Ibadan Social Group: Celebrating four decades of friendliness

The Ibadan Social Group (ISG) is one of the distinguished social cultural clubs in Ibadan  and even South west Nigeria. The club, which was established by some young successful Nigerians from Lagos and Ibadan, during and after independence this year, marks its 40th founder’s day. TUNDE OGUNESAN traces the history of the club, challenges, vision for the years to come and its activities to mark four decades of friendliness.

After Nigeria’s independence from the colonialists, part of the gains of the experience was education, tourism and even inter-relationship between the colonialists and the nationals. Trade, fashion, culture and lifestyle began to become interwoven between these set of people. Such is the consciousness of some young men who schooled in the old Western region of Nigeria, in particular, Ibadan and Lagos, who had the privilege of traveling to foreign countries to acquire further education in various educational callings.

They are alumnus of popular secondary schools within the region during Nigeria’s pre-independence like: AIONIA Schools – Ibadan Grammar School, Abeokuta Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode Grammar school, Ilesha Grammar School, Remo Secondary School, Sagamu and Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife. Other schools are the Government College, Ibadan, Kings College Lagos and Ibadan Boys High School, Oke-Bola, Ibadan.

This exposure influences their cerebral stimulation to socialize in an African-modern way amongst themselves, a method which has now pervaded Nigerian social circle.

One of such clubs is the Ibadan Social Group, (ISG), founded 40 years ago, specifically in 1976 which is a metamorphosis of young, educated and classical young Nigerians from Lagos and Ibadan. They had just returned from overseas where they had gone for further studies and started their careers in Ibadan and Lagos.

On returning to Nigeria, they felt they can continue their social lives in a more ‘classical style’ which will literarily evidence their background and experiences abroad. With Ibadan as their base, they began to move round the town, night clubs and hotels, drinking, dancing and engaging in recreation together in various ways.

The current President of the club, Engineer Lekan Aina, while speaking with Nigerian Tribune on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the club stated that the youthful, energetic and successful men decided to meet in their different residences, celebrating series of ceremonies like child birth and christening, weddings as well as burial ceremonies of their aged parents. In the course of doing this, they used the Recreation club, Onireke, Ibadan, as base for their relaxation and meeting point.

As the union continued to wax stronger, they mooted the idea of formalizing the union into a formal society. With little or no opposition from the members, they unanimously decided to meet in Mr. Akanni Asuni’s residence, who happened to be the first President of the club. From that point, the Ibadan Social Group’s birth emerged.

“After it was agreed that they should hold meetings in Mr. Asuni’s residence, the idea of rotation of meetings between members was also put forward and was accepted. As the union transformed into a more formal association, they drafted a constitution to serve as a guide for members of the association to ensure a smooth operation since they were all educated,” Engineer Aina said.

The club was formally launched in 1976, with the aim of promoting recreational, social, educational and economic interest, promote and foster cultural heritage and continuing activities of its community at large among others and a name was suggested by a renowned businessman in Lagos and Ibadan then, late Alhaji Sule Adeeyo, the name was adopted and is still in use today.

Every two years, ISG elects eight executive members to direct the affairs of the club, with an option of a second term if it pleases the whole house. The club also operates on a constitution which has been reviewed twice in the 40 years of the club’s existence.

Since the days of the old folks from Ibadan and Lagos, Aina said membership had been open to interested male Nigerians only. He noted that any aspiring individual should be a responsible individual who must be introduced by a member to the club. Such individual would obtain a form, fill and submit with sponsors while the form will be pasted on the notice board for members’ comments.

As at today, ISG has about 60 effective members carrying on the vision and objective of its founders. This controllable number, the president said is aimed at ensuring uncommon but preferable advantage for its members.

“Each registered member has a personal registration number which he carries to the grave. We do not reallocate membership number, the tradition here is that members here are like brothers, hence the main reason while the membership is somehow controlled to enable members know ourselves unlike in some other clubs where numbers is on high and surprisingly, some members won’t know themselves or have close relationships with one another. Again, coming in to the club is strictly by invitation if one is not a member,” Aina stated with pride.

For the past 40 years, ISG has witnessed series of development, both human and physical. Worthy of note is the fact that the club has acquired a permanent site situated at No 27, Jibowu Crescent, Iyaganku, GRA Ibadan. Aside this, the first structure built on the spacious piece of land has also witnessed transformation into a modern building while other up-to-date recreation edifices are also springing up.

Some of the success recorded according to Aina, can basically be attributed to the sweat of the founding fathers like Bashorun Kola Daisi, Joe Eyitayo, Akanni Asuni, M.M. Adedosu, Dr Ade Oduola and Chief Bayo Akande, amongst many distinguished individuals.

This heritage is what the executives and all members of the club are celebrating four decades down the line. Speaking on some of the programmes lined up for the 40th anniversary and to promote the club, Aina said the weeklong activities will hold between Sunday, December 11 and Saturday December 17.

Part of the activities which will commence with a church service at the All Saints Church, Jericho, Ibadan, includes a Founder’s day public lecture titled “The role of social clubs in developing economies”. The head of History Department, University of Ibadan, Professor C.B.N.Ogbogbo, is expected to deliver the lecture while Mr Obafunso Ogunkeye is the keynote under the distinguished chairmanship of a former commissioner for Information in Oyo State, Alhaji Gboyega Arulogun, on Tuesday December 13 at the Afe Babalola (NBA) Bar Centre, Iyaganku, GRA, Ibadan by 10am.

On Wednesday, the President of the club, Mr Aina will lead other members to visit two to three less privileged homes in Ibadan to make donations and crown it with a cocktail party on Thursday, December 15 at the clubhouse. On Friday, members returns to the presence of almighty Allah for the success of the anniversary while the grand finale holds on Saturday December 17, at the Afe Babalola Bar Centre, with the governor of Oyo state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi as the special guest of honour, Chief Onikepo Akande, OON, CON as Chairperson and the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji as the royal father of the day.

As the club marches ahead after four decades of existence, Aina maintained that the enthusiasm of members to drive home and sustain the lofty ambition of the founding fathers is still fresh in the heart of all the members till date.

“There is a common determination to endeavour their best in upholding the finest tradition of love and brotherhood that has bounded the members together. This is shared by all incoming members,” he concluded.