SYNW MOURNS ONIBONOJE GABRIEL OMOTAYO, THE FOUNDER OF ONIBONOJE PUBLISHERS
The Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) mourns the passing of Onibonoje Gabriel Omotayo, the Founder of Onibonoje Publishers, who died on February 23, 2023, at the age of 92. Omotayo was a renowned educationist, publisher, and farmer who contributed significantly to the development of education and publishing in Nigeria.
This was contained in a release issued by Wole Adedoyin, President of the Society of Young Nigerian Writers in Ibadan, Oyo State Capital.
Omotayo was born on September 10, 1930, in Ijebu Jesa, Oyo State, and attended St Matthew's Primary School in Ijebu Jesa from 1940 to 1947. He then proceeded to St Luke's Teachers' Training College, Ibadan, where he studied from 1951 to 1956. Omotayo went on to study at the University of Ibadan from 1958 to 1961, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree.
After his education, Omotayo started his career as a teacher, serving as a Pupil Teacher in Ikoton from 1948 to 1950. He then became a Grade Three Teacher and Head Master at St Philips, Aiyetoro, Ile-Ife, from 1953 to 1954. He later became a Grade Two Teacher at Anglican Boys' Secondary Modern School, Ibadan, from 1957 to 1958. Omotayo became a Graduate Teacher at St Luke's Teachers' Training College, Ibadan, from 1961 to 1963, and at Ibadan Boys' High School in 1964.
In 1958, Omotayo established Onibonoje Press in Ibadan, which later became Onibonoje Press and Book Industries Nigeria Limited. He served as the Chairman and Managing Director of the company from 1968 to 1979 and as Chairman/Publisher since 1980. Omotayo was also the Chairman/Farmer of Onibonoje Agricultural Industries Nigeria Limited since 1978. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the International Publishers Association in 1972 and 1973.
Omotayo was a prolific author, having published several books on history, civics, and book publishing. His publications include Africa in the Ancient World: A History Book I (Ibadan, Onibonoje Press, 1958), Africa From the Rise of Islam to the End of the Slave Trade: A History Book II (Ibadan, Onibonoje Press, 1958), Africa in the Modern World: A History Book III (Ibadan, Onibonoje Press, 1958), Civics for Nigerians (Ibadan, Onibonoje Press, 1959), and The Indigenous Book Publishing for National Development (Ibadan, Onibonoje Press, 1965).
Omotayo was a recipient of several awards in recognition of his contributions to education, literature, and agriculture. He received the Ife Book Fair Merit Award in 1985 and was awarded the Outstanding Farmer of the Year by the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, in 1985-86 and 1986/87.
In his personal life, Omotayo was a lover of reading, writing, current affairs, and community development. He was married to Josephine Olufunlayo Arojojoye in 1958, and they had four sons and two daughters.
Onibonoje's passing is a great loss to the Nigerian publishing community. His contributions to the growth of the industry cannot be overemphasized, and he will be greatly missed. However, his legacy lives on through the many young publishers he mentored and the works he published.
The President of SYNW, Wole Adedoyin, expressed his condolences to the family of Omotayo and the Nigerian literary community. Adedoyin described Omotayo as a visionary educationist and publisher whose contributions to the growth of publishing in Nigeria would be greatly missed.
“We pray that his soul finds rest and that his family finds the strength to bear this great loss. We also urge young publishers to emulate his dedication and passion for the development of the Nigerian publishing industry.” Adedoyin said.