Thomas Bolarinwa Abodunrin was nicknamed ‘Tommy Bobo’, Tommy an abbreviation of Thomas, and Bobo an abbreviation of Bolarinwa and Abodunrin. The Emeritus Principal was born at Omi Adio, a few kilometres from Ibadan on the Ibadan-Abeokuta axis on 6th March, 1937 to Pa Thomas Abodunrin and Mrs. Emily Abodunrin (Nee Banjo Okueyungbo). His mother was an educator par excellence and one of the pioneering students of the famous United Missionary College (UMC), Ibadan. His father, a quiet, high calibre Station Master of the Nigeria Railways who served at Omi Adio and several railway stations across the country, hailed from Igbaga, a quiet little town situated close to Ijebu-Imusin and off the Ijebu-Ode – Benin Express Road.
Tommy had his primary school education at the Emmanuel School, Isonyin, under the watchful eyes of his uncle, Mr. Tunji Okueyungbo, a likeable, lanky teacher who later joined the Produce Department of the Colonial Civil Service. Tommy’s other uncles included the ever-popular Uncle Sam Banjo, a retired officer in the Nigerian Army. His loving auntie was Mrs. Oyinda Onasanya, veteran, Lagos-based Nursing Sister.
He moved to Ijebu-Ode Grammar School (IOGS) in 1949 as one of the youngest students in his class. While there, he stayed with his big auntie, Mrs. Beatrice Bamgbelu, alias ‘Iye Kola’, a textile merchant and mother of Mr. Kola Bamgbelu, retired Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education/Ministry of Information, Ogun State. Mr. Kola Bamgbelu was Tommy’s mentor and confidant for decades. Tommy also stayed for quite a while in the IOGS boarding house. He completed his secondary school education at the age of 17, and made a Grade One in his Senior Cambridge Examination at a rather challenging period when Ijebu-Ode Grammar School recorded only two Grade One results. The other Grade One student was Abiodun Soyanwo, his close rival and the School’s Head Perfect. He later became a widely acclaimed Professor of Medicine at the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan.
After Ijebu Ode Grammar School was the Nigerian College of Arts and Technology, Ibadan, from where Tommy proceeded to the University College, Ibadan, in 1957 for a degree in History, one of his favourite subjects. At the University College, Ibadan, though he was one of the youngest in his class, he shone like a bright star and conceded nothing to the ‘bookworms’, the ‘elders’, or the ‘Methuselahs’ of his class. He graduated B.A. Hons (London) Second Class in History in 1960. Immediately, thereafter he went into the teaching profession where he rendered outstanding services as a tutor, senior tutor, Vice-Principal and Principal for 35 years (1960-1995).
His first appointment was at the famous Methodist Boys High School, Lagos, where he taught history in the senior classes. One of his remarkable experiences was that even as a graduate teacher, some of his students were his age mates or a few years older than he was. After leaving the school where many of his students did very well in their West African School Certificates Examination, Thomas Abodunrin served in various schools across the Old Western Region. He started teaching at the enviable age of 23, and became one of the youngest Vice-Principal and Principal of these schools: Methodist High School, Ilesha; Ijebu Muslim College, Ijebu Ode; Muslim Girls’ High School, Ijebu-Ode; Ansar-Ud-Deen Secondary School, Ikare; Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife; Prospect High School, Aba-nla; Rev. Kuti Memorial School, Abeokuta; and Luba Comprehensive School, Ijebu-Ode (where he worked for 16½ years and retired as Grade 1 Principal in 1996).
Thomas Bolarinwa Abodunrin was very pragmatic and blunt. He saw himself as a perfectionist and an idealist in haste to help improve his world through imparting sound knowledge to generations coming after him. His goal was to be a school master, and for several years, he was permitted his art without any hindrance and with lot of success and satisfaction. For years in the classroom, he preached the pursuit of excellence in all human endeavours and conduct to his wards. As a perfectionist, he encouraged his wards not to settle for 90% if they could score 100%, to remember every detail of what they have learnt, and overall, to have supreme confidence in their ability. To this rare gem, an ideal situation was where students were well disciplined and knew what to do without being prompted.
It is no gain saying that he has a checked history of achievement, both in the academia and in field of sports. Every school he worked always dominated the soccer scene in the zone; especially at Luba Comprehensive School which won the prestigious Obanta Cup among all schools in former Ijebu Province in 1983, 1988, and 1989. The school also produced the fastest school girl sprinter in Ogun State for two years running.
Tommy was rated as being good enough, competent enough, mature enough and objective enough by the visiting team of the Ministry of Education Abeokuta, when he was appointed as a member of the Commission of Enquiry into the riot of the Government Technical College, Ijebu-Ode, in 1980. He got several commendations from visiting inspectors to the schools ‘he pastored’. At the peak of his job, he put on his own school uniform, bringing leverage between him and the students and this singular act made him win the hearts of the students. The students played safe with him, and gave their best both in academics and sports.
Having retired from active service in 1996, he declined every job offered him, and lived among his people at Igbaga, where he contributed immensely to the development of the community. It is on record that his efforts further facilitated the network of good roads and a befitting health centre in his community. To the community and to many that were faced with life challenges, he became a beacon. The community will miss him most, because he gave all and sundry supports and assistance that boarded on education. His house was open to all, and in the cool of the day, he played Ayo, a game for which he was awarded a honorary degree at Ijebu-Ode Club.
Thomas Bolarinwa Abodunrin joined the prestigious Ijebu-Ode Club in 1978, and not too long was appointed the General Secretary, a position he held for half a decade. He never subverted the constitution of the club, and the result was that there was more compatibility, more consensus, and much more mutual respect among members of the committee. His five years of hard, unrelenting and singular devotion to duty, transfigured the post of the secretary of the club.
Before he passed on, he pleaded that the membership of the club should not put for sale to the highest bidder or unwilling initiates. He therefore recommended that good etiquette should be the only factor in the admission of new members.
Thomas Bolarinwa Abodunrin emerged on several occasions as champion of the Annual Intra-Club Games Championship in Ayo. In his final note as Secretary, he said: ‘I have given and given in the belief that it was more blessed to give than to receive. I have been paid back to the fullest measure, by all who have not behaved as just members of a club, but as members of one family. Let us hope that though I have tried, the best is yet to come’. Till his last breath, he held the club in high esteem, he remained very sincere, loyal and committed. He desired so much to see the club for the last time, a few days to his demise, but his frail condition hindered him.
