Chief Alfred Oresanya, ICMA, was born on January 1, 1890 to the union of Pa Simon Peter Oresanya (of the royal family of Oyebola Igbaga, Ijebu Imusin) and Madam Rabiatu Foluke Lukman (of the royal family of Obelu of Esure). After he completed his Standard Five in 1915, he went to Oke-Are, Ibadan to do a two-year training, with the hope of becoming a teacher in the Catholic school. From 1917 to 1920, he was a teacher at Holy Cross Primary School, Lagos. Among his students were Bishop J. K. A. Aggrey and Monsignor Pedro Martins.
In 1920, he joined the Federal Audit Department and rose to the grade of First Class Clerk and was subsequently posted to audit the account of the Nigerian Railway. In 1942, he rose to the post of an Accountant. In time, he became Senior Accountant and Principal Accountant. He retired voluntarily in 1953 and joined the Federal Ministry of Finance as Chairman, Board of Surveys and served there for six years.
In 1932, in conjunction with Mr. M. I. Oresotu, he founded the Ijebu-Imusin Progressive Society and was the President of the society for 37 years until 1969. He was the foundation member of Ijebu Imusin Catholic Union, Lagos Branch, and President-General of Ijebu Imusin Central Conference.
In 1947, Awujale Gbelegbuwa II conferred on him the chieftaincy title of ‘Omeso’ of Ijebuland. He was appointed the Sole Commissioner and charged with the responsibility of following up the selection of Mr. D. A. Jaiyeola as Oba Oloko. His successful handling of the task led to the coronation of Oba Jaiyeola in 1954.
To show his appreciation, Oba Jaiyeola, in 1960, gave him the honorary title of ‘Otunba Ajagunmolu of Ijebuland’. He had received the ‘King George VI Coronation Medal Award’ earlier in 1935. He was granted audience by Pope Paul VI in Rome, and was presented with the ‘Papal Medal’, a mark of great honour in the Catholic Church.
