Reverend Elijah Ajayi, a former Bursar of the University, who passed on recently at the age of 66, would be buried on November 25, 2016. Rev. Ajayi was appointed as the University Bursar on November 1, 2000 and was re-appointed for a second term on November 1, 2005.
He was born at the Boto Village, Owode District of the Obafemi/Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State on February 14, 1950. He attended the prestigious Baptist Boys High School (BBHS), Abeokuta from 1964 to 1968, where he obtained the West African School Certificate with distinctions. He was at the Derby University of Technology, Derby, United Kingdom, from November 1972 to May 1975 for the Professional Examinations of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), after which he returned to Nigeria.
In June 1976, Rev. Ajayi took up appointment with Palm Line Agencies Nigeria, Wharf Road, Apapa as Financial Accountant. He held the position admirably until 1978, when he was made the Head, Office Accountant, position he held until 1979. It is on record that he successfully introduced Costing and Management Accounting into the agency before leaving for greener pastures. In December 1979, he was appointed as a Cost and Management Accountant by the United African Company (UAC) Foods, Ijora, Lagos. In March 1982, he became the Headquarters’ Commercial Director, a position he held till 1985. He also held many other positions of responsibilities in the conglomerate before bowing-out, in 1990.
Between 1990 and 1993, he established the Sogo Ajayi and Associates (Financial and Management Consultants) and was also the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Gloriel Nigeria Limited, a general contracting, manufacturing and merchandise firm. Later in 1993, Rev. Ajayi was appointed as the Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration, by the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority. Prior to the appointment, he was the Assistant General Manager (Finance) with the Authority.
He had served as Chairman, Abeokuta District of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and a one-time National Treasurer of the Old Students’ Association, Baptist Boys High School (BBHS), Abeokuta. He had equally served as an executive committee member and Chairman, Seminar and Education Committee of ICAN, Abeokuta District Society. He was a Fellow, Institute of Chartered Management Accountants (ICMA) of London as well as Fellow, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).
Rev. Ajayi’s vast experience in FUNAAB was deployed at the Crawford University, Igbesa, where he assisted in setting up the Bursary Department of the new University, having spent almost four years. In 2014, he was honoured by the FUNAAB Alumni Association with the Meritorious Service Award.
Burial details for the former Bursar, released by the family, are as follows:
Sunday, November 13, 2016: Service of Songs at 7894, Cryden Way District, Heights MD 20747, United States of America at 12 noon.
Tuesday, November 22, 2016: Commendation/Service of Songs: 1, Egbedeyi Close, Off Ijoko road, before Mobil Filling Station, Sango by 4pm.
Thursday, November 24, 2016: Christian Wake-Keep: Ajayi Crowther Hall, Igbein, Abeokuta by 5pm.
Friday, November 25, 2016: Burial Service at St. John’s Anglican Church, Isale-Igbein, Abeokuta by 10 am. Reception follows after the Church Service at the Bishop’s Court, Onikolobo, Abeokuta.
Rev. Ajayi is survived by Deaconess Oluwafemi Ajayi, his wife of over 40 years and they are blessed with children and grandchildren.