Chris Ogunbanjo lived a life that will not be forgotten as he has written his name in the sand of time by means of numerous legacies and achievements.
A man whose legacy reverberates through corporate boardrooms, legal chambers, and philanthropic endeavors.
In this comprehensive article, OldNaijaHistory will take you through the remarkable journey of Chief Christopher Oladipo Ogunbanjo, a trailblazer who left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s business landscape.
Early Life and Beginning
Chief Chris Ogunbanjo was born on the 14th of December, 1923 in the quiet town of Erunwon, Ijebu, Ogun State.
His father, Daniel Ajayi Ogunbanjo was at that time a catechist under the Church Missionary Society, CMS now known as the Anglian Communion.
Young Chris started his educational journey from St. Phillips Primary School, Aiyetoro in Ile-Ife, Osun State. He proceeded on secondary education to the famous OduduwaCollege, where he transfered after 2 years to the hallowed halls of Igbobi College in Lagos.
After secondary school, he worked briefly as a junior clerk and thereafter proceeded to study law at the University of London in 1946.
Career and Notable Contributions
After completing his studies abroad and being called to bar, Chris Ogunbanjo returned to Nigeria and worked for H.O Davies law firm.
As a result of his love and zeal for exploration, Ogunbanjo established his law firm in 1952, partnering the likes of Samuel Ladoke Akintola, a former Premier of the Western Region and Michael Odesanya. Their partnership birthed the Samuel, Chris and Michael Solicitors.
Further expanding in to corporate law, the Samuel, Chris and Michael Solicitors’ partnership was dissolved on 1960, giving rise to the Chris Ogunbanjo & Co. Law firm who specialized mainly in corporate law.
As a corporate law expert, Chris was a significant shareholder in companies such as West African Batteries, Metal Box Toyo, ABB Nigeria, to name a few.
Advocacy and Equity
Some of the notable contributions of Ogunbanjo was in the late 1960s, where he was part of a group of businessmen who supported local equity participation in foreign firms operating in Nigeria. This advocacy aimed to ensure that Nigerian citizens had a stake in companies operating within the country.
Family and Lifestyle
Chris Ogunbanjo was married to Hilda Ladipo. Hilda Ladipo at the time she married Chris was an editor of the iconic women’s lifestyle magazine, AMBER which would later be acquired by Daily Times.
Hilda Ladipo, Ogunbanjo’s wife, played a major role in his life, and as the editor of AMBER, she utilized her platform to champion women’s voices and left an indelible mark on Nigerian media.
He however died on the 7th of October, 2023 at the ripe age of 99.
Legacy and Philanthropy
Some of Chief Ogunbanjo’s legacy while he was alive includes;
– Domiciliary Accounts Pioneer: Chief Ogunbanjo’s advocacy paved way for the creation of domiciliary accounts in Nigeria which overtime has made it easy to get paid and also make payments in foreign currencies.
Apart from corporate contributions, there were also charity contributions which were executed under the Ogunbanjo Foundation which spanned healthcare and many other sectors.
One of the major loss and downtime of Chris Ogunbanjo’s family was the death of his son, Abimbola Ogunbanjo who died at 61 in an ill-fated helicopter crash on the 9th of February, 2024 in California. He died alongside Herbert Wigwe, CEO of Access Holdings, Chizoba his wife, and Chizi his son.
Abimbola like his father also made giant strides in the country’s finance and corporate law hemispher and also across the world as he was a former chairman of the NGX when he was alive.
Conclusion
Chief Christopher Oladipo Ogunbanjo’s life exemplifies resilience, vision, and unwavering commitment. As we reflect on his journey, let us draw inspiration from his legacy—a legacy that echoes through the corridors of progress.
