Chief John Gboteku was born in 1916 at Iperin-Idona, Ijebu Imusin. He attended St. Claver’s Catholic Primary School, Esure; St. Mary’s Anglican Primary School, Ijebu Imusin; and St. Augustine’s Catholic Primary School, Ijebu Ode, for his primary education. He went to St. Gregory’s Teacher College where he passed his Higher Elementary Teachers’ Certificate Examination in 1937.
He was a Catholic teacher for five years and a Local Authority teacher for one year in Abeokuta. He then joined the Nigeria Tobacco Company Plc. in 1952 and became Staff Manager in 1954. He retired in 1971 and established Ti-top Hotels in Obanikoro, Lagos.
Chief John Adeniyi Gboteku was a foundation member of Ijebu Imusin Progressive Society (IPS) that started the Ijebu Imusin Annual Rally in 1944; although the society had been nominally in existence 12 years before then. He was at one time the secretary to the Post Office building committee in Ijebu Imusin. He inaugurated the youth wing of IPS in London. He was a member of the Board of Governors of St. Anthony’s Grammar School, Esure, Ijebu Imusin.
The chieftaincy title of ‘Bobajolu’ of Ijebu Imusin was conferred on him by the Oloko of Ijebu Imusin, Oba David A. Jaiyeola. He was the author of the book, Jokes for all occasions. He died on February 6, 2005.
