IBADAN BOOK CLUB HOSTS AKINTOLA MABEL FEBRUARY 26, SET TO HOLD READINGS IN HONOUR OF OBA SALIU AKANMU ADETUNJI

Ibadan Book Club (IBC) has set aside February 26, 2021 to host Mrs. Akintola Mabel as her Guest Reader/Speaker for the month of February.

A statement from Ayobami Odunyemi, the Coordinator of the Club, said the event would take place at the Oyo State Library Board, Opposite Cocoa House, Ibadan by 12PM prompt. The statement also said the Club has set aside February for special readings in honour of the departed Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogunguniso 1.

Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogunguniso 1, (26 August 1928 – 2 January 2022) was a Nigerian monarch who sat as the 41st Olubadan of Ibadan following his coronation on 4 March 2016.


Saliu was born as the first of 17 children of Raji Olayiwola and Suwebat Amope Adetunji on 26 August 1928 in Ibadan, Oyo State. He grew up learning vocational jobs until he took up fashion designing as a means of living after moving into Lagos. While working as a fashion designer, Saliu delved into musical record marketing until in 1960 when he founded his first of three record label imprints called Baba Laje Records which housed notable fuji music acts including Dauda Epo-Akara, Wasiu Ayinde Marshall and KS1- Malaika.


Ibadan Book Club Guest Reader for the month of February, Mrs. Akintola Mabel is a Professional Teacher and the Proprietor of Life Foundation Academy Ashi Ibadan. She is a member of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS, Oyo State Chapter), Nigerian Red Cross Society and the Association of Formidable Educational Development (AFED) Oyo State Branch. Mrs. Akintola Mabel had served as Treasurer and Assistant Gen. Sec under NAPPS Oyo State while she also served as AFED’s State Treasurer. She is the Founder of The Reading Project, Ibadan. She is happily married with three children.


Prior to his coronation as the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Saliu Adetunji was the Balogun of Ibadan land. He died in Ibadan on 2 January 2022, at the age of 93.
Ibadan Book Club is an initiative of the Nigerian Young Writers Society. It was founded in 2011 by SYNW in order to contribute its own quota to the growth and development of the Reading Culture in Oyo State.

The Ibadan Book Club consists of a group of people who meet periodically to discuss the book they have read and exchange those books. Club members encourage each other and learn to read with a critical mind, articulating their opinions about a particular book with others. Certain types of books not available or read receive attention through the book club.

Some of the publications published by Ibadan Book Club are: Olubadan Centennial Anthology: a collection of essays, articles, poems and works of art in honor of Oba (Dr.) Samuel Odulana, Odugade 1, Voices from Oja Oba Market and Finally, Senator Abiola Ajimobi: Memories, Dreams, Reflections of a Mind Always in Motion.