T.A Oni was a family man with 8 wives from almost all parts of the country and beyond. They were:

1. Late Abigail Ladunni nee Aboderin (Mama Ilesa)
2. Late Hannah Omodunbi nee Owayungba (Mama Oyo)
3. Late Maryan Adeteju nee Oyenuga (Mama Doyin)
4. Late Mopelola nee Alabi (Mama Debiyi)
5. Christianah nee Lali (Mama Dayo)
6. Cypriana Aduke nee Adegbesan (Mama Deoye)
7. Elizabeth Modupe nee Coker (Mama Yinka)
8. Late Fay-Frances Monica nee Etherton (Mama Tokunbo)

He had 35 children. His first family house was built in Oke Ado- large enough to accommodate his growing family. He subsequently built Goodwill House along Ringroad  Ibadan in 1965, by this time his older children had left home. The house was by any standard; one of the most beautiful houses there was and still is today.

Within Goodwill House, each of the wives had a separate, comfortable and well-furnished two bedroom apartment in the wives` block. They were rated as equal with non partisan policy which was carried to the children. As a family man with several wives, he made sure that each wife had a profession or trade to earn her income from.

T.A Oni`s main focus was his children, He had no favorites (did not show it if he did) among them and treated everyone individually. The yardstick was performance in school. He applied a rather unique method to the up bringing of his children; he recognized the effects of influence mothers might have on their children, especially in a polygamous home hence, mothers were separated from children. At the age of six, children were taken from their mothers and upbringing was centralized in the Boarding house (a.k.a Boarder). The boarding House-system evolved in the family premises. There was a dormitory, the boys occupied the ground floor and the girls occupied the first floor, every child or a group of children mentored by an older person. Late Mrs. Williams and then Mrs. John were employed as matrons.

The rules and regulations of the dormitories were similar to those of established school hostels. A mother was usually on duty supervising the matron on a monthly basis. It was such an interesting and unique environment that the children had little or no desire to visit friends and relatives outside of the walls of Goodwill House, even the grandchildren were often dropped off for days by their parents (T.A Oni`s older children). The children all went to school in the same bus marked “OMO FADUNMILA”, which departed promptly at scheduled times, missing the bus meant trekking to school.

 

A typical day in the life of the children in the boarding house started with;

The wake up bell ringing, followed by the morning prayer in the dinning hall, then the most important trip to “Ile Tuntun” to greet him Papa” – as he was called by most of his children, the much older ones had started calling him “Old man” (not to his face of course). This daily ritual was important to him that even after he was blind, he would acknowledge every child’s name by his/her voice.

He imbibed the culture of discipline and did not spare the rod at the slightest sign of indiscipline. He was loved and feared by all his children, the fear was later replaced by adoration from his youngest children as he had mellowed and dropped the façade of being the “hard father” during their time. Towards the end of his life while he was blind, these youngest children took turns to keep him company both night and day.

Education was paramount in the mind of T.A he rewarded good performance and sanctioned bad performance. He did not shower excessive wealth on his children and he often reminded them of his life, how he had to work hard to achieve his success. He encouraged his children to take up specific professions, especially in the area of Engineering, nevertheless, it was most important to him that no child was spoon-fed or led to believe that they could depend on his wealth.

T.A Oni was close to his home town; he went to Oke-Imesi regularly and ensured that his children did the same. It was compulsory for his children to go with him to Oke-Imesi for Xmas annually. Some were flogged for escaping one of the trips!!!! (Today they know themselves!!!!). He also regularly traveled with them to see his various projects such as the Kaimi dam in Kaduna, Oshogbo etc.

The most valuable gift T.A Oni gave his family, from this rather unique system, was that the children grew up independent of any maternal influence. They related with one another as children of the same father, rather than belonging to separate mothers. They also related with one another on the basis of age group, which has greatly influenced the relationship between them till date. To God be the glory, the family still remain united and continue to do things in common years after his demise.