives, Alhaja
Muyibat Abioro and Alhaja Dr. Atinuke Anike Abioro.
May his kind soul
continue to rest in perfect peace. Apart from his biological children he
brought up many other children and had over fifteen adopted successful
children.
How did the widow of late Alhaji Bolarinwa Yaqub Abioro
remember him? It is with prayers. For her, it’s a time for sober reflections.
She wrote a moving tribute. "Even in death you are
never forgotten by Ipokia people, both old and young. You are highly
appreciated my love and Ipokia is progressively moving forward, Alhaji Yakubu
Ishola Bolarinwa Abioro, Omo Awuko gbinrin bi Eni nla igi.Omo asu Dede bi ojo.
Omo afatari wo ran."
"I am grateful to Almighty Allah for giving you to me
as a husband. Olowo ori Atinuke baby. Oko mi atata sun reo. Sun re sun re
ololufe mi"
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