Descendants of Late High Chief Ojo-Seriki Mark 25th Memorial With Prayers, Charity
OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, Lagos
The children and descendants of the late High Chief Hamzat Olatoye Ojo-Seriki have commemorated the 25th anniversary of his passing with a two-day memorial programme in Ota, Ogun State, celebrating his life, values and enduring contributions to the community.
High Chief Ojo-Seriki, a former Seriki of Otta and respected member of the Olota Council, died on February 4, 2001. To mark the silver jubilee of his demise, the family organised a series of activities that combined prayers with acts of charity, reflecting the principles of service and compassion for which he was widely known.
The memorial programme commenced on Wednesday, February 3, 2026, with a humanitarian outreach to the Ijamido Motherless Baby Home, Ota. Led by the eldest son, Captain Aremu Ojo-Seriki (retd.), the family donated food items and household supplies to support the welfare of the children at the home.
Items donated included bags of rice, cartons of noodles, cooking oil, salt, soup condiments, spices and other essential household materials. The family said the outreach was deliberately chosen as part of the remembrance to symbolise their late father’s lifelong commitment to helping the vulnerable.
Speaking during the visit, Captain Ojo-Seriki said the donation was one of the activities marking the 25th remembrance of the late High Chief and a reflection of the values he bequeathed to his children.
“This visit reflects our family’s values and our father’s legacy. While he was alive, he was deeply passionate about helping ordinary people, and giving back has remained a strong part of our family tradition,” he said, adding that the family intended to sustain such charitable engagements.
He also noted that his own involvement in community development initiatives, including support for road repairs during the COVID-19 period, contributions to the renovation of the old Olota of Ota Palace, and assistance to Ansarudeen Grammar School, Ota and procurement of national examination forms for indigent students were inspired by the example set by his late father.
The second day of the memorial, held on Thursday, February 4, featured Fidau prayers at the Owoniwura Mosque, Ijana, Ota, where family members, friends and community leaders gathered to pray for the repose of the soul of the late High Chief and for the families he left behind.
Delivering a sermon at the prayer session, the Chief Imam of the mosque, Imam Abdul-Razak Olamide, described the late Ojo-Seriki as a man of honour, dignity and deep cultural pride who carried his traditional title as a sacred responsibility.
According to the cleric, the late High Chief was calm in nature, firm in principle and generous in spirit, adding that his contributions to the unity and development of Ota were modest but enduring.
“Such men do not truly depart; they live on in the values they instilled and the lives they touched,” Imam Olamide said, commending the family for preserving his legacy through acts of charity and remembrance.
Dignitaries at the Fidau prayers include; Oba (Prof.) Abdulkabir Adeyemi Obalalenge, the Olota of Ota, who was represented by Oba Hakeem Odunaro the Onikotun of Otun, Ota, Oba Clement Akinyemi, the Onijana of Ijana Ota and Honourable Wasiu Lawal, Chairman, Ado Odo-Ota Local Government Area.
A brief memoir presented by the family stated that the late High Chief, Alhaji Hamzat Olatoye Adeyemi Ojo, was born on September 14, 1934, into the Baala Esugbayi Royal Family
Son of Pa Sulaiman Ojo-Seriki and Madam Nofisatu Ojo-Seriki (nee) Aiyedogbon, with ancestral links to the Ileshi and Ijemo royal families.
He ascended the title of Seriki of Ota May 1973 and served on the Olota in Council during the reign of Oba T.T Dada and Moshood Alani Oyede (Arolagbade III) and died in February 2001
He died at the age of 67 and is remembered for his integrity, service to humanity and commitment to community development.
