T.A Oni fell ill early 1974, shortly after his 60^th Birthday, he was no longer as active as he had been in the last 50 years. He traveled abroad for treatment regularly and eventually died on February 15, 1975 in Manila, Philippines 85 days to his 62^nd birthday.  He died leaving 6 wives and 35 children, all ranging between 37years and 7years old and several grandchildren, the oldest was 13years old.

There were reports of his death in various Newspapers –Daily Sketch headline on February 17^th, 1975 read “Chief T.A Oni dies at 62”. Condolence messages poured in from all his friends and associates all over the world, Newspapers were inundated with obituaries, visitors trooped to Goodwill House, tears flowed freely from his friends- Ajanaku, Okeowo, Gen Adebayo, etc.  It was indeed a painful period for the family, passers- by on the main Ringroad used to point to the house of the Man whose death was certainly unexpected, hence came as a shock to both his family and friends.

T.A Oni`s body was flown back to Nigeria and buried on March 8, 1975. His children ensured that he had the most befitting funeral possible. Guests came from far and wide to pay their respect to an EXTRA ORDINARY MAN who died too young at just 61 and who still had a lot to offer his family, friends and the Nation-Nigeria.

His coffin was carried by the Works Rangers Football Club Ibadan, (owned by the Western State Ministry of Works). The corpse was moved in a motorcade led by military outriders to Okemesi with a long procession of cars following behind. The routes to Okemesi along Ilesa, Oshogbo were lined with people, mourners paying their last respect to a great man. At the entrance of Okemesi, the hunters were dressed in their military outfit to welcome their Balogun with twenty one gun salute. The military display organized by his son – Major Gbola  Oni (who was in the army at the time) to honour their father, was magnificent and would undoubtedly have made T.A Oni proud.

Theophilus Adediran Oni was buried at the Market Square Okemesi as a mark of honour to a hero. He was the first Okemesi citizen to be honoured as such.

LEGACY

In a way, one can safely say that T.A Oni had prepared for eventualities after his death; he had a formidable and unique polygamous family that was second to none in this environment.  He provided a ‘WILL” which would ensure that all his children were educated especially as his last born was still only 7 years old when he died. To date, we are all still benefiting from this legacy one way or the other. T.A Oni`s legacy also included the following:

1. Acceptability and respect in Okemesi and Igbajo communities- through his philanthropic gesture and closeness to his and his mother’s hometowns. He built and constantly maintained the roads in and around Okemesi, the first Grammar school (Okemesi Grammar School) was also built and furnished. All these were done free of charge. It came as no surprise that his son, the late Oba Edward Adedoja Onibecame the Owa Ooye of Okemesi- Ekiti, three of his children were made Chiefs in Okemesi and Igbajo.

2. He was the first indigenous contractor in Nigeria, and built/constructed many projects, which we still see today.  He was the Chairman of Harboni Ltd and Fadu Group of Companies. To date the name T.A Oni & Sons is well known in the history of construction in Nigeria.

3. A Oni was not only a contractor, he also had other business interests-

Insurance- he invested and was invited to be the Chairman of African Prudential Insurance. He was a founding father of International Breweries with his good friends Dr Lawrence Omole and Chief Isaac Ajanaku. He was on the Board of Fan Milk, Chairman of Blackwood Hodge, Oat International Foundation Engineering, Fadu Engineering and Fadu Stores.

4. He performed innumerable tasks for his country and his profession- He was the Chairman of the Western region Catering rest House management Committee set up by the then Governor- General Adeyinka Adebayo. A member of the Federal Labour Advisory Council, member of the Morgan Commission, member of the West Africa Building Research Institute and member of the Ibadan Town and Gowon Discussion Group.

5. He was honoured with MBE (Member of the British Empire) by the Queen of England and awarded MFR (Member of the Republic of Nigeria) by the Nigerian Government- at the time only a handful of Nigerians were given such honours.

6. He invested in properties all over the country and this investment was to be used to educate his children after his death and continues to be a source of income to his children and some grandchildren over thirty-eight years after his death.

7. His Residence – Goodwill House now known as T.A. ONI MEMORIAL CHILDREN HOSPITAL in Ibadan, is one of the few dedicated children’s hospital in Nigeria. The hospital has been attested by those who have benefited from this act of philanthropy, as a blessing to the parents and children who reside in Oyo State.

8. His Family- He left 6 wives, 35 children, today 131 grandchildren and several great grandchildren.

 

9. The most important legacy of all is the name THEOPHILUS ADEDIRAN ONI- T.A. ONI & SONS – a name we all still benefit from today. A question we are often asked to date is “Which Oni is yours? Oni & Sons? Oni ti Ibadan? After all said and done, there is only the “ONE and ONLY” ONI & SONS.