A ‘How Education Made Me’ Special Interview with His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Adedokun Abolarin,

So, can you please tell us a little about what life was like for you while growing up?

I grew up in Ibadan. Shortly before independence, two years before independence. So I’m a product of the turbulence of the Western regional crisis. As a small boy, I saw it all. And my mum’s shop was very close to prominent political actors so I learned a lot. I grew up to see powerful people all around us. And that was probably when I made up my mind to be a powerful participant in the political process myself one day. That was when Chief Obafemi Awolowo was in prison and Chief S.L Akintola was the Premier of the Western Region. Chief A.M.A Akinloye’s house was not far from my mom’s shop. And the Chief Electoral Commissioner in the Old Western Region, Chief Ojerinola, his house was not too far from our house too. So I saw power. So with the military coup of 1966, then the counter coup of 1967, and the Nigerian Civil War which also commenced in 1967. There were many non Yorubas at my primary school but by the time that we resumed, they were all gone. So the question was, why? Anyway, growing up was fun. Daddy, being a primary school headmaster, was a lover of education. And so it was read, read, read. My mom left teaching way back when I was a baby and started trading. However, my major regret was not being taught how to make money. They were able to make money on their own. But we were not brought up to make money. We were always in my mum’s shop. But not to participate in terms of buying or selling around. They didn’t allow us to do that. So that’s one thing that I regret. I entered secondary school in 1970 and went to a Christian school, Adventist Grammar School in Ede, Osun state. And to the glory of God, many of us, cousins, met there. It was a family school. And to the glory of God, very many of us are still together till date. Though many of us are gradually leaving the stage in terms of death and what have you. So growing up was fun.