Mr. Jimoh Odutola(1905-2009) who was to be described as the uncrowmed Baron of Business in Africa started business with 6 pounds on December 7 1921. Exactly 90 years ago. As he put it he became responsible for his own Pot of stew at the age of 16.He sold the African Business man to the rest of the world having in his hey days covered one third of the Globe including being the first African man to fly over the North Pole. He revealed in his days when he started out he only needed a Hand sake to conclude a businees deal. no need for Lawyers
December 7 is also by the Christians the feast of Saint Ambrose and Saint Ambrose the patron Saint of Milan,Italy and Milan the Industrial and commercial Capital of Italy as well as the Fashion Capital of the World. Jimoh Odutola did business with the People of Milan for over 60 years.He excelled in Industry , Commerce and the Fashion related Textile Business.In an interview with Reuben Abati of the Guardian( March 18 2000) he afffirmed that he was confident his Photograph would be recognised in any newspaper in Italy.
Jimoh Odutola was born on March 16 1905,an important day in Italy for it marked the wedding ofthe Father of wireless Telegraphy, Gugliemo Marconi,then the greatest Italian scientist and one of the world" s greatest.The cream of the Italian sociiety must have gatthred to attend this wedding.
Jimoh Odutola not a politician and better known in Europe than his home country found a friend in Obafemi Awolowo who had a soft spot for the Italian, Garibaldi, patroit, guerrila fighter and always in opposition in Nigerian politics. Awo was always in opposistion in Nigerian Politics. Awolowo lived at Apapa. There used to be a lot of Italians at Apapa Lagos.
Awolowo is also reminding of the italian Enrico Fermi.
Fermi was called" the Pope." because he was always right.He was a theoretician as well as being an experimentalistHe won the War for the U.S. president Harry S.Truman.Tested the Nuclear reactor as invented by him on December 2 1942 in a squash Raquet Court.
Relatedly Awolowo is called the sage because of his wisdom.He has been described as being a practical economist as well as a Political theoretician.He was the Chief strategist for the Nigerian head of State Yakubu Gowon During the Civil war. He had a Son on December 3 1942 who was to become an Avid Squash Raquet Player.
Jimoh Odutola who became the leader of Muslims in Ijebu Ode stopped fasting at the instance of an Italian , Pope because when he was visiting Italy sometime,the then Pope advised those who had attained a particular age to refrain from fasting.But he continued to have Children
Jimoh Odutola was apprenticed to a cattle trader at the age of Ten. The only school he attended was a koranic School.He ttaught himself to read and write English
He started the first tyre factory in West Africa,first Foam factory in West Africa and was the first man to discover raw Gold in Nigeria.
It was when he was still into buying and selling here in London he was told "any fool can buy and sell not any fool can produce" So he went into Manufacturing.
Of his Business Philosophy he opined that the purpose of Businees is taking care of people.He revealed that at the time he was making use of accountants there were no accountants in Nigeria he had to be flying in his accountants from Ghana.Of the present crop of accountants in Nigeria he affirmrs they are arrogant. On Manufacturing he affirms Nigerian needs somebody who understands technology.
The Igbos are thought to have formed the Peoples Club of Onistha on March 14 1972 to check the adventures in Business of Jimoh Odutola whom they thought was trying to buy up the whole of Nigeria
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