…from the refugee camp to the boardroom, my encounters with a living legend
Pa Adebutu’s life is not just a story to be celebrated but a legacy to be emulated. His 90 years remind us that greatness is not in years lived, but in lives touched and that the true monument of a man is built in the hearts of those he hetu’s life not just a sBy Dayo DaSilva
By Dayo DaSilva
“If you are blessed, your blessings are only complete when others benefit from them.”
— Chief Sir Kessington Adebukunola Adebutu, CON, OON
When in the early 90s I was assigned to cover an assignment at the Oru Refugee Camp in Ogun East Senatorial District, I had no idea I was walking into a story that would stay with me forever. As a young reporter with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), I was there to cover the plight of Liberian refugees who had fled their war-torn homeland. But that day, amid the tents and tears, I met one of the greatest humanists of our time, Chief Sir Kessington Adebukunola Adebutu, OON, CON, popularly known as Baba Ijebu.
That day, Nigeria’s humanitarian spirit was on full display, but it was Chief Adebutu’s presence that defined the occasion. He had come personally to deliver food items and cash donations to the refugees. What caught my attention was not just his generosity, but his humility.
When he brought out an enormous sum of cash physically and openly and handed it to the organisers, I was stunned. That was the first time I had ever witnessed such a spontaneous act of compassion where such huge amount of money will be donated in cash. It was not staged or ceremonial, it was real, from the heart.
I left Oru Refugee Camp that day not only with a story but with a lesson, that true wealth is measured not by accumulation, but by how much of it you share.
A Legacy of Giving
Years later, I would meet him again, this time during the administration of Otunba Gbenga Daniel (OGD) as Governor, when Chief Adebutu donated buildings to tertiary institutions across Ogun State. I was part of the production team that prepared jingles and materials for the event. Again, I saw his deep love for education and community development.
So, when I heard that he is marking his 90th birthday by donating ₦4 billion to support projects across Remoland, ₦1 billion each for Ikenne, Sagamu, Remo North and Iperu Remo (his hometown), I was not surprised. Generosity is not an act for Chief Adebutu, it is a lifestyle. Indeed, service is his heritage.
A Call to Purposeful Wealth
In today’s society, where material success is often celebrated without responsibility, Chief Adebutu’s life reminds us that wealth must never be allowed to waste away in vaults or vanity. Our wealth, whether big or small, is a trust and a divine opportunity to make a difference. Every naira hoarded without impact is a blessing unfulfilled. When the rich turn inward and detach from the pain of the poor, society decays. But when wealth flows through hands that heal, feed and build, humanity thrives.
This is the lesson for our rich and mighty, let your wealth speak through schools built, lives lifted and communities transformed. The true essence of success is not in what we possess, but in what we release for the good of others. The Adebutu example calls every prosperous Nigerian to think beyond luxury and legacy, to see giving as the highest form of living.
The Making of a Legend
Born on October 24, 1935, in Iperu-Remo, Ogun State, Chief Kessington Adebukunola Adebutu rose from modest beginnings to become one of Nigeria’s foremost entrepreneurs.
He began his career as a sales clerk at Cable & Wireless in 1956 before joining Claffin Chemicals as a salesman, where he worked his way up to become Regional Sales Manager.
But Adebutu’s restless drive soon found new expression in entrepreneurship. He co-founded Face-To-Face Million Dollar Pools in 1969 and later established Premier Lotto Limited (Baba Ijebu) in 2001, today Nigeria’s leading gaming company with thousands of agents, retailers and staff across the country.
Through this enterprise, he has provided employment for countless Nigerians and generated billions of naira in taxes and levies that have supported government revenues.
Philanthropy Beyond Measure
Chief Adebutu’s humanitarian footprint stretches far beyond business. Through the Kessington Adebukunola Adebutu Foundation (KAAF), established in 2005, he has impacted education, healthcare and youth empowerment.
His donations to schools, universities, hospitals and communities run into billions. From the construction of classroom blocks and libraries to the provision of medical equipment and diagnostic facilities, he has demonstrated that philanthropy can be both practical and transformative.
His DIAMED Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos, is a world-class medical facility equipped with cutting-edge diagnostic technology, including Nigeria’s first 3D mammogram machine, a powerful contribution to local healthcare and cancer prevention.
A Gentleman of Grace and Greatness
Chief Adebutu’s accolades are as numerous as his deeds. He holds the national honours of OON and CON and the revered traditional titles of Odole Oodua and Balogun of Remoland.
Despite his towering success, he remains remarkably humble. Those who know Pa Adebutu describe him as a man who treats everyone from the powerful to the ordinary with the same warmth and respect.
He believes in hard work, discipline and service to humanity. To him, wealth is a trust to be used for the betterment of others, not a status symbol to flaunt.
A Personal Reflection
As a journalist, I have covered many prominent Nigerians, but Chief Sir Kessington Adebutu stands out. His consistency, his humility and his passion for people define him more than his fortune ever could.
At 90, his footsteps are still firm, his vision still clear and his heart still full of generosity. He continues to build, to give and to inspire.
In celebrating his 90th birthday, I do so not just as a reporter who once covered his stories, but as a witness to a life that embodies what leadership and humanity should be.
And as we reflect on this, each of us must ask ourselves, what are you doing to make a better society? Pa Adebutu’s life is not just a story to be celebrated but a legacy to be emulated. His 90 years remind us that greatness is not in years lived, but in lives touched and that the true monument of a man is built in the hearts of those he helps.
Happy 90th birthday, Baba Ijebu. May your days be long, your legacy lasting and your kindness eternal.
•Dayo DaSilva is a publisher and media consultant. He has reported extensively on social development, philanthropy and nation-building.
Email: dsv123ng@yahoo.com
•Opinions, positions or thoughts expressed are personal and strictly of the writer/author and do not represent the views of The Daily Crucible.
