Yoyinsola Makanjuola: The kind teacher and pious matriarch clocks 70

BY BABATUNDE JOSE

Kind yet resourceful, quiet yet steely, pious yet accomplished, Alhaja Lateephat Yoyinsola Abimbola Awero Makanjuola embodies the salient attributes of the African matriarch. She is the unassuming matriarch of the Makanjuola family, the loving and good wife of Mr. Aderemi Makanjuola, the affectionate mother of four well-raised and illustrious children, and the beloved “Auntie” of the pupils she has nurtured as a devoted teacher and educationist for almost 50 years. As she clocks the landmark age of 70, she can look back with gratitude to Allah about the immeasurable joy she has brought into the lives of many and use the opportunity to rededicate herself to doing much more in the service of God and humanity.  

She was born on 26 September 1951, at Idun Shagbe, Isale Eko to a well-heeled Lagos family. Her father was the late Salmon Beckery Folami (S.B Folami), a renowned chartered accountant at the then Standard Bank of West Africa, now First Bank of Nigeria. Also one of the Executive Directors of the then National Bank of Nigeria, S.B. Folami was a scion of the famous Folami family of the late Taiwo Olowo dynasty of Lagos. Their progenitor, Taiwo Conrad, hailed from Isheri and was a descendant of the famous Olofin Agbodere of Isheri, an Awori who traced his roots to Ile Ife. Taiwo Conrad was so enterprising that the suffix ‘Olowo’ (monied man) was added to his name. He was a very generous man as his great-granddaughter would later turn out to be.

Her mother, late Rianat Ojuolape, was the first daughter of H.M. Ali-Balogun (LLB) of Ali-Oloko fame and the first granddaughter of Pa Ali-Balogun, a business mogul in Lagos Island. It would be recalled that in 1924 during the Lagos Central Mosque Imamate crisis, Ali Oloko felt slighted and went on to build his own mosque, complete with an Imam. Ali Oloko was a deeply religious man, and so would be his great-granddaughter. His wealth has remained the stuff of legends. Abibu Oluwa, lamenting on why a rich man like Ali Oloko should die, sang in one of his ballads: “Ali Oloko b’oti lowo to, iku ko o mu’lo”.

Despite that she was born into privilege on both sides of her family, she was raised on several key values that have defined her life. One of such key values is the love of education. She was raised by educated parents and not left behind like other female children whose parents found it abhorrent at that time to send the girl-child to school. Her parents not only sent her to school, but they also ensured that she attended the best schools and later sent her to England to further her studies. Her education was not restricted to the Western one. She was brought up in a Muslim home and as such she was able to embrace Islam at an early age. This would account for her religious disposition and fear of God in everything that she does.

Her immersion in Western and Islamic education would shape her future career choice. She would grow up to become a teacher, a life vocation that would earn her the sobriquet ‘Auntie’, as she is much loved by her students. The recently crowned Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, was once her pupil. So also was David Oyelowo, OBE, the Hollywood-based, British actor and multiple award winner. There are many more in different spheres of life. Because of her deep love for education, it was only natural that the beloved Auntie would later set up her own school.

Yoyin started on this path when she commenced her early education in 1955 at the St Mary Convent School located on Broad Street, Lagos, from where she later proceeded to Tinubu Methodist School for her primary school education in 1956. For her secondary education, she attended the well-known Aunty Ayo Girls Comprehensive Secondary School at Ikoyi, Lagos. During her secondary school years, she excelled in extracurricular activities. She was Secretary of the French Society between 1967 and 1968 and in her final year was a School Prefect and simultaneously the President of the Geographical Club.

After her secondary education, she worked briefly at the Foreign Exchange Department of Wema Bank and later enrolled into the London Institute of Bankers. Her yearning to further her education and her innate love for children made her proceed to the United Kingdom in 1972 where she attended St Nicolas Training College for Early Learners to obtain Higher Diploma in Childhood Education in Nursery and Primary, both under the Montessori Method of Education. She later worked as an instructor at the Kennedy Montessori School in Chelsea, London and the Melting Port Foundation School, Irlam in the City of Salford, in Greater Manchester.

Before going to England, Yoyin met a young man whom she would fall in love with and would later marry in the United Kingdom. He is Muyinudeen Aderemi Makanjuola, her husband of 45 years and still going strong. It started as a chance meeting at a ‘prom’ party, when Remi Makanjuola toasted the lady he would later describe as ‘the girl with the twinkling eyes’. She did not stay long at the party, so a mutual friend, Bisi Elias, had to play the role of ‘alarena’. He introduced the two and there started a love that would blossom into marriage.

