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What Oyo MILAD, Jemibewon, did to me over ‘Joy Girl’ advert ―Omisore
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Director General, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) Foundation, Ipoola Omisore, is an ex-lawmaker and advertising guru. He told BOLA BADMUS stories of his life journey.
Can you tell us your background?
My name is Ahmed Ipoola Omisore. I was born in Ile-Ife on the 8th of July 1948 to a very large family–one of the largest families in West Africa–the Omisore family dynasty. My father was Alhaji Saliu Olayemi, the Baba Adini of Ile-Ife Muslims and the Baale of Olode town in Ife South. I attended Ansar-ul-deen Primary School in 1955, I was one of the first sets of beneficiaries of Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s free education in the old Western Region and I left in 1960 during the Independence. I was one of the beneficiaries of the free rice, free cup, free national flag, and it was very remarkable that the year was the first time I entered Lagos to attend the first Trade Fair and Exhibition at the Bar Beach, which was organised in 1960 for the Independence ceremony by the British. And it was eye-opening for a man from the hinterland to come to the city.
attended Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife in 1962 and left in 1967. Among my mates in the college was the late Dele Giwa, who was my junior in the primary school. We met again at the college, and we left at the same time. At the college, I was one of the Literary and Debating society’s men. I was a member of the crew of the school magazine called The Touch and Dele Giwa was the editor. I remember that was the time they first introduced what we called Oral English, the phonics of today and Dele Giwa was the sole candidate for Oral English in those days. All of us cut our teeth right from our school days.
What are the earliest memories of your dad?
I knew that my father earmarked me to be a Muslim Alfa (cleric). He wanted me to attend ‘Ile kewu’ to study Arabic and he said ‘among all my children I want you to serve me.’ But luckily enough, I saw my uncle taking his own children to go and register for free primary school education, so I ran and joined them. And those were the days when your right hand must touch your left ear, or your left hand must touch your right ear, and I was lucky to scale through; I was over six years or so then. In secondary school, I remember we had what we called the American corps that were seconded to Nigeria to come and teach. We had one Mr. Epner, a West Indian tutor, who brought exposure to the hinterland, and most of us who went through that school succeeded because of the exposure; people like Dele Giwa, who became a world-famous journalist, like Biodun Sote, who is a professor at UNILAG, like Mulikatu Bello, like Lawal then, who became Controller of WAEC.
And after secondary school…
Leaving secondary school, I had the background of a son of a produce merchant. My father was a produce merchant. I worked at close range with people involved in produce inspection service, grading cocoa and palm kernel in those days which was the highlight of Nigeria’s economy then. So, I insisted on becoming a produce inspector because, in those days, produce inspector was like a Custom officer who makes more money than working as a clerk. And I was employed by the Western Nigeria Ministry of Agriculture, I think, in 1968. That was after my secondary school
I trained at Onireke, seconded to the Wharf, where I became a check tester and transferred back to Ile-Ife as a produce inspector. And in those days, it was beautiful. We were earning £198 a year, £16.10 per month. Even while I was transferred back to Lagos, we were still earning that amount. I was brilliant, I passed assimilated advancement test, which was to be taken by three-year-olds in service. I took it in one and a half years, and I passed. Then my salary went to £207 per annum amounting to £17.10 per month, and that was big. But income tax would take away one pound. While Lagos was paying heavy tax then, the other part of the country was paying less. So, taxation, introduced by Awolowo, was building Western Region then. After about three years, I travelled abroad. I first of all went to Hamburg in West Germany.
What was the motivation to travel when doing well at home?
In my family, we believe in education and as at that time, we had more than 90 Omisores in England. So, it became a culture of every Omisore, after secondary school education, to travel abroad; we have a historical background there. The Omisores, as far back as 1940, were having houses and studying there. So, most of the successful Omisores went through UK and I had to follow suit. The visa was difficult then, you normally get visa at the point of entry. So, if you get to Heathrow and they say no, you’re coming back to Lagos. It’s a greater risk than turning you down at the embassy. I had to go through West Germany, Hamburg, by ship, by rail, to London.
