Wale JAGUN
The appointment of Mr Oluwatoyin Gafaar, popularly known and called ‘Bolowotan’ by his teeming admirers, sports family and generality of Ikorodu people, on Thursday, June 20, 2019, did not come as a surprise to many who had long been expecting this unassuming sports administrator to emerge the arrow head of the sporting circle of the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
After putting up a good fight for the Ikorodu Constituency I seat at the Lagos State House of Assembly as an aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bolowotan was appointed as the Director of Sports, Sanwo-Olu Independent Campaign Group.
He was a former member of the Lagos State Football Association (FA) and a successful businessman.
Bolowotan established a football academy/club to assist the youths, especially those in Ikorodu division, and helped in developing their soccer talents for many years. The academy later transformed into a football club that represented Ikorodu and Lagos State in general in the Nigeria Professional Football League after accelerated promotions from the lower leagues.
The club won many laurels and recognition in local and state leagues and championships within and outside Ikorodu.
As a man of principles who is different from an average Nigerian club owner, he did not sell the club when challenges set in, instead, he entered into an agreement with Mountain of Fire Football Club (MFM) to take care of the players with an agreement which states that Bolowotan can get the players back in the event of any unforseen development.
Oluwatoyin Shakiru Gafaar was born in Lagos on February 7, 1968, to the illustrious family of Late Ogunyemi Gafaar; an Ikorodu indigene and a business man who lived in the heart of Lagos Island.
He grew up and lived with his parents at 39, Maloney Street, Opposite St. Joseph Church, now Adeniji Adele road, Lagos Island.
Oluwatoyin attended LCC Primary School, Ebute Elefun and Muslim Missions Primary School, Mushin, for his basic education; Mushin Boys High school, Okota, Isolo for his secondary education and Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, where he studied Business Administration for his tertiary education. His quest for knowledge further took him to the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) where he bagged a Bachelor of Science in Economics.
In his unflinching zeal to see others succeed as an undergraduate student, Toyin engaged his friends in a free after-school tutorial which was a rare privilege enjoyed in those days. He was the head of the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) brigades and was also made the captain of the Mushin Boys High school football team in tournaments.
Due to his brilliant academic profile, young Toyin became the Senior Prefect at Mushin Boys’ High school, Okota- Isolo, while he was also made the President of all Secondary Schools in Okota at that time.
As an Undergraduate and Activist, he was involved in Students Union activities and was appointed the Electoral Committee Chairman during the Students Union election at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in 1994.
Upon graduation with honours and several awards, Toyin alongside progressive minds started the Life Scope Africa; an NGO dedicated to cater for the less privileged and HIV/AIDS Victims in 1997.
As a pragmatic, charitable and grassroots person who sees community service as a veritable tool for social development, especially for the youths, he established Bolowotan Football Club (BFC) in 2007 to help develop and nurture budding young talents in Ikorodu.
The football club has been at the forefront of discovering hidden football talents of youths in Ikorodu for over a decade and has also assisted successful young soccer talents to ply their soccer trade abroad.
The Bolowotan Gold Cup tournament, also known as the Ikorodu World Cup, which is being sponsored by Oluwatoyin, has been on for 10 consecutive years and has been promoting young players from local to national level.
To Toyin, community service means giving his all to serve humanity and this made him to sponsor the education of over 50 indigent children from Primary to tertiary level amongst other philanthropic acts. The beneficiaries are mostly those he did not have any relation with but only chose to support their dreams due to his passion humanitarian services .
Oluwatoyin Gafaar can be summarily described as an unrepentant philanthropist whose act of giving is second to none.
Presently, Toyin Gafaar is on the board of PrimeSigns Limited Company as the Head of Administration and Accounts. He is happily married and blessed with lovely children.
He is a proud son of Ikorodu.
