History
"With deep roots from Ile-Ife, We are a non-profit, private organization that supports good causes and positive change"
The Foundation was established by Professor AbdulWahab Egbewole, SAN in 2019 primarily to honor the memory of Alhaji Jimoh Egbewole and Alhaji Abdulkareem Banjo, his father and father-in-law respectively, both of whom lived modestly and yet left a legacy of exemplary faith in Allah, commitment to excellence, dedication to worthy causes and legendary selfless service to everyone that came in contact with them. Therefore, the Foundation was conceived as a platform for providing services that will accelerate socioeconomic development of individuals and groups with the hope that the reward that will accrue to these services from Allah will be credited to these two great men. Although the thought of honoring Alhaji Jimoh Egbewole and Alhaji Abdulkareem Banjo had been entertained for a while, the setting up of a Foundation to achieve this noble aim was triggered by His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife. Upon the elevation of Professor AbdulWahab Egbewole, SAN to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria he was honored with a Royal Reception by the Ooni of Ife on 20th July, 2018 in his palace.
At the event, His Imperial Majesty charged Professor Egbewole, SAN to express his gratitude to the Almighty by giving back to the society. Thus, the establishment of this Foundation is one of the ways chosen to respond to His Imperial Majesty’s charge and to demonstrate that effect must always be given to the wise counsel of elders.
The main thrust of this Foundation is to provide support for individuals and groups in the pursuit of their noble aspirations till remarkable success is made or achieved. However the focus of the foundation shall be Education, Economic Empowerment and Social Safety for the most
LATE ALHAJI JIMOH EGBEWOLE (1921 - 1997)
Late Alhaji Jimoh Egbewole(Ojomodo ghonganganrin) was born around 1921 to Pa Awomojure (the first Baale of lle Laami, llode, lle-lfe, who was a warrior from lle-Ife that helped the Ado-Ekiti people in present Ekiti State to win a war and they named him “Seriki Ado”). His mother, Mama Seliatu Eluyele (lya-Agba eleko), was from Olugbodo compound, lle-lfe. He started his career as a cobbler (shoe maker) and later went into farming in Omifunfun village where he had cocoa plantations and a cocoa store. He eventually became a great cocoa merchant in lle-lfe. He was one of the Executives of the Cocoa Farmers Association who were registered by the Cocoa Marketing Board in the old Western Region of Nigeria. Though he had no formal education but could read and write in Yoruba through the help of his friends. This made him to have a great passion for education, both western and Islamic. Thus all his children are graduates in various fields of study.
While trading in Cocoa, his business associates were Pa Oladoyin Oladogba and Chief AbdulKareem Adefioye. The three established a joint business venture named THE NEW MOON. Each of them had a truck and cocoa store for the operations of their joint venture. After a while, each of them registered individually with the Cocoa Marketing Board of Western Region. He was the former Treasurer of lle-lfe Muslim Community and it is on record that the current Central Mosque was built during his tenure while late Sheik Idris Opeloye was the Chief Imam and late Alhaji Chief AbdulKareem Adefioye was the Balogun Adinni. His siblings were late Pa Sulaimon Egbedire Awomojure, Raji Egbetunde Awomojure, late Egbeyemi Awomojure and Late Ladipo Awomojure(who was a trained Teacher)just to mention a few.
Some of his youthful friends were late Chief Kareem Adefioye (a well-educated cocoa merchant,former Balogun of lfe Muslim Community and former Sooko lle-Ife), Baba Shade (a nurse from Iree who operated a clinic in Omifunfun around 1960-1970), Honorable Adeyemi from llesha (Baba lyabo, who was a member of the House of Assembly, old Oyo State and Alh. Oyempemi, Cocoa Merchant, from Modakeke lle-lfe. Others were late Gani Ita-Akogun,Alhaji Baba Sura and Alhaji Saka Awowoyin(Baba Oja). He belonged to some social clubs such as Oredegbe, Iwajowa and Anifowose. Late Alhaji Jimoh Egbewole had four wives namely Alhaja Nimotallahi Adepeju Egbewole, Late Mrs. Wasilat Egbewole, Late Mrs Asiawu Anike Egbewole and Mrs Ajike Egbewole. He was a committed Muslim philanthropist per excellence, highly dependable friend and responsible family man. He was involved in a number of projects to uplift the downtrodden in the society and used his wealth, knowledge and experience to advance humanity.
Alhaji Jimoh Egbewole died on 8th July, 1997 and was survived by 14 children, twenty -five (25) grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.
LATE ALHAJI ABDULKAREEM BANJO (1928 - 2007)
Late Alhaji (Imam) AbdulKareem Olatunji Banjo was born on 15th September, 1928 into the family of Late Pa Abdul-Salaam Banjo of Balogun Oga’s Compound, llare, lle-lfe Osun State and Late Madam Hassanat Ajike Adeoti of Aare’s Compound Idi-Ape, llorin, Kwara State. He had his Islamic education under the tutelage of Alhaji Sheik Yusuf Olotu Ikirun at Markaz li-Arabiyyah at Oluorogbo, lle-lfe and Alhaji Sheik Zakariyyah Olanrewaju Gbelenkan lle-Ife, Osun State. Imam Banjo did not have any formal western education but as a self-trained man,he was able to read and write to a level. In realization of the importance of western and Quranic education, he trained all his children both in Islamic and Western education. He worked for 35years as a non-teaching staff of Oduduwa College, lle-lfe, Osun State before he retired in 1984 and continued fully as the proprietor of his school for Arabic and Islamic studies named Al-Kareem Arabic and Islamic Training Centre.
He was then appointed the Imam of Idi-Omoh, llare Mosque, He performed his role as Imam till his last day on earth. To crown his efforts towards the propagation of Islam in his Mosque and in the community, he was appointed as the Otun Olori Ratibi of lfe Land. He was married to Late Sikirat Foluke who died on the 2nd March, 1995 and Mrs. Simibat Aduni. “The young Alhaji” as he was fondly called by people in his life time,was a caring and loving father up till his death on the 1st March, 2007.He was buried according to Islamic rites on 2nd March, 2007. He was survive by a wife, many children and great grandchildren.