In this interview with SAMUEL AWOYINFA , Oladipupo
Adebutu, one of the sons of lotto magnate, Sir
Kessington Adebutu, talks about his father
Could you introduce yourself?
My name is Oladipupo Adebutu. I was born on
February 25, 1962 at the Island Maternity, Lagos. I
attended Our Women’s Day Nursery School, Yaba. I
later attended St. Saviour’s Primary School, Lagos. I
was at Igbobi College, Lagos for my secondary school
education. I was there between 1972 and 1978 when I
sat for the West African School Certificate
Examination.
In 1978, I left for the Republic of Ireland, Dublin, where
I attended St. Columbus College, Gratfanam which was
like the Advanced Level. I was there till 1980. For my
higher education, I attended the Regional Technical
College, Carlo between 1980 and 1984. I also attended
University of Limerick, where I read Analytical
Chemistry, and I returned to Nigeria around
1986/87.The school then was called National Institute
of Higher Education. There were a couple of years in-
between when I could not make up my mind, whether I
wanted to return to Nigeria or not. But I think I
returned in 1987.
When you returned to the country, where did you work?
When I returned to the country, I participated in the
compulsory one year service in the National Youth
Service Corps. I served in Borno State, specifically in
Biu, I taught in a secondary school. Borno was
peaceful and lovely then. But since I was a Lagos boy,
I did not stay long in Biu. I had to redeploy to Lagos
where I later served with the Apapa Local Government.
After your national service, where did you work?
I went abroad to read Analytical Chemistry, because
then, my dad had a paint factory in Iperu, Ogun State.
But unfortunately by the time I returned from abroad,
the dynamics of the economy did not support the
production of paint. The paint factory was not doing
well. There was problem with the importation of raw
materials and there were some other challenges too.
Because of these, I had to look elsewhere. That is why
I always share this experience with as many young
people that would listen.
I went into agriculture. And I was able to set up a
piggery in Iperu, which has remained till date one of
the biggest piggery farms in the whole of the South-
West geo-political zone of Nigeria. It has been very
rewarding. A lot of times, people said to me ‘you read
abroad, you did Analytical Chemistry, what are you
doing in agriculture?’ But I must confess, that is the
most satisfying aspect of my life.
Could you share your childhood experience with your
dad?
My father is someone you can call an enigma. He is a
multi-faceted person. That’s the way I will describe
him. In my own opinion, he is the most generous father
on earth. He gives without looking back. He gives only
the best, and no half measure. No sacrifice for him is
too much for a child. But there are fundamental
principles which you dare not abridge with him. Once
you give him your word, you must die for it for you to
change it. It is very hard to do, because things change.
But to him, once you give a commitment, you must
fulfil it. And that is the mainstay of his business —
gaming. He went into that business without capital. He
went into it with goodwill and his word. He says, ‘play
coupon, when you win, I will pay you your money.’ And
because he maintained that goodwill, the gaming
business is successful. Again, when he went into lotto
business, it is with the same goodwill and his word —
play, win and get your money. He usually tells us his
children that a good name is better than silver and
gold. He tells us to honour our commitment.
Has this helped you in any way?
Yes. I am in politics, where double-speak is the
currency.But I have refused to engage in double-
speak. When I say something I must do it, because I
am committed to it. I have been brought up not to
accept double-speak.
In what areas do you intend making impacts in
politics?
I believe in free enterprise. There should be laws that
will make things work in our ports. There should also
be laws that will guarantee the security of lives and
property. There should be laws that will create the
enabling environment for business to thrive.
When did he start the gaming business: pools betting
and lotto?
I grew up to know him in the pools betting business,
among them was Face to Face . He’s been in business
for as long as I could remember. He did a lot of other
businesses. He was an importer of tiles, ceramics and
adhesives among others, for a very long time. But as
the economy grew from bad to worse, those
businesses became much more difficult to do and
gradually he eased out of them.
Did he have time for his children when they were
young?
Like I said earlier, the man is an enigma. If he’s within
the country, wherever he was, he would come back
home at 1.00pm for his lunch. We would all have our
lunch together. And on Sundays, he gave the children
a special treat, by taking us to either Mainland Hotel
or Federal Palace Hotel to spend the Sunday afternoon
Again, every summer, he would take us abroad for
vacation for two or three weeks. He is very good man.
