Family History

Early life and education

Chief Benjamin Albert Feyiṣayọ Olúwọlé (a.k.a. Big Ben) was born on Tues­day, 7th April 1885 at Ijebu-lgbo, Ogun State into the family of Balogun Onaile Olúwọlé, the Arowoshugbo of Ojowo and the Balogun of Ijebu­Remo, and of the royal lineage of Latawa, Sagamu; His mother was Mrs. Abigail Towobola Oluwole. His immediate siblings (same mother) were: Samuel Mobolaji Olúwọlé, Madam Alice Efubowale Olúwọlé, Madam Oluyele Olúwọlé and Isaac Olufusi Olúwọlé.

Chief Ben Olúwọlé had his pri­mary education at Methodist Mis­sion School, Oko, Sagamu and St. Peters Primary School, Faji, Lagos (1891-1897). In Lagos he stayed with His Excellency Governor Egerton in the State House and accompanied him on his furloughs to London and Surrey in the United Kingdom.

He had his secondary/high school education at Kings College, Lagos. He also enrolled for correspondence courses first in law and later accoun­tancy at Wosley College, London.

Career

He started his professional career as a clerk in the Government Secretariat, Marina, Lagos, and ended it as the doyen of the Nigerian banking industry. ‘Big-Ben’ joined the Bank of British West Africa, BB WA (now First Bank of Nigeria PLC) in 1911 where he made his career in banking. He was selected to train as a cashier and worked in different branches of the Bank at Abeokuta, Warri, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Zaria, Kaduna, Lagos, etc. He rose through the ranks to become Senior Cashier, Accountant and Bank Manager before retiring in 1948. Apropos of his extended posting to Kaduna, he named his house in Lagos “Kaduna Lodge”. His contemporaries at BBWA included Messers Agbaje, Oloko and Edwards, on retiring from the Bank in 1948 after 37 years service, he was recalled on contract to continue his contribution to the banking industry.

Personal life

He is an affectionate and highly dependable family man, he maintained an extensive family.

His wives included:
– Marian Taiwo Odupele 1899­-1980
– Elizabeth Alaba Akindele 1902-1983
– Eugenia Ọmọbọwale Ṣobambi 1906-1990
– Georgina Edna Euba 1910-1959
– Abayọmi King-Paul 1912-1933
– Abigail Ajayi Solomon 1918-1995
– Yetunde Ajayi Maize 1923-.

As devoted father and disciplinarian, he was committed to sound academic and professional development of his children among who are:
– Mrs. Beatrice Oludayọ Fọlarin 1918- (fashion designer)
– Benjamin Olumide Olúwọlé 1926- (legal practitioner)
– Albert Olutunde Olúwọlé 1926-1989 (legal practitioner)
– Mrs. Victoria Olufunmilayọ Ogunlesi 1926-1997 (caterer)
– Victor Olusọji Olúwọlé 1928- (press photographer)
– Oluṣọla Crawford Olúwọlé 1930- (chartered accountant)
– Lawrence Omilabu ­Olúwọlé 1930- (business executive)
– Claudius Oludọtun Olúwọlé 1930-(medical consultant)
– Ms. Oludele Olúwọlé 1930-
– Walter Oludẹinde Taiwo. Olúwọlé 1931- (business execu­tive)
– Charles Oluṣẹyẹ Kẹhinde Olúwọlé 1931-1957 (economist)
– Ms Idowu Olúwọlé 1932-1953
– Eugene Olufẹmi Olúwọlé 1932-1941
– Mrs. Augusta Olujọke Davies 1933 –
– Mrs. Winifred Olubọla Olúwọlé 1934-(communications consultant)
– Mrs. Olufunkẹ Taiwo. Akiitan 1935- (caterer)
– Olumuyiwa John Kẹhinde Olúwọlé 1935­1994 (chartered accountant)
– Ms Olunike Olúwọlé 1936- (business ex­ecutive)
– Mrs. Abigail Oluyọmi Davies 1937- (advertising consult­ant)
– Ms Elizabeth Olufunmilọla Olúwọlé 1939-1994 (business executive)
– Olukayode Humphrey Olúwọlé 1939- (engineering consult­ant)
– Bryant Olufọlarin Olúwọlé 1942- (engineering consultant)

– Mrs. Margaret Olumọrin Olúwọlé 1944-(computer analyst)
– Mrs. Olubọsẹdé Obi 1946-
– Paul Olubiodun Olúwọlé 1946- (technologist)
– Oludamọla John Olúwọlé 1948- (engineering consultant)
– Mrs. Oluyẹle E. Alakija 1949- (educationist); Ms Olubanke Olúwọlé 1951-
– Mrs. Olubiọdun C. Laniyan 1953- (educationist)
– Mrs. Olubọdunrin Mọrin 1955-1977
– Feyiṣayọ J.R. Olúwọlé 1959- (business executive)
– Oluṣẹgun Edward Olúwọlé 1960-(business executive)
He was able to visit his children, grand children and great grand children in both Nigeria and the black Diaspora.