Chief Lawrence Olaboye Dada, the last of four children, was born into the family of Baba Oladejo Arinde Dada of Ile Asaoye Isedo Quarters, Ila Orangun and Mama Comfort Adunola Agbeke Dada (nee Oyebade) of Ile Obasolo Ogori, Ila Orangun on 26 December, 1937. His parents sojourned at Osogbo for well over 50 years, 1906-1963. He had his early formal education at St. John’s Anglican Primary School, Ita Olookan Osogbo (1946-1954) and the Local Authority Secondary Modern School at Oke Abesu Osogbo from 7 February 1955 to December, 1957.
He took up employment as a pupil teacher under the Ila Native Authority on 10 January, 1958 a position he relinquished on 31 December, 1959 having served at the Native Authority Primary Schools at Ede Mosi (January to December 1958, Ora Road Ila Orangun (January to 31 March, 1959) and Oyi Aiyegunle (January to 31 December, 1959).
He gained admission into the Seventh Day Adventist Teacher Training College, Otun Ekiti in January 1960 for a two-year Elementary Teachers Training Course which he completed in December, 1961. He had to serve a mandatory bond of two years under the Seventh Day Adventist Mission. Between January 1962 and December, 1963 he worked as a teacher at the Seventh Day Adventist Primary School, Omu Aran, then Northern Region from January 1962 to 20 October, 1962 and the Seventh Day Adventist Primary School, Osi Opin also in Northern Region from 21 October to 31 December, 1962. In January, 1963 he was transferred to the Seventh Day Adventist Primary School, Ipoti Ekiti in Western Region. On 1st April, 1963, following his success in the University of London General Certificate in Education Ordinary Level Examination, he was transferred to the Seventh Day Adventist Secondary Modern School, Ipoti Ekiti. At the end of the bond period he moved out of the zone and got employed at the Anglican Grammar School, Otan Aiyegbaju on 2nd January, 1964. He passed his Advanced Level Examination in History and Economics which he wrote in January, 1964. He stayed at the Grammar School for two years and eight months and he proceeded to the then University of Ife on Monday 26 September, 1966, to pursue a degree course in English.
On successfully completing the Special Honour Degree in English in June, 1969, he took up appointment as a teacher under the Western State Schools Board Ibadan on Monday 2 June, 1969 and was posted to St. John’s Catholic Grammar School, Ile Ife where he spent two years and five months.
He entered the Administrative Officer cadre of the Western State of Nigeria Civil Service on 29 October, 1971. His first posting was the Ministry of Health, Ibadan. Thereafter, he served in other Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the State continuously up to 26 August, 1991 but for the period 7 November, 1975 to 31 March, 1977 where he was assigned to the National Youth Service Corps State Secretariat, Ibadan from the State Civil Service. Chief Dada attended the mandatory Post Graduate Diploma course in Public Administration at the University of Ife, from September 1977 to July, 1978. From 13 March 1980 to 15 June, 1980 he attended in Britain a 13-week Training of Overseas Training Officers course organized by the Industrial Training Service London and sponsored by the United Kingdom Technical Assistance. As Training Officer for the State he under took in February 1982 a study four of some Staff Development Institutions in the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
Chief Dada was appointed Director-General (Permanent Secretary) on 1stSeptember, 1988 and posted to the Cabinet Office which supervised the Cabinet Department, Government House and the Chieftaincy Department a position he held until 27 August, 1991. When Osun State was created, he moved to Osogbo and was assigned to the Ministry of Health as the pioneer Director-General (Permanent Secretary). He retired voluntarily from the service on 31 December, 1991.
Not Tired Serving
Outside the Civil Service, Chief Dada engaged in farming with emphasis on fish farming and cultivation of tree crops namely citrus and oil palm. He undertook some National and State assignments: he represented Osun State on the Review Committee of the 1999 Draft Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria between August and September, 1995 at Abuja. In 1997, he served on the Visitation Panel to Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso. Chief Dada was Chairman, Ila Orangun Community Development Union from October 1995 to May, 2002 and has been a member of Ila Orangun Elders’ Consultative Forum since 1997. He served as Executive Assistant (Public Service Relations) to the Governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande, June 1999 to May 2003.
Serving God and the Interest of His Kingdom
Chief Dada is a full member of the Anglican Communion. He was the President of the Bishop Akinyele Memorial Anglican Church Ibadan. Branch of the Anglican Youth Fellowship (1991 to 1998), the Vice President of the Anglican Youth Christian Association of St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Ila Orangun (1985 to date) and a member of the Anglican Christian Fellowship (Nig) Bishop Akinyele Memorial Anglican Church, Ibadan. He was appointed a Fellow of the Diocese of Osun in April 2002. He earned an Episcopal Award of the Anglican Diocese of Osun North-East in 2011. Chief Dada was installed as Baba Ijo of St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Ila Orangun on 31 March, 2018.
He joined Ila Charity Club on 1 January, 1964 and at different times for a total of six years, he was President of that foremost club in Ila Orangun.
Chief Dada is happily married to Chief Mrs. Elizabeth Morenike Dada and they have happy children.
- Chief Lawrence Olaboye Dada is an Ex-Officio Member of AREHSPSOOS