Shortly after they met, Remi won a scholarship to proceed abroad for his university education. Fortunately, Yoyin too was billed to proceed to England to further her studies. Unfortunately for the duo, however, Remi’s scholarship was to Bulgaria where he had to learn the language and where the weather was inhospitable. Remi did not enjoy his stay and had to ask for a reposting which the scholarship board approved. That was how Remi found himself in Leicester University in the UK and was thereafter reunited with Yoyin. They did not waste time. At the earliest opportunity in September 1976 at the age of 28 and 25 respectively, they got married at the Wandsworth Wedding Registry, London, surrounded by their relatives available in the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, Remi had moved to the University of Manchester for his post-graduate studies. It was here that Yoyin gave birth to their first child, Olabode, who today is the Managing Director of the Caverton Group, and a scion of the Makanjuola dynasty. A testimony to the hard work and parental guidance of the duo, Olabode was a product of the University of Leicester too, where he graduated with a first degree in Mechanical Engineering. He later earned a master’s degree in Trade, Shipping and Finance from City Business School, London. The couple returned to Nigeria in 1978 and with her foreign experience, she took up teaching jobs at the prestigious American International School, Victoria Island, Lagos, from where she moved on to Adrao International School also in Victoria Island, and later to St. Saviour’s Trust School located within Railway Compound at Ebute Metta, Lagos.

In 1985, after years of tutelage garnering experience and exposure in various schools, Yoyin established her own school: ROLAM Preparatory School. She channelled into this school her zeal for raising children and preparing them for the future. She has since then been and remains the Proprietor/Administrator of ROLAM School, a school widely renowned for quality education, producing pupils who progress to highly reputable schools within the Federation and beyond to become professionals in their respective fields. The school has grown to become a fountain of academic excellence and a beacon of hope to the young generation.

With time, Yoyin’s family grew with the birth of Adeniyi, Rotimi and their only daughter, Lolade—all of whom she nurtured with her husband to become successful in their chosen fields. Adeniyi, her second son, studied Financial Economics at the prestigious University College of London, before he took up flight training as a rotary wing pilot. Rotimi obtained a degree in Economics from the University of Bradford, followed by an M.Sc. from Cass Business School. Ololade studied Computer Science at Kings College before obtaining a Master’s in Air Transport from Cranfield University. They have all grown into worthy ambassadors of the Makanjuola clan and sound professionals. Though Yoyin and her husband never planned for their children to study with Caverton in mind, Allah has used these children to prove that He is the best planner.

Significantly, Yoyinsola has proven to be a very good wife, a life companion, and a most compassionate helper. There is no wonder that the love that started between her and her husband 47 years ago is still waxing strong. Yoyin no doubt has been the soul of the fantastic Makanjuola marriage. The husband’s state of mind depends on the home to a great extent. It is the duty of the wife to, among other things, keep a healthy environment at home and to share, discuss and find solution to problems jointly, and when this happens the man will thank the Almighty for gifting him such a mature and understanding wife. This I know that my friend Remi does all the time. She cares for and empathises with the less privileged and remains happiest with a growing family and amid children. Her love for football is endearing. She is a lifelong fan of Manchester United. She also loves music and dancing—this I can attest to as I have seen her display, though at closed social events. It is also said that she loves dancing for her husband who loves playing music.  

She is above all a devout Moslem and remains highly religious. She strives never to miss her annual pilgrimage which provides her the opportunity to commune with her God. She remains an active member of NASFAT and the Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria. She belongs to many educational bodies including the World Organization for Early Learners (she was at one time the organisation’s Social Secretary), the Association of Private School Owners, and the Olive Baden Powell Society for Girls Guide. In addition to the above, she belongs to the following organisations: 6O+ Advocacy (an NGO), Society for the Elderly in the Society (member of the Governing Board) and International Girl Guide Organisation.

Yoyin and her husband have been blessed by Allah and the society has given them much honour, it is therefore expected that they should give back to society out of that which they had been given. Yoyin has been paying back through the only way she knows—and that is by helping the educationally needy. In furtherance of this spirit of payback, she is donating three of her publications, being launched as part of her birthday celebration, free to schools and children. The books among several other children’s books she has authored are: “In the Light of Islam for Children,” “Who am I?” and Moral Values for Children’s Exploration.”

In all these Allah has been benevolent and faithful to Yoyinsola and she has always been thankful in many ways. But Allah has also visited his tests on her, even right from childhood when she lost her loving father at the age of seven. Her faith was again tested when she lost her mother while she was in faraway England. Her husband Muyinudeen gave her succor with a promise to take care of her which he has done beyond imagination. However, she has recently faced other tests which could have tried the soul of a faithless person, but she has taken them in her stride, especially with the support of her husband and children. She would lose her granddaughter, which caused her much pain. But Allah has told us that His ways are not our ways. Finally, she had part of her beautiful home and citadel gutted by a mysterious fire, which occasioned the need for the family to relocate pending repairs. But, as they say, it might have been the wish of Allah to add a new beauty to their home.

We are therefore pleased to celebrate a good wife, who has turned 70, our very own Lateephat Yoyinsola Abimbola Awero; a good mother, friend, sister, grandmother, and amiable wife of 45 years of our friend and brother, Muyinudeen Aderemi Makanjuola. We wish her many happy returns.

Mr. Jose is a friend of Mr. Remi Makanjuola, the Chairman of the Caverton Offshore Support Group.