Barrister Olatunji Ayanlaja was born at Odonopa, Ijebu Imusin in 1943. He attended St. Peter Claver’s Catholic Primary School Esure, Ijebu Imusin, and later proceeded to St. Leo’s Teacher Training College Abeokuta, where he obtained the Teacher Grade II Certificate. He taught for a brief period and then sat for and passed GCE O’ Level and A’ Level examinations. He went on to the University of Lagos and graduated with Honours in 1971. He was called to bar as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1972.
He had his pupillage in the Chambers of G.O.K Ajayi SAN, his acclaimed mentor. From there, he entered into law practice partnership with Odujinrin, Adefulu, Ayanlaja and Co. This was however dissolved in December 1986. He formed a new partnership known as Ayanlaja, Adesanya and Co. with Prince Adebambo Adesanya of the Gbelegbuwa Ruling House of the Awujale Chieftaincy of Ijebu Land. His characteristic hard work and strong commitment earned him the honorary title of Senior Advocate Of Nigeria (SAN) in April 1995.
Barrister Ayanlaja was the Chairman of the Ijebu Imusin Annual Rally Celebration in 1996. During the event and because of his ingenuity, the community generated a lot of funds as he had invited a good number of his friends who made handsome donations at the celebration.
He contributed immensely to the development of the Catholic Church at Esure through increased funding of vital projects, either directly (for example, during his Family Harvest) or through YMCA, the church society to which he belonged. In 2003, he was recognised with Ijebu Imusin Community Merit Award, which was presented to him by the Alayeluwa Oba S. A. Onafowokan, the Oloko of Ijebu Imusin.