In Germany, I went to study journalism and I discovered that German language is very difficult. So, I chose to go to England. I arrived in England July 1971and I attempted to study insurance. A month to the time I got there, they just changed their entry qualification to OND. So, I said no. I went straight to go and study advertising which was mocked by those around me, but while I was in the college, I remember I was listening to commercials. In those days, on the radio, we used to hear advert calling our attention to one particular popular product people should buy if they wanted to cook, so I like the poetic method and all that.
What really fired your imagination?
I said, “who are those doing this radio adverts?” They said it was advertising people and that was what motivated me to say, “I wanted to study it.” I like things that are literary and imaginative.
So, I joined London Polytechnic, Moorgate for a three-year course. I was quite serious and I had an uncle that told me, “You have to face your studies.” So, I followed them to the library on Saturdays and on Sundays and within six months, I finished the one-year course. So, I now checked the condition of entry for that course, nothing says that you must pass part one before you go to part two.
I said, “I can try part two now.” I looked at it and I went to correspondence school, Rapid Results College, ICS. I took correspondence; I did that at home. The reason why I took that correspondence was actually because of the English teachers. I couldn’t hear them well and I always say, “pardon, pardon” and the whole class will burst out laughing. They knew I am an African and most of them normally made sure that I don’t hear them. So, I now devised a method of reading ahead of the class.
Second year, I went to attend one of the classes. When I finished that subject and I was to go out, they asked “won’t you wait for the next subject?” I said, “I had passed it.” And my classmates then were already in the industry and were top advertising men in their companies. So they said, “What do you mean?” I said, I passed it and I brought out the results sheet. They said this man had done an illegal thing. I read the conditions and nothing says otherwise. The lecturer then replied that “it is true; nothing says he cannot do it.” They went to the institute to find out, the institute said nothing stops me from doing so and that is why if you go to my school in the UK today, my name is still engraved on an 11-storey building as winner of Best African Student Award.
Nigerian Tribune
The Benin monarch, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, has set July 10 as the date to place a curse on kidnappers, armed robbers, and anyone posing a security threat in his domain and in Edo State in general.
Oba Ewuare II set the date for his meeting with native doctors, the water goddess priestess Osokpikan, and adherents of Aiyelala and Olokun.
He told them to bring all instruments in their possession on that date to perform the exercise.
According to him, “Today is a great day. I welcome you with the power of our ancestors. Many things that are not supposed to be happening are happening in this state. We have to pray. Those that want to destroy the kingdom will not succeed.”
Speaking through Chief Osaigbovo Osamwonyi, the Akenuwa of Benin, Oba Ewuare II said his efforts were to support the state government to ensure peace reigns in the state.
“You all know what is happening. The Oba is trying to bring peace. All the bad things are what we want to wipe away. Use all that you have to send all the wicked ones away, so that we can have a good sleep.
“We don’t want kidnapping, armed robbery and other social vices in this state. We want peace. The Palace has done much behind closed doors. Use all that you have to chase away wicked ones.
“After 10 days, you all will return to the Palace with all you have to place a curse on whoever and wherever they are. We want to see change.”
On his part, Chief Egboye said, “Our Oba called us to remove all the wahala in this state. The prayers and actions will work. That is what our forefathers did. It has never failed.”
The Ohen N’ Ogbeguma N’ Ayen, Princess Juliet Ehigiamusoe, said they would come out with all things in the river and on the land to carry out the Oba’s order.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said it has concluded the return airlift of Nigerian pilgrims from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj exercise.
The commission said that the completion of the return leg brought the 2026 Hajj operations to a close.
NAHCON Chairman, Amb. Ismail Yusuf expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for the overall success of the 2026 Hajj exercise.
He thanked President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for their support in the operation’s success.
According to NAHCON, 12 Nigerian pilgrims were still receiving treatment in various hospitals in Saudi Arabia for various health conditions.
