Otunba Banjo Christopher Onatola hails from Itamarun/Oke-Agba. He was born on September 25, 1953, in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. He attended Emmanuel School, Italupe, Ijebu-Ode, from 1959 to 1963; Emmanuel School, Isonyin, from 1964 to 1957; and St. James’ School Oke-Ado, Ibadan from 1968 to 1969. He moved to Oyan Grammar School, Oyan, Osun State from 1970 to 1972; and Ijebu-Southern District Grammar School, Ala from 1973 to 1975. He moved on to attend the Chartered Institute of Transport, London, in 1982.
Otunba Onatola commenced his career as Store Assistant at Kewalram Stores, Marina, Lagos, before leaving to work with the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) where he served in the company’s Internal Audit Department for ten years, which included periods as an Audit Clerk (1976-1977); Foundation staff and Audit Clerk, Tin Can Island Port (1977-1982); Senior Audit Clerk, Apapa Quays (1982-1986); and Foundation Staff and Assistant Executive Officer Audit, Container Terminal, Ijora (1983-1986), after which he voluntarily withdrew his services from the Nigeria Ports Authority. He later joined Prudent Prelude Limited working his way up to Managing Director in 1987, a post he has held ever since then. He has been the Managing Director of High Rock Investments Limited since 2001. He was Financial Secretary of Prudent Prelude, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents from 1997 to 2000.
He was the secretary of the Itamarun Development Council, Itamarun, Ijebu Imusin, from 2005 to 2011. He is the first-ever President of the Anokoru Club, the first club to be registered in Ijebu East in 1979. After being President for 10 years, he was recently honoured with the title of Mayor of Anokoru, Ijebu Imusin. He was the chairman of Joy Unit, Amuwo-Odofin Low Cost Housing Estate, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos, from 1994 to 1996.
Onatola was instrumental in introducing the Young Men Christian League (Y.M.C.L) to Christ Church, Amuwo-Odofin, and is the President of Y.M.C.L, Christ Church, Amuwo-Odofin. He was also the Pastor’s Warden at the same church. During his term in office, the church was dedicated in 2003. Since 2007, he has been the treasurer of the Young Men Christian Association of St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Ijebu Imusin. He went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 2002.
In 1992, he was conferred with the traditional title of Adetilewa of Itamarun. He was the chairman of the Oba Magunsen Coronation Committee in 2009; and has been Chairman, of the Itamarun Central Working Committee since 2013. He was named Baale Elect Eke-Agba, Ijebu Imusin, in 2014. He is a member of Eko Stars Club Tokunbo, Lagos.
Apart enjoys football, boxing, and traveling. He is married to Mrs. Christiana Adeyinka Banjo and they have five children.