But currently, I have a problem working with this kind
of standard, and my children are asking, ‘Daddy,
Grandpa took you abroad for summer, and stayed with
you, why didn’t you do the same for us?’ My father is
a fantastic man.
What are his hobbies?
My father neither plays squash nor polo. He enjoys the
company of his friends and they play card games such
as poker and black jack. They do have a good time.
Does he socialise?
My dad enjoys himself. He socialises well. He loves
parties and he loves good life.
What is his favourite drink?
It takes him two hours to finish a bottle of beer.
Is he a car freak?
No. My father sees cars as a means of conveyance.
For a long time, he fancies Mercedes Benz. But he
added two others. Specifically, he’s more into
Mercedes Benz cars.
Does the name Adebutu open doors for you?
The name is an asset but it is also my biggest
liability. It is an asset because it opens doors and it
gives me special recognition easily. But the flipside is
that people tend to expect too much from me. And a
lot of things that others will do and go scot-free, I dare
not do, because of that name. But I am not
complaining, since both liability and asset must go
hand-in-hand.
What is your dad’s favourite food?
First, I will say he has tendency for moderation, and he
does not have any favourite food. He enjoys both local
and international dishes. But he loves vegetable. It
must be well prepared with a lot of sawa fish.
Does he have special nicknames his friends call him?
His long-time friends call him ‘Kessy Bobo’ and he
cherishes it so much.
How did Baba Ijebu, that most people call him, evolve?
Baba Ijebu is the new nickname. The nickname
originates from the lotto business. It has to do with
the way he has managed people’s resources. That is
when someone plays the game and he or she wins, he
or she gets instant payment. It is because someone
has managed those resources well. And for we Ijebus,
there is the general belief that we are good managers
of resources. I think that’s how that name came about.
How does your dad relax?
Unfortunately, that’s one thing he does not know how
to do. It is very painful. He is always doing something.
I wish my father could just go somewhere and rest for
a while. When he goes on vacation, he carries his work
with him. What kind of vacation is that? And he will be
phoning the office every three hours to monitor his
business back home.
You want him to relax more?
Yes. At almost 80 years, he deserves to rest. He was
79 years old last October.
What are some of his likes and dislikes?
My father is like a chief investigating officer. If you tell
him lies, you are asking for more trouble. It is better to
come clean, because with his intellect and ability to
investigate, you will surely surrender.
Was he ever a policeman?
No. He is just a brilliant man.
What values have you imbibed from him?
I’ve learnt the values of hard work, forthrightness and
truthfulness from him.
If there is anything you can change about your dad,
what will it be?
The only thing that bothers me about him is that at
times he can be too fastidious. He is demanding and
sometimes his extent of demand cannot necessarily be
the best. If one can get 80 per cent compliant from a
human being and one is insisting it should be 100 per
cent, it can make things unworkable. One must
overlook some things.
Your dad took a younger wife, some few years back,
how did his children feel about it?
The truth is that my dad is a multi-faceted man. And
it depends from which area you are looking at him. It
is something I will do, so I will be the last person to
criticise his action. Every 10 years or thereabout, my
father finds a new love. May be for others with his
position, stature and resources, such persons may find
new love every five years. In my own opinion, my
father is not excessive in this aspect.
Have you ever played lotto?
Yes, I have. It is quite exciting. It is a very exciting way
for recreation and it is quite interesting.
How many wives does your father have?
I know that my father has 12 children from five
women. We are seven boys and five girls.
Are the children of the youngest wife included?
Yes
What number are you among the children?
I am the first child.
What kind of music does he listen to?
He loves King Sunny Ade and Chief Ebenezer Obey’s
music. He has extensive collection of their works.
Is he a Christian or a Muslim?
He is a Christian but of Muslim descent. His parents
were Muslims.
What faith do the children profess?
He allows us to follow whatever faith that suits us. For
instance, I am an evangelist in the Celestial Church of
Christ fold. Some of us are in the Redeemed Christian
Church of God.



source: www.punchng.com/feature/famous-parents/my-dad-falls-in-love-every-ten-years-baba-ijebus-son/

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