Wahab Iyanda Folawiyo

Abdulwahab Iyanda Olayinka Folawiyo was born on June 16th, 1928 in Lagos State, Nigeria, to Pa Tijani, a successful Lagos merchant. Wahab was one of Nigeria's industry icons during his time. Known with his title of Baba Adinni of Nigeria, he was a pillar of Islam in the country and also a philanthropist.

Wahab Iyanda Folawiyo Age

Wahab Iyanda Folawiyo would have been 95 years old, if he were alive today. May his soul rest in peace.

Wahab Iyanda Folawiyo Early Life

Wahab attended Olowogbowo Methodist Primary School, Lagos from 1934 to 1941. He had his secondary education at Ilesha Grammar School in Ilesha, Osun State. In 1951, he attended the famous North-Western Polytechnic where he studied Management with a focus on Ship Brokerage. While in the UK, he came the only African Principal Member of the Baltic Exchange in the City of London.

Wahab Iyanda Folawiyo Career

Wahab returned to Nigeria in 1957 and founded an enterprise called Yinka Folawiyo & Sons, which is responsible for importing and exporting goods between Nigeria and Europe. The business includes shipping, banking, construction, agriculture and energy. A subsidiary of the firm, The Yinka Folawiyo Group, includes the Maritime Associates (International) Limited, Nigerian Green Lines Limited, Folawiyo Farms Limited, Ilora, Oyo State; Folawiyo Fisheries Limited, Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum Company Limited, United Property Developers Limited, Yinka Folawiyo Electrical & Mechanical Company Limited, Y.F Power Limited and Folawiyo Energy Ltd.

Wahab was at the forefront of Islamic advancement, educational development and sports improvement. He also contributed majorly to the construction of mosques all over the country including the Lagos Central Mosque, the Sultan Bello Mosque in Kaduna, and Surulere Central Mosque, Lagos which he single-handedly financed.

Alhaji Folawiyo was the sole sponsor of the Yinka Folawiyo U-15 Athletics Championships and the National Amateur Wrestling Championships, both annual national events of many years running. He also founded the Bab-Es-Salam Home which he dedicated to the upbringing and education of orphans. He also made significant contributions to the development funds of numerous states in the Federation. He contributed to the endowment funds of many Nigerian Universities and has vigorously supported research into various fields of knowledge, notable among which is the Virus Research in the University of Ibadan.  In June 1998, he became the first private individual to put together a physical structure in the University of Lagos when he upgraded the University's Health Centre to a full-fledged hospital complete with an X-Ray Unit.

Wahab Iyanda Folawiyo Personal Life

Wahab was married and had children including Tijani Babatunde Folawiyo, who is currently the managing director of Yinka Folawiyo Group. He lived in Ikoyi, Lagos where he died June 6th, 2008, ten days to his 80th birthday.

Wahab Iyanda Folawiyo Awards

Alhaji Wahab held numrous awards and titles, some of which include;

• Baba Adini of Nigeria, a chieftaincy title
• Grand Patron of Nigerian Muslim Council
• Chairman, Executive Council of the Lagos Central Mosque
• Honorary Fellow, Chartered Institute of Transport
• Fellow of the Commonwealth Journalists Association
• Chairman, Maize Association of Nigeria and Patron
• Institute of Freight Forwarders of Nigeria
• Order of Federal Republic, OFR, conferred on him in 1982
• Commander of the Order of the Niger, CON, on November 16th, 2000.
• Chancellor, Lagos State University on April 17th, 1999.
• Patron of the Nigerian British Chamber of Commerce.
• Doctor of Law by the University of Cross River State, Uyo, 1991,
• Doctor of Letters by Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1992
• Doctor of Science by the Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos, 1998
• Key to Dade County, Florida, USA
• Millennium Award of Doctor of Science, University of Lagos

Wahab Iyanda Folawiyo Net Worth

His net worth is not available.

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