Arisekola Alao,the Business man,Philanthropist & Religious Leader

Alhaji Arisekola Alao was a deeply religious man. He spent and was spent for the course of Islam. In recognition of his commitment to his faith, he was appointed the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland in 1980 by Imams in the South West region of the country. He was later made the Deputy President General (South) of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).



As a devout Muslim, Alao was a patron to over 100 Muslim organizations in the country. He was instrumental to the establishment of the Grand Council for Islamic Affairs in Nigeria in 1996 and the Alasalatu Ibadu Rahaman. He was one of the greatest financiers of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) and National Council of Muslim.

Yearly, Arisekola Alao sponsored hundreds of Muslims to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage and Umurah. 

As a mark of respect for him, after every sallah prayer, political, religious and economic leaders converge on his house to pay homage to him before going to their various houses.

Arisekola's Business
One of the areas of strength of Alao was business. He had a knack for making money.

His journey into the world of business started in 1961 when he delved into the sale of pesticides. But unlike many business people of his time, he did not stay on just one business as he diversified and went into other businesses.

First he set up Lister Motors, selling Nissan products. He made popular the 120Y model

which transporters were fond of. The car came with just two doors but Alao was able to talk Nigerian technicians into adding two more doors. The auto business gave birth to other businesses such as Lister Insurance, Lister Property and Estate Company, Lister Flour Mills, Lister Oil Nigeria Limited, Lister Property and Estate Company, Lister Press, Lister Farms and Fishery, Barakat Investment Nigeria Limited, Jubab International, Monitor Group of Newspapers and Aris Corporation.

He also invested in many other quoted companies, including FirstBank Plc. 

Arisekola's Philanthropy
Alhaji Arisekola Alao’s middle name was philanthropy. He was seen by many as a compassionate person who never allowed any needy person who came his way to go without improving his lot. He supported many indigent students through his scholarship scheme. Arisekola Alao fed and clothed thousands, while establishing hundreds in businesses of their own. As a matter of fact, every Friday, thousands thronged his Oluwo Kekere, Orita Bashorun residence where they were feted to their satisfaction. He supported many humanitarian causes. Many schools, hospitals and Muslim organizations benefitted from his philanthropy.

Thousands of people who never believed they could make it to the Holy Land were sponsored by the late businessman.

Life and Times
By Ganiyu Salman

UNDOUBTEDLY, the death of the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdul Azeez Arisekola Alao (CON), has created a vacuum in the politics of Oyo State, given his role in the politics of the state.

Alao’s death came a year after the exit of his first wife, Alhaja Risikat, who died on May 23, 2013 at the age of 68 years.

The Alao patriarch would have joined the league of septuagenarians early next year.

Born on a Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1945, to the family of Alhaji Abdur Raheem Olatunbosun Olaniyan Alao and Alhaja Rabiatu Olatutu Abegbe Alao who hailed from Ajia in Ona Ara Local Government Area of Oyo State, the young Alao had his elementary education at St. Luke’s School, Adigun, and later ICC Primary School, Igosun, both in Ibadan, after persistent persuasion of one school teacher, Mr J.O. Oladejo, because he initially was not interested in the acquisition of Western education, as he was contended with Islamic education which he began at the age of three years.

On completion of his primary education in 1960, he sat for the entrance examinations into two of the notable schools; Christ School, Ado-Ekiti and Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan. He was the best candidate in the Christ School examination, while he emerged as the third best candidate for admission into Lagelu Grammar School.

However, despite his brilliance, Arisekola Alao could not advance his western education as a result of the poor economic standing of his parents who were peasant farmers. But his lack of western education was compensated for by his sound Islamic education and a strong resolve.

Buoyed by the zeal to survive and make a decent living, Alao ventured into business, armed with admirable qualities such as intelligence, shrewdness, truthfulness, aggressiveness and the determination to succeed.

He had a brief stint with his uncle as an apprentice at Gbagi Market, Ibadan before going solo in 1961, vending Gammalin 20. Being a shrewd businessman, he was soon to become an agent of Imperial Chemical Industries. 

No sooner had he started his business did he become a household name in his locality and the old Western Region. He built up his business and used the platform to build a wide network in politics and religion. 

His involvement in and support for religious causes made the Muslim Ulamah in Yoruba land to confer on him the title of Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland in 1980.

Alao was a detrabilised Nigerian, who accommodated people irrespective of their religious or ethnic backgrounds.

Ever supportive of other people’s dreams, Alao, despite the abortion of his dream of acquiring western education, helped the dreams of others with the establishment of Pa Raheem Alao Scholarship Foundation for indigent students of tertiary institutions.

He was a co-founder and highest donor of Barakat International School, situated at Bodija, while he also had endowments in a number of universities including private institutions of higher learning across the country.

A foremost industrialist, he establshed a fleet of business outfits under the Lister conglomerate, which cut across food production, real estate management, insurance, transport, and publishing. 

Arisekola Alao built the Abdul Azeez Arisekola Central Mosque along Iwo Road, Ibadan and employed a number of workers whose salaries he paid regularly, aside having three Islamic scholars also on its payroll.

Arisekola Alao was among the Muslims who paved the way for the establishment of the Grand Council for Islamic Affairs in Nigeria in 1996 while he also financed the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) and the National Council of Muslim Youth the Organisations (NACOMYO), among other Islamic organisations even outside Nigeria.

He was a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA until his death.

A compassionate fellow, Alao built a 100-bed ward as part of Oyo State Muslim Hospital which was named Rabiatu Alao Ward, after his mother.

His exemplary contributions to the growth of the nation as a whole earned him a national honour, Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), during the administration of the late Alhaji Umar Musa Yar’ Adua in 2008.

Alao was also a lover of sport having elevated Alao Babes Football Club formed by the workers of The Monitor Newspapers and which won the Oyo State SWAN Media Games in 1998/99 to compete in the IFA league in the state. 


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