ILLUSTRIOUS SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF ILOBU, 22ND EDITION
Chief Moses Ojo-Ode Anwo’s birth was not recorded. It was assumed with the events occurring at the time of his birth to be around 1924 or 1925. His family later fixed his birthday for every January 1st of the year. He was born with his placenta on his neck and naturally, he should be called Ojo. When Ifa Oracle was consulted, to know his godfather, Odebunmi, a cousin of Chief Anwo from Gbobamu's Compound was chosen. Hence, the new baby was named OJO-ODE (OJO the Hunter).
As a result of the continuous plea by the then Colonial District Officer to Olobu Ajayi Olujide, the father of Olobu Araoye to encourage the young ones to go to school, Anwo Ojo-Ode was “donated” by his grand-mother, Madam Iyolasemi, the then Iyalode of Ilobu land for schooling. Thus, he started his elementary education in 1933 at the United School, Ilobu and completed it in 1940 at All Saints School, Osogbo since the highest class then in Ilobu was Standard IV. While in the elementary school, he was converted to Christianity in 1936 and became MOSES OJO-ODE ANWO.
After his elementary education, he was appointed a Probationary Teacher in 1941. His quest to further his education took him to Teachers’ College in 1942 but when his parent could not afford to foot his bill, he bowed out and enlisted in the Army on the 30th of January, 1943. As an Army Officer, he enjoyed Secondary Education via “Army Education Crash Programme”. He graduated as a Clerk Group “B”, Class IV on the 29th May, 1943 and got discharged in the Army on the 3rd of November, 1945, having been awarded WAR SERVICE MEDAL. He served meritoriously in Ibadan, Lagos, Zaria and Bauchi.
After his disengagement from the Army, he joined the Civil Service of Nigeria as a Temporary Typist at the District Office, Agodi, Ibadan on 18th May, 1946. As a result of hard work, determination, good performance, coupled with resourcefulness and absolute loyalty to his superior officers and Government of the time, to the glory of God, he rose to the position of Chief Executive Officer GL 13 on 1st January, 1984 before retiring on 1st May, 1984.
He exploited Ilobu Progressive Union which he co-founded and that later metamorphosed into Ilobu Improvement League to achieve the following: the first Post Office building, a community centre and library presently housing IBDC, Youth Centre beside Chief Dauda Ademola Alabi’s house, Ilobu Secondary Commercial Grammar School and public sensitization for communal growth and development.
For the records, most of the files, minute books, receipts and cheque books of Ilobu Progressive Union and Ilobu Improvement league showing progressive deliberations and organized agenda for growth and developments of Ilobu are presently in the archives of the University of Ibadan library and available for inspection by the public.
For his outstanding and ever dynamic pursuance of communal goals and aspirations, the Olobu of Ilobu, Oba Ashiru Olatoye Olaniyan honoured him with a traditional title of AGBAAKIN OF ILOBU LAND in 1980.
Chief Moses Ojo-Ode Anwo died on Sunday 13th June, year 2010.
In recognition of Chief Moses Ojo-Ode Anwo outstanding contributions to the growth of Ilobu community and service to humanity all through his life time, I therefore humbly submit and present him posthumously to the whole world as an illustrious son of Ilobu Asake.
Dare Alabi,
Project Director.
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