Chief Dr. Adewale Babatunde Fashola

In Memoriam

Chief Dr. Adewale Babatunde Fashola was a titan of Nigerian industry, a philanthropist of rare generosity, and a father figure to thousands. Born on November 3, 1938, in Ibadan, he showed exceptional academic promise from an early age, earning a scholarship to study Economics at the University of Ibadan before completing a doctorate at the London School of Economics. Returning to Nigeria in 1968, he founded Fashola & Sons Trading Company, which grew over five decades into one of the most respected conglomerates in West Africa, with interests spanning textiles, agriculture, and real estate. Chief Fashola was equally celebrated for his philanthropy — he personally funded the construction of three secondary schools, two health clinics, and a vocational training centre across Oyo State. He served as a member of the Federal Economic Advisory Council under two administrations and received the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) in 1995. In his personal life, he was a devoted husband to Lady Comfort Fashola for 58 years, a loving father to seven children, and a doting grandfather to twenty-two grandchildren. He was a man who believed that wealth was a trust, not a trophy, and he lived that belief every single day. Nigeria has lost a great son. His legacy will endure for generations.