The commission said, “NAHCON is closely monitoring their situations and has made arrangements to facilitate their safe return to Nigeria as soon as they are discharged from the hospitals.
“NAHCON also appreciates the cooperation and hard work of state pilgrims’ welfare boards, licensed tour operators, service providers, aviation partners, medical teams, security personnel, the media and, most importantly, Nigerian pilgrims.
“The commission acknowledges that, as with every major operation of this scale, there were challenges encountered in the course of the exercise.”
The commission added that valuable lessons had been learnt from the exercise, which would be applied to improve subsequent Hajj operations.
It said that, in line with the commission’s commitment to continuous improvement and early planning, it had formally commenced preparations for the 2027 Hajj exercise.
“This was conveyed to all Hajj managers in Nigeria through a circular dated June 15. Consequently, state pilgrims’ welfare boards/agencies/commissions and licensed private tour operators are directed to commence preparatory activities immediately.
“This should be done in strict compliance with the official preparation document for the 2027 Hajj season as received from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah,” the commission said.
President Bola Tinubu has said that his administration was building road infrastructure to lay the needed physical foundation for a knowledge-driven economy, stressing that education, justice, and innovation need roads to thrive.
Tinubu stated this in Abuja on Tuesday, while flagging off the construction of Collector Road CO1 in the Institutional Research District, from Nile University to Ring Road III.
Represented by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, the President said that the project included dualisation of the road from Baze University roundabout to Nile University, that is the Base University.
He noted that three years into his administration, the results were speaking out.
“From the Southern Parkway to the Institution and Research District, we are laying the physical foundation for a knowledge-driven economy.
“Today, we provide those roads that are needed to provide justice, education, and innovation to our people.
“To the university community, this road is more than a route. It is a connection between learning, law, and the future of our capital,” he said.
He pointed out that the Institution and Research District was designed to be the intellectual heart of Abuja, adding that universities, law chambers, research centers, and innovation hubs were growing in the area.
He, however, stressed that ideas could not move if roads do not move and connect the heart and people together.
Tinubu further said: “Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, we made a choice to finish what was started and to start what we must finish.
“The first phase of this corridor connecting the Body of Benchers, Nile, and Base University is done and ready for commissioning. Today, we begin the next phase to Ring Road III to complete the loop.
“That is how we build a city—with a plan. Not a city of abandoned pieces. Infrastructure must be continuous, and it must also be useful to the people within the environment”.
He commended FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for turning FCT into a delivery agency, stressing that the transformation of Abuja under the minister’s watch is bold, visible and worthy of commendation.
He said, “Wike, your energy is unmatched. You took over a capital with many stalled projects and turned the FCTA into a delivery agency. ‘Mr. Projects’ is not a slogan, it is a record. You have revived sleeping roads, built new interchanges, and brought development to satellite towns. You have domesticated the Renewed Hope Agenda; street by street, district by district. The transformation of Abuja under your watch is bold, visible, and worthy of commendation. Well done, Minister Wike.”
In his remarks, Wike explained that the project was considered following a plea by the Body of Benchers to provide access roads to ease the movement of people in and out of the area.
He assured FCT residents that the Tinubu administration would fulfill all the promises made to the people of FCT, adding that the project would be completed by January 2027.
The minister said that he would continue to deliver life-impacting projects to FCT residents as directed by Tinubu, stressing that the delivery would not be affected by 2027 political activities.
Earlier, acting Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority, Mr Richard Dauda, said that the Institutional Research District of the FCT is located in Phase III of the city.
Dauda said that the area was planned to accommodate educational institutions like universities, research institutions, and other government institutions as provided in the Abuja master plan.
He added that the district was being developed in stages, with this project being a major intervention in the opening of this district.
He explained that the scope of the current stage involved the construction of Collector Road CO1, from the Nile University to Ring Road III with a total length of about six kilometres.
He added that the project also included the dualisation of the section from the Base University Junction to Nile University.
Benin monarch to place a curse on kidnappers, armed robbers, fixes date
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