Jacob Sogboyega Odulate , the Blessed Jacob, sat at the
work table in his laboratory, writing the notes which
contained the formula for what would ultimately be known
as his famous patented medicine, Alabukun Powder.
This was in the year 1918. It was early in the evening of another hectic day at his place of work, a functional combination of office, consulting room and laboratory-cum workshop. His single minded pursuit of the goal of establishing an indigenous medical/pharmaceutical brand was legendary. He had displayed the same purposeful determination when at the age of 14, he decided to uproot himself from his ancestral town of Ikorodu and he had embarked on an exploratory journey which took him three months on foot to establish a domestic and commercial base in Abeokuta. His very modest, but cherished “headquarters” was built in the Sapon area of Abeokuta, a mere walking distance from the site of his future three-storey landmark home in Items Agbadu. With the day’s work finished, he supervised the ritualistic tidying-up of the office, a task in which some of his children
were willing and excited participants.
Soon it would be time to join his friends for a few games at
tennis at the Abeokuta Tennis Club, and then go off to his
home to join his wives and children for dinner. His face,
which could sometimes bear the disconcertingly combined
countenance of both a firm disciplinarian and a mirthful
father in equal measure, was today aglow with joy. He, a
black man and member of the Yoruba ethnic group had
triumphed against the seemingly insurmountable obstacles
that the British colonial authorities had placed in the path of
ambitious “natives”. He had penetrated the fortress of
British-dominated commercial enterprise in nascent
Nigeria, to become one of a very small group of Nigerian
entrepreneurs in the colony. He had reasons to smile.
From the modest, but gradually escalating proceeds of the
sale of Alabukun Powder, Alabukun Mentholine and other
locally made products – all produced by him – the Blessed
Jacob was able to realize his overarching desire, which was
to underwrite all the expenses associated with sending his
children to the land of the erstwhile colonial rulers, Britain,
to further their education. One after the other, his offspring
went off to study at Durham, Newcastle, USA and London
to qualify as educationists, medical doctors, lawyers and
engineers. They returned to Nigeria to join the pool of highly
educated and successful professionals for which Abeokuta
has been particularly famed in Nigeria history. Alabukun’s
offspring have prospered and have made immense
contributions to Yorubaland and to Nigeria in their various
professions and spheres of endeavour.
The enduring success of the Alabukun brand is now
interwoven into the fabric of modern Nigeria medical
history. The Alabukun Powder in particular is displayed and
sold in thousands of pharmacies, markets and roadside
stalls all over Nigeria. In many states in Nigeria, Alabukun
powder is considered to be the obligatory cure-all for
almost every ailment. In neighbouring countries such as
Benin Republic, Ghana and Cameroon, the eye-catching
Alabukun brand is to be seen advertised everywhere.
Alabukun products are sold in several towns and cities in
the USA, the UK, in Europe, Brazil, Jamaica, and yes, even
as far away as China. You can buy Alabukun products on-
line, off-line, under-bridges and over-expressways.
Just last year, 2012, the descendants and family of the
Blessed Jacob marked and celebrated the 50th anniversary
of the passing on of this towering man. In a manner in
which he would have been proud, the celebrations were
modest and without fanfare. None of the governors of the
various states in South West Nigeria in which the Blessed
Jacob made huge contributions was present. Both Ogun
State and Lagos State were in no way officially represented
at this significant anniversary. However, we owe nobody
any grudge because for a particular reason the family had
decided to make the anniversary a low-key affair.

Happily, his children, his grandchildren, great grand-
children and great-great grandchildren as well as the
descendants and relations of the multitudes of his
beneficiaries, patients, friends and employees, were all
there to celebrate the history of this under-appreciated
icon.


And so, one year after this 50th anniversary, what are the
physical edifices and buildings that can serve as a present
and future testimony to his legacy, to his industriousness,
to his trailblazing entrepreneurship?

Even then a befitting memorial, indeed, a legacy, solid,
towering structure such as a house has severally suffered
from uncaring and insensitive official arm.
First to go was the magnificent family residence in Ijemo
Agbadu with its unique granite-hued frontage and castle-
like grounds which for more than half a century housed
living quarters for family and friends alike – DEMOLISHED!
Secondly, in 2013 the building (the first two-level building in
Abeokuta, Sapon) the original birthplace and home of the
Alabukun brand was – DEMOLISHED!!
Thirdly, the storey-building that the Blessed Jacob built on
the east side of Ikorodu Road and which for decades was
the most significant landmark on that road before one
reached the landmark Ikorodu Roundabout was also
pitifully – DEMOLISHED!!!

This sad history of willful disregard and disrespect for the
legacies of those who came before us and who contributed
so much to the nation that we today call Nigeria is
abundantly exemplified in the tragic fate of Alabukun’s
properties. We, the descendants of the glorious Blessed
Jacob are so grateful and proud of his life. The education
that he bestowed upon us, the wonderful example he
showed in his personal and business life, his immense
generosity and kindness of spirit, these are what we and
our own descendants will never forget.

For those who find themselves in power today, and for
those who were in power when all of the destructive acts
described above were committed, we have only this to say:
The act of destruction of the physical properties of those
who did so much to make our nation great can never
desecrate their names or their legacies. It is those who
permit such destruction who should ask themselves this:
“Is this the way to honour the past? Are we proud to
announce to the world that we allowed history to be
corrupted and eroded like this?”

Finally, sad as we may feel about this story of demolition
as chronicled above, we, the descendants, especially his
children, are proud and grateful to God that our magnificent
Patriarch, Papa Chief Jacob Sogboyega Odulate –
ALABUKUN – The Blessed Jacob – left us a legacy that can
never be forgotten in the history of Nigeria. In life and in
death he stands up in the development of Nigeria.
What a man! What a hero! What a legacy!
For more information on the life of this great man, I refer
you to the book “Reaching for the Stars” an autobiography
of one of his children – Chief Folake Solanke SAN.


Source: http://nigeriacamera.net/53013-2/

Legendary lo shay Alabukun yi ooh...ooh...eeeh!

Alabukun saving Nigerians always