Late Babalaje’s 105-Year Legacy: Son Challenges Youth on Integrity, Philanthropy

…As family, Clerics, Adeleke Celebrate Deceased’s Contributions To Ede

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

The first son of the late Babalaje of Edeland, Alhaji Muftau Kolapo Lawal, has challenged the younger generation to embrace integrity, kindness, justice and philanthropy, saying the values people uphold and the lives they touch remain their most enduring legacies.

Lawal gave the charge while reflecting on the life and times of his father, who died at the age of 105 and was laid to rest in Ede, Osun State, on Saturday.

He urged young Nigerians to shun injustice and wrongdoing, stressing that the late patriarch’s commitment to truth, generosity and kindness offered important lessons for building a peaceful and united society.

“Let us refrain from doing evil and embrace goodness, just as my late father did throughout his lifetime,” he said.

He added that the younger generation should cultivate the habit of doing good, noting that such values would positively shape the future.

“My father loved goodness and was a man who always showed kindness to others. He hated injustice and cherished truth and honesty.

“May we, his children, continue to uphold these good virtues and always do what is right,” Lawal said.

The appeal has placed renewed attention on the role of family values, responsible wealth and community service in shaping society, particularly at a time when public conversations increasingly focus on leadership, accountability and the responsibility of successful individuals to give back to their communities.

A prominent Islamic preacher in Osun State, Sheikh Abdullahi Akanni Olorunlomerue, also called on philanthropists and well-meaning Nigerians to follow the deceased’s example by supporting the less privileged and investing in causes that promote unity and religious development.

Olorunlomerue described the late Babalaje as a generous individual who deployed his resources to bring people together and support Islam.

He recalled that the deceased was the first person to make a substantial donation towards the construction of the Ede Central Mosque, describing the contribution as evidence of his commitment to religious development.

“We have lost a good man, a man who used his wealth, kindness and exemplary character to unite the people,” the cleric said.

He urged Nigerians to recognise that wealth acquired during one’s lifetime becomes more meaningful when it is used to improve the lives of others.

“I urge everyone, particularly the younger generation, to emulate his good deeds by giving to the less privileged because this life is ephemeral,” he added.

Beyond his contributions to the community, the late Babalaje was remembered by his family as a devoted husband and father who provided for his household and treated his four wives with equal affection.

His first wife, Oyeladun Lawal, described him as a loving husband who ensured that his wives and children were well cared for.

“Our husband was a good man who loved the four of us equally. We never lacked anything, as he took good care of his wives and children. He was a loving and caring husband and father. We will greatly miss him,” she said.

His granddaughter, Rukayat Lawal, also recalled his affection for his children, grandchildren and other people around him, describing him as a caring and supportive family figure.

The late Babalaje’s contributions also attracted tributes from Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, who described him as a pillar of community development and an important figure in Yoruba commercial history.

In a condolence message, Adeleke said the deceased was more than a successful businessman, describing him as a symbol of enterprise whose contributions to the economic and social development of Ede and the wider Osun community would remain significant.

“Chief Lawal was more than a successful businessman; he was a statesman of commerce, a pillar of community development, and a living archive of twentieth-century Yoruba enterprise,” the governor said.

Adeleke added that the deceased exemplified integrity, hard work and community service, expressing confidence that his legacy of philanthropy and devotion to his people would inspire future generations.

He prayed for Allah to grant the deceased Al-Jannah Firdaus and give his family and the people of Ede the strength to bear the loss.

The final burial ceremony, held in Ede on Saturday, attracted the Timi of Ede, other traditional rulers, businesspeople, community leaders and other dignitaries, who gathered to honour the late community figure.

The tributes converged on a common message: that the true worth of a life is measured not only by the wealth accumulated but also by the values upheld, the people supported and the positive influence left behind.