Otunba Igbodipe Felix Ayoola was born on March 21, 1934, in Ipenri, Ijebu Imusin. He attended St. Peter Claver’s Catholic Primary School, Esure, Ijebu Imusin, from 1941 to 1948 and then St. Leo’s Teacher College, Abeokuta from 1950 to 1953, where he obtained his Teacher Grade II Certificate in 1954.
Otunba Ayoola began his career as a teacher at St. Joseph’s Primary School, Ijebu Imusin, in 1954. He would later teach in several other schools. He was head teacher, of Catholic Boys’ Secondary Modern School, Ijebu Imusin (19551958); head teacher, of St. Vincent’s Catholic Secondary Modern School, Ijebu-Igbo (1957-1963); head teacher, of St. Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, Idumagbo, Lagos (1963–1965); among others. Between 1965 and 1966, he was Teacher/Head of Department, at Ibadan City Academy and Teacher/Head of Department, at MacJob Grammar School, Abeokuta, from 1966 to 1968.
Otunba Ayoola was Teacher/Vice-Principal (1969–1975), and Principal at St. Anthony’s Grammar School, Esure, Ijebu Imusin, from September 1978 to December 1978 when he retired as Principal (Special Grade).
Before his retirement, he served as Principal at Igogo-Ekiti Community High School from 1975 and 1976. He was Vice-Principal, of Ijebu Imusin College, Ijebu-Ode from September 1976 to August 1977, and Principal, of Ogbogbo Baptist Grammar School, Ogbogbo from September 1977 to August 1978. He was also the head teacher of Secondary Modern School, Ijebu-Ode, where he produced and directed the following plays staged at Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu, Ijebu-Igbo, and Esure: Merchant of Venice – 1956; She Stoops to Conquer – 1957; Macbeth – 1958; Everyman – 1979 (as Principal at St. Anthony’s Grammar School, Esure, Ijebu Imusin).
Otunba Ayoola Otunba Felix Ayoola would go on to attend several private studies with overseas tuition. In 1962, he became a Fellow of the Institute of Book-Keepers and Chartered Secretary and Administrator in 1964.
Otunba Ayoola has contributed immensely to the development of his community, Ijebu Imusin. He was, in 1978, the initiator of the idea of the establishment of Ijebu Imusin Comprehensive High School and Secretary to the committee that built the school in 1980.
He was President of, the Ijebu Imusin Planning Body from 1991 to 1992. He helped to acquire the Ijebu Imusin Community Centre Complex land by voluntary donations from the Odomagbo Community. Otunba Ayoola was the First President of the Ijebu Imusin Club, serving from 1976 to 1980.
He was President Young Men’s Catholic Association (YMCA), Esure from 2004 to 2013. He built an N5m Clinic for the Catholic Mission and authored three book publications. As president, he guided YMCA, Esure, and Ijebu Imusin to write and publish the following two titles: History of Catholicism in the Diocese of Ijebu-Ode. (1st Ed. 2006). (2nd Ed. 2009) and Treasures in the Dark: The Patriarchs of Our Faith (Biographies of Bishop Fasina and the late Bishop Sanusi) July 2014.
He was the recipient of the ANCOPSS Medallion in 1994, the Ijebu Imusin Community Merit Award (ICMA) in 2000, and the Catholic Men Organisation Award in 2009. He was conferred with the traditional title, ‘Otunba Fuwagboye of Ijebu Imusin in 1992.
He was the SDP Local Government Party Chairman from 1991 to 1993 and APC Ijebu East Elder. He was a Member, of the Board of Directors, of Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation (1992-1993); Permanent Member I of, the State Primary Education Board (now SUBEB) from 1999 to 2003and Member, of the Board of Directors, of Sapida Microfinance Bank Ltd. from 1992 to 2002.
Some of his hobbies and interests include reading, writing, and drama. He is happily married to his wife, Mrs. V. T. Igbodipe, and they are blessed with children.
