Life Story of Mr. Richard Olawunmi Adesanya

Mr. Richard Olawunmi Adesola Adesanya was born on November 3, 1934, in a village called Toliwotoga, Imobi, located in the Ijebu Province of the Southern Protectorate of Nigeria (now Ogun State, Nigeria).

His parents were Papa Ashiru Adesanya Orenaike of Odoragushin, and Mama Ayanfowora Ann (née Adekoya) of Ibonwon. He was the fourth (and youngest) child in the family behind his sister Wulemotu Adesanya, and two brothers: Anthony Adesanya and Yahaya Adesanya. At the time of his birth, official birth certificates and civil registration were not available in the region. However, a family member, Mrs. Rosalia Adeigbo, maintained a diary to record key family events.

In those days, children began primary school when they were physically able to place their right hand over their head to touch their left ear—a local method of assessing readiness for school (and the last names recorded for them were often their father’s first names).

Before starting school, Richard helped his father with farming, especially cultivating cash crops on a commercial scale, and fishing for home consumption.

He began his formal education at the only local school available: Roman Catholic Mission (RCM) School in Oko-Makun, approximately four kilometres from Toliwotoga (although it definitely felt like eight kilometers). He likely started school between the ages of 7 and 8.

His aunt, Mrs. Rosalia Adeigbo, fondly known as Mama Zaria, later took him to Zaria. After a short stay with her, she sent him to live with his brother, Mr. Anthony Adebayo Adesanya, in Gusau (now the capital of Zamfara State). There, he continued and completed his primary education at the Anglican Primary School.

After completing school, Richard returned to Toliwotoga and engaged in local crafts and trades, such as making cane chairs, baskets, and brooms, as well as fishing and collecting palm kernels for sale.

He then moved to Epe, where he was employed by CFAO—a French trading company involved in textiles and beverages—as a cleaner and messenger.

Later still, he relocated to Ijebu-Ode and lived with Mr. Adefeko, the headmaster of the West Africa Church School. Mr. Adefeko mentored him in shorthand and typing while he prepared for his GCE exams.

Thanks to the Olisa of Ijebu-Ode who was also the chairman of the Ijebu-Ode District Council, Richard secured a job as a typist and committee clerk. He worked in various departments within the council before deciding to pursue further education in the United Kingdom in May 1961.

He travelled to the UK by sea, enduring a 14-day journey that took him from Lagos to Marseille in France. The “boat” stopped many times, at Tema and Takoradi in Ghana, Abidjan, Freetown, Bathurst (now Banjul), Dakar, Las Palmas, and in Casablanca, Morocco. Once in Marseille, he made his way overland to Calais, France, despite speaking no French whatsoever and then landed in England through the port of Dover.

Upon arrival in London, he started working the very next day with Lion’s Caterers. A few months later, he took a position with the Board of Trade as a clerical assistant.

While working during the day, Richard pursued evening studies and earned his GCE Ordinary and Advanced Levels. He married Mrs. Mathilda Taiwo Adesanya (née Adenaike) on November 11, 1963.

In 1964, he gained admission to what is now the University of Bradford to study for a BSc in Social Sciences. The London County Council awarded him a scholarship, which allowed him to pursue his studies full-time. He graduated in July 1967.

Immediately after graduation, he was employed by British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) as a trainee in airline operations. This role included both classroom instruction in the UK and practical training in various places across the world (including Melbourne and Sydney, Australia; Hong Kong; Lusaka, Zambia; Accra, Ghana; Shanghai, China; Bombay and Calcutta, India; Karachi, Pakistan; Rome, Italy; Frankfurt, Germany, Nairobi, Kenya, Entebbe, Uganda; Honolulu, Hawaii; Tokyo, Japan; Lagos and Kano in Nigeria).

Richard returned to Nigeria in November 1970 with his family and joined Texaco Nigeria Limited, where he underwent extensive training in petrol sales management. He was then posted to Kano as Regional Manager for the northern states.

Eventually, he left Texaco to establish his own company, Associated Nigeria Hospital Equipment Limited, which specialised in healthcare consultancy services.

He was an avid Rotarian and a Paul Harris Fellow. He participated in many international Rotary conventions and was a past president of the Rotary Club of Kano – the first Rotary Club chartered in Nigeria.’ 

After a successful career, Mr. Adesanya retired in 2009 due to advanced glaucoma, which severely impaired his ability to read and write.

He lived a long and fulfilled life, and joined the saints triumphant on October 15, 2025 – three weeks to his 91st birthday.