Chief (Dr.) Chris Ogunbanjo, OFR, CON, was born on December 14, 1923, to the family of the Reverend Daniel Ajayi Ogunbanjo and Mrs. Christianah Towobola Ogunbanjo (neé Idowu) in Erunwon, Ijebu. Chief Ogunbanjo had his early education at Epiphany School and was transferred to St. Matthew’s Primary School, Imode-Ijebu. He later moved to St. Phillips’ Primary School, Ile-Ife, from where he gained admission into Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife. In 1938, Chief Ogunbanjo changed schools to Igbobi College, where he passed the Cambridge School Certificate Examinations in December 1941 with a distinction grade and got an exemption from the London Matriculation Examinations. He went on to enroll in a correspondence course with the Metropolitan College of Law in Holborn, London, where he obtained an Intermediate degree in Law in 1946. In 1948, Chief Ogunbanjo proceeded to the University of London to study for a full law degree, which he completed in 1950 and was called to the English Bar in the same year. Upon his return to Nigeria, Chief Ogunbanjo was admitted to the Nigerian Bar on August 20, 1950.
He had his first ever working experience in 1942 at the office of the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Tinubu, Lagos, where he worked as a Third Class Clerk before he was transferred to Enugu on relief duty. He served for four months in Enugu and then moved to Port Harcourt, during which time he worked under a Magistrate called Melville Roberts (Jr.), who later became Deputy Inspector-General of Police in the country. In Port Harcourt, Chief Ogunbanjo worked in places such as Abononema and Ohoada. After having spent a couple of months in Port Harcourt, Chief Ogunbanjo departed for Ibadan, still on relief duty, where he served for only a month before moving on to Ile-Ife, serving there until 1945.
During the 1950s, Chief Ogunbanjo was at the forefront of corporate law practice in Nigeria. He started his legal practice as a litigation lawyer in Davies Chambers at Bamgbose Street, working as a junior attorney for three months before leaving to set up his own office at 48, Palm Church Street, Lagos. The office was later moved to Nnamdi Azikwe Street, Lagos. A young lawyer at the time, Chief Ogunbanjo became very successful in his legal practice and was widely acclaimed by his fellows. He became particularly famous for his exploits in the landmark case between the West African Airways Corporation and Mr. John, who was given the premises of the company to use to carry out his catering services to the Airways.
In 1960, he started his commercial law firm Chris Ogunbanjo & Co. The office of the firm was located at Tinubu Square, Lagos, but later moved to Campbell Street, Lagos. He was later joined in his Chambers by Mrs. Hairat Balogun, Senator Oladipo Odujinrin, Senator Udo Udoma, and Mr. Asue Ighodalo, among others.
Chief Ogunbanjo’s firm became a major player in public issues, stocks, and shares quotations in the country. Consequently, in 1962, he was appointed as Legal Representative of the Federal Government in the reorganization process of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), an alliance of the World Bank and the Federal Government of Nigeria. His effective handling of the project led to the transformation of the then Investment Company of Nigeria (ICON) to what became known as the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank (NIDB). Thus, Chief Ogunbanjo’s firm was appointed as the Retainer Solicitor to the NIDB. In this role, he was accountable for the bank’s securities and agreement documents. In December 1993, Chief Ogunbanjo retired from active legal practice after a 43-year-long career.
He has been involved with several companies, either as chairman or as director. In 1973, he was instrumental in the establishment of Guinea Glass Nigeria Limited, which was the largest glass factory in Sub-Saharan Africa at the time. The company was renamed Beta Glass Nigeria Plc. following a merger with Delta Glass, Ughelli.
