The Abese Olubadan of Ibadanland, veteran journalist and former Press Secretary to multiple Oyo State governors, Oloye Lekan Alabi, has died at the age of 76.
Alabi passed away on Saturday morning in Lagos. His death was announced in a statement issued by Adeola Oloko, Media Aide to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, on Saturday in Ibadan.
“The veteran journalist and multiple Press Secretary to former Oyo State governors, Lekan Alabi, is dead. The Abese Olubadan passed away this morning in Lagos at the age of 76. He will be buried tomorrow (Sunday) in accordance with Islamic rites,” the statement read.
Until his death, Alabi was widely regarded as one of Ibadan’s foremost historians, cultural ambassadors and media icons, renowned for his deep knowledge of Yoruba history and culture. His distinctive Yoruba attire, warm personality and intellectual contributions earned him admiration across the country.
Born on October 27, 1950, in Ibadan, Oyo State, Alabi began demonstrating leadership qualities from an early age while attending Seventh-Day Adventist Primary School, Oke-Foko, Ibadan, where he served as class captain, school mailboy and later school prefect. He later attended African Church Grammar School, Apata Ganga, Ibadan, between 1964 and 1969.
Before venturing into journalism, he worked as a teacher at St. John’s Anglican Primary School, Akinajo, near Arulogun, Ibadan, from 1971 to 1972. He subsequently joined Onibonoje Press Limited as its first Editorial Assistant before moving to Sketch Publishing Company Limited in 1973 as a Reporter/Writer/Reader Grade II.
At Sketch Newspapers, Alabi made history by becoming the company’s youngest and first dual columnist, a feat that also made him Nigeria’s first journalist to simultaneously author two newspaper columns. His bilingual columns and popular radio programme, Iwe Iranti, cemented his reputation as a respected chronicler of Yoruba history and culture.
Seeking further professional development, he attended the College of Journalism on Fleet Street in London in 1976 and graduated in 1978 before returning to Nigeria.
Alabi also played a pioneering role in broadcasting. After a brief stint at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Ibadan, he joined the newly established Television Service of Oyo State, now the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), in 1982. He was among the station’s pioneer editorial staff, the first reporter to appear on air and the inaugural chairman of its chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
In 1983, he was appointed Press Secretary to the late Chief Bola Ige, then Governor of the old Oyo State. Despite the political upheavals that followed the 1983 elections, he was later retained by successive military administrations, serving as Press Secretary to four governors – one civilian and three military administrators – between 1983 and 1989.
His public service career continued at Odu’a Investment Company Limited, where he was appointed the conglomerate’s first Public Affairs Manager in 1989. After 17 years of service, he voluntarily retired in 2006 as the company’s first General Manager, Corporate Affairs.
Beyond journalism and public service, Alabi was a prolific author, public relations consultant, syndicated columnist, motivational speaker and Cultural Ambassador of the National Museum, Ile-Ife. He chaired the Adegoke Adelabu (Penkelemesi) Foundation and the Yusufu Olatunji (Baba Igbẹ) Foundation, while also serving as a trustee of the Adekunle Fajuyi Foundation, D.O. Fagunwa Foundation, Duro Ladipo Foundation and several other cultural organisations.
Tributes have continued to pour in from journalists, traditional rulers, political leaders and cultural enthusiasts, many describing him as a walking encyclopedia of Ibadan history whose contributions to journalism, public relations and the preservation of Yoruba heritage will remain enduring.
He is expected to be buried on Sunday in accordance with Islamic rites.
