Arch. Emmanuel Olusegun Onasanya was born on January 21, 1936, to the Christian family of Pa Michael Onabanjo Onasanya and the late Mrs. Juliana Oshobanke (nee Kuti). His father was a dedicated teacher and a disciplinarian, while his mother was a petty trader, who was also engrossed in church activities and children’s welfare. Arch. Onasanya hails from Odomogun, Ijebu Imusin in Ogun State. His mother hailed from Ipebi, Ijebu Imusin, but spent the better part of her life in Ijebu Ode where Onasanya spent his childhood and part of his adolescence.
Onasanya had his primary school education at Porogun Anglican School, Ijebu Ode, from 1946 to 1950. He completed his secondary education at Ijebu Ode Grammar School in 1956. He proceeded to Lagos where he began his tertiary education at the Yaba Technical School, Lagos, from 1958 to 1961, finishing with a diploma in Architecture and Building. He was a co-beneficiary of the Federal Bursary Award for architects and engineers, the first of its kind for Nigerian students to study anywhere in the world. Among the benefits of the award were studying Architecture at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1965-1972); Architecture Association School, London (1972-1973); and Bouwcentrum University Rotterdam-Netherlands (1974) where he received a Postgraduate award in Housing, Planning and Building. He finally returned to his fatherland in 1974 as a qualified Chartered Architect and Builder. His qualifications are B.Arch., Dip. Bld., Dip. Housing and F.N.I.A..
Onasanya started his working life at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing as an Architect (Grade II), and was later seconded to the Project Unit of the Federal Ministry of Education where he served as the first Acting Deputy Director. He worked with several prominent persons like Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Alhaji Liman Ciroma (former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education), and Mr. Gray Longe (who succeeded Ciroma as Permanent Secretary).
He awarded and supervised many federal projects which included the Independence Building, Lagos; Federal Government College, Kano; Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos; Federal Government College, Kazuare; Federal Government College, Oyo; Federal Government College, Odogbolu; Federal Government College, Ilorin; and several others. His greatest achievement was in ensuring that all the colleges had standard and conducive hostels.
He designed and supervised the building of Federal Technical College, Ijebu Imusin. He also designed the Surulere Shopping Complex (Coker Street), a project sponsored by the World Bank but which was later abandoned due to the lack of funds.
Onasanya voluntarily retired from public service on June 5, 1981, to start up his firm known as Watermarks Continental Designers (WCD), where he is the Principal Architect.
During his school days, Arch. Onasanya was a keen sportsman and his favorite games were table tennis, cricket, and football. He was the captain of the table tennis team of the Yaba Technical School.
Back in his hometown, he was the Secretary of the Ijebu Imusin Beacon Society, a youth forum for all indigenes of Ijebu Imusin. He currently holds a pastoral title as an Elder of the Church of the Lord (Aladura). Arch. Onasanya is blessed with two wives and five children.
