ASHIRU DYNASTY CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF LEGACY WITH STATUE UNVEILING, THANKSGIVING SERVICE By ojo-isaac olusola Michael.
The Ashiru Dynasty has commemorated the 30th remembrance anniversary of its revered patriarch, Late Pa Simeon Adeyemi Ashiru, with the unveiling of a magnificent sculpture in his honour at the Ashiru Roundabout, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.
The historic event marked three decades since the passing of the illustrious businessman, educationist and art enthusiast, whose life and values continue to shape generations within and beyond the Ashiru family.
The celebration featured a memorial thanksgiving service and family harvest held at Pa Simeon Adeyemi Ashiru Anglican Church, G.R.A., Ijebu-Ode, followed by a grand reception at Adeola Oduntola Hall, Folagbade Street, where guests were lavishly entertained.
Speaking during the unveiling ceremony, the Deputy Governor of Ogun State described the monument as a fitting tribute to a man whose legacy of excellence, creativity and enterprise has endured through time. She praised the Ashiru family for preserving history and honouring their patriarch with such a remarkable artistic piece.
According to her, Pa Adeyemi Ashiru was a man of great exploits whose contributions to business, arts and community development remain unforgettable. “As a young child, I read about his remarkable achievements and was proud of the Ashiru family. History will always remember the strong foundation and enduring legacies he left behind,” she said.
At the thanksgiving service, the Head of the Ashiru Family and Otunba of Ijebuland, Professor Oladapo Ashiru, expressed profound gratitude to God and family members for sustaining the legacy of their father three decades after his passing.
“I am happy that today, 30 years later, we are still celebrating our father. He loved every one of his children and recognised the uniqueness in each of us,” he said. Professor Ashiru described his late father as a man deeply committed to education, discipline, excellence and integrity, values that continue to define members of the Ashiru Dynasty worldwide.
Tracing the global spread and achievements of the family, he noted that Ashiru descendants now reside across Nigeria, the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe, excelling in various fields including politics, academia, medicine, engineering, law and public administration.
In a nostalgic reflection, Professor Ashiru recalled his father’s uncommon dedication to parenting and mentorship. He narrated how Pa Ashiru would wait outside examination halls to encourage his children and personally monitor their academic progress, even during his years in medical school.
“He taught me how to type on a typewriter, introduced me to typesetting through his printing press, and that exposure laid the foundation for my interest in journalism,” he added.
The sculptor of the statue, Mrs. Chinyere Ndubuisi, Dean of the School of Art, Design and Printing at Yaba College of Technology, expressed deep appreciation to the Ashiru family for entrusting her with the prestigious project. She described the commission as a rare honour and noted that the sculpture, completed in under six months, marked the first time she executed a work of such magnitude independently.
She praised the family for supporting Nigerian art and preserving cultural heritage through public monuments, describing the experience as both professionally fulfilling and historically significant.
The unveiling of the sculpture stands as a powerful symbol of remembrance, legacy and inspiration, immortalising Pa Simeon Adeyemi Ashiru as a patriarch whose impact continues to resonate across generations.
SB E-news.