Chief Ogunbanjo also played a similar role in the setting up of Roche Nigeria Limited, which was later rechristened Swipha Nigeria Limited. He served as Foundation Chairman of Swipha Nigeria Limited for twenty years (1976-1996). Other companies in which he has served either as chairman or director include Magnum Trust Plc., Allied Biscuits Company Ltd. (makers of Albix biscuits), C & A Prints, Chemical & Allied Products Plc., Autotech Nigeria Ltd., Union Securities Ltd., West African Batteries Ltd., Pan African Airlines Ltd., Nigerian-French Insurance Company Ltd. and African Assurance France-Nigeria Brokers, etc.
By the 1980s, Chief Ogunbanjo had established himself as an authority in the business world. Thus, he was invited as a Guest Speaker at a conference organized by the Nigerian Institute of Management in 1969. At the occasion, he delivered a historic lecture titled, ‘The Problem of Ownership and Participation in Capital Formation’. The paper would later have wider socio-economic ramifications for Nigeria, which are still felt today.
Chief Ogunbanjo was the founding member of the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce in 1960. Previously, he was a Board Member of Phillips Nigeria Limited (later known as Associated Electronics Products Nig. Ltd.). He was subsequently appointed as Chairman of Associated Electronics Products in 1960. During his time in office as Chairman, by 1987, the asset base of the company had risen from less than £5,000.00 to over £60, 000000.00. He also served on the board of ICI Nigeria Limited (later CAPL) until he retired in September 1984. He was the Pioneer Chairman of NFI until its merger with AIICO in 2007.
Chief Ogunbanjo is the Founder of the Chris Ogunbanjo Foundation. He has shown a deep commitment to public service for several decades. In 1960, he was appointed Chairman of ‘Liberty’, the Nigerian arm of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), a leading human rights organization at the time. Chief Ogunbanjo remained in this position until 1966. Before this appointment, he became a member of the Nigerian Bar Council in 1961 and was part of the delegation that represented Nigeria at the 23rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in 1968. Chief Ogunbanjo was subsequently appointed as Pioneer Chairman of the Nigerian Council of Management Education and Training in 1972, a body responsible for administration at the Centre for Management Development (CMD). In recognition of his pioneering role at the CMD and his various other contributions to the Institute, he was made a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management in 1986.
He has been recognised for his immense contributions both in the private and public sectors. On November 30, 1981, Chief Ogunbanjo was honoured by Queen Beatrix of Holland with the Award of Officer of the Order of Orange Nassau. The award was presented to him by the then Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. C. J. M. Kramers. He has also been recognised for his contributions to the advancement of Christianity in his community. He was honoured with the title of the Baba Ijo (Lay President) of the Anglican Communion in September 1976. He was made a Life Patron of the Christian Charity Band of Nigeria and Life Patron of the Fountain of Hope International Society of Emmanuel Church, Italupe, Ijebu-Ode, in 1992.
In recognition of his contributions to the development of various communities across the country, Chief Ogunbanjo has been conferred with several traditional chieftaincy titles. He is the Bobajiro of Ijebu-Imusin, a title conferred on him by the Oloko of Ijebu-Imusin, Oba Jayeola Adeboyejo II, on November 12, 1962. He also holds the titles of Baba Oba of Erunwon (the first to receive the title), the Bagbimo of Ilugun, Abeokuta; the Lerinja of Egbaland; and the Olotu of Ijebuland.
Chief Ogunbanjo holds membership in many social groups. He is a one-time member of the Boys Scout Movement and has served as Assistant Commissioner for Development in the National Scout Headquarters in Nigeria. He joined the Island Club, Lagos in 1951. He is a member of the Lagos Doyen Club and served as its President from 1977 to 1978. He was appointed as President of the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA), Lagos in 1987. He has been an active member of the Metropolitan Club, Lagos, where he served as President from 2005 to 2008. He also belongs to the Lagos Boat Club, the Polo Club, and the Ikoyi 1938, Lagos.
Chief Ogunbanjo was married to Chief (Mrs.) Hilda Adunola Ogunbanjo (neé Ladipo), who passed away on 4 August 2004. Their marriage was blessed with many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
