Chapter 01
The Early Years
1956 – 1976
Prince Johnson Ajibade Odunlade was born on 1 August 1956 into a humble family in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He was the second of seven children. Both his parents died before he turned fifteen, and he had to look after himself and his younger siblings.
Staying in school was a struggle. From Wednesday to Sunday he worked as a labourer, picking fruit and hawking in the markets, and saved what he could. That left Mondays and Tuesdays for school. When he couldn't pay the fee for his School Leaving Certificate exam, his teachers spoke up for him. He sat the exam and passed.
On 22 December 1976 he started work at Cooperative Bank Plc as a daily-paid labourer, earning one naira eighty kobo a day. He didn't own a clock, so on his first day he walked from Oke-Atan to Lagere and got there at 2am rather than risk being late.
"I didn't have the books to study with, so I saved all that I got from my job, eating mostly garri and kulikuli, while my colleagues spent on clothes."
Chapter 02
Becoming a Banker
1976 – 2003
While he was still a labourer, he started studying for the professional banking exams, which plenty of graduates found hard. His colleagues laughed at him. He borrowed the books he couldn't afford and kept going.
In 1994 he became a Chartered Member of the Institute of Bankers of Nigeria. His manager congratulated him in front of everyone in the banking hall, the Iyaloja of Ejigbo celebrated him, and his colleagues took him out to a hotel. They all knew what it had taken.
He was later made Branch Manager and ran branches in Ile-Oluji, Benin City and Ado-Ekiti. In 1998, while managing the Benin branch at a time when armed robbery there was common, he finished a Master's in Banking and Finance at the University of Benin. He still came home every weekend.
"Whatever God you are serving, continue to serve, because we attempted all means to nullify you, yet we did not succeed."
Chapter 03
Teaching and Business
2006 – 2012
He left banking in 2006 and became a lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, where he headed the Department of Banking and Finance. He also wrote two banking textbooks that are still used in Nigerian schools.
At the same time he built up Ajibade Blocks and Cements, which became one of the best-known block suppliers in Ile-Ife. He often gave families credit to finish their houses, even when it cost him. He kept the company's books as carefully as any big firm would.
"Everything we have, we got from God, and giving back to others is the only way we can appreciate God for what He has given us."
Chapter 04
Faith and Family
At home and at church
For most of his last 25 years, he got up at 6am to pray and read his Bible, and at 6:30 he rang the bell for family devotion. He did this every day. Colossians 3:17 was his favourite verse. He started morning devotions at the bank branches he ran and took part in the Anglican Go-Ye programme. Some of the children he raised came from other faiths, and he never pushed his on them. He just lived it.
He was very generous and often gave his salary away before the month was out. He was honest too. When a sitting state governor asked him to put through a questionable transaction, he refused and reported it. And he was humble. Even as Branch Manager, he would step into the cashier's box himself when the queue got long.
He loved his wife deeply. In the early years they walked out together before dawn with only a kerosene lantern to light the way. He believed in keeping the family together, he was quick to forgive, and he never stopped working.
"There is nothing I want that God has not done for me."
We hope his story encourages you as much as it encourages us.
See His Legacy