The Untold Story Of Alajo Somolu

The Popular Thrift Collector Often Thought To Be A Yoruba Myth

Have you heard of the popular phrase "Alajo Somolu"? Did you know he was a real person? Alphaeus Taiwo Olunaike, popularly called Alajo Somolu, was born in 1915 in Isan-Oyin, Ogun State, Nigeria. Taiwo was born as a triplet and in ancient Yoruba land, triplets were believed to bring bad luck to the land. Therefore, the first of the three was taken away and buried alive while the second, Kehinde died at infancy, leaving behind only Taiwo.

In 1934, he graduated from St. John's School in Lagos. Two years later, he enrolled as an apprentice under a tailor named Rojaye, where he learnt for 9 years. A few years after his apprenticeship, he accompanied his uncle on a commercial trip to Cameroon.

In Cameroon, he tried various ventures until he learnt thrift collection from a neighbour and returned to Nigeria in 1954 to start his own thrift collection business called "Daily Alajo Somolu". Taiwo was a smart man who understood the needs of small-time traders, which was savings.

Hence, he began his operation in the Somolu area of Lagos which earned him the name "Alajo Somolu". He would collect a fixed amount of money from traders every day, and pay them back in lump sums at the end of the month.

Contributors could also get loans for their businesses without any collateral. Although there were no calculators to aid his work, Taiwo could tell his clients their exact balance without reference to any documents. He is believed to have had a photographic memory.

Most of his clients found him trustworthy and as the news of his honesty spread, his client base multiplied. He made so much profit from his business that he built himself a house.

He continued his thrift business until he retired in 2010. He died at his Somolu residence on the 11th of August, 2012 at the age of 97. Alajo Somolu was so famous for his ingenuity in thrift collection that many thought he was a Yoruba Myth.

Comments

I Wept After Reading This Judge's Sentence On A 15 Year Old Boy

... _Very Thought Provoking_ This was a fifteen year old boy.... He was caught stealing bread from a store. On trying to escape from the hold of the guard, a shelf of the store was also broken. *The judge heard the crime and asked the boy, “Did you really steal something, a loaf of bread and cheese?”* The boy responded by looking down.;- “Yes.” Judge: - “Why?” Boy: - “I needed it.” Judge: - “Couldn't you have bought?” Boy: - “There was no money.” Judge: - “Take it from the family.” Boy: - “There is only a mother in the house. Sick and unemployed, Bread and Cheese were also stolen for the same.” Judge: - “You don't do anything?” Boy: - “Used to wash a car. When I took a day off to take care of my mother, I was fired.” Judge: - “Don’t you ask someone for help?” Boy: - “Had left the house since morning, went to about fifty (50) people, but no help; so, I decided to take this step at the very end.” When the arguments ended, the judge began to pronounce the verdict; ... “the theft a...

Rape: A Silent Epidemic

By; Okunola Promise The term rape originated from the Latin word, rapere (supine stem raptum), "to snatch, to grab, to carry off. Rape was initially considered a crime only in terms of the property violation of another man. For instance, ancient Hebrew women who were raped were considered defiled, and stoned to death. The first case of rape was the case of a young girl called Mathura, Mathura was a young orphan tribal girl living with one of her two brithers. The incident is suspected to have taken place on 26th March 1972, she was between 14 and 16years old at that time and the case was an incident of custodial rape in India on 26th March 1972. Rape , according to Merriam-Webster dictionary is an unlawful sexual activity and usually sexual intercourse carried out by force or under threat of injury against a persons will or with a person ...

Rape

By Akerele Sewa Deborah Rape, unlawful sexual activity, most often involving sexual intercourse, against the will of the victim through force or the threat of force or with an individual who is incapable of giving legal consent because of minor status, mental illness, mental deficiency, intoxication, unconsciousness, or deception. In many jurisdictions, the crime of rape has been subsumed under that of sexual assault. Rape was long considered to be caused by unbridled sexual desire, but it is now understood as a pathological assertion of power over a victim The legal definition of rape has changed substantially since the late 20th century. The traditional definition was narrow with respect to both gender and age; rape was an act of sexual intercourse by a man with a woman against her will. As rape is now understood, a rapist or a victim may be an adult of either gender or a child. Although rape can occur in same-sex intercourse, it is most often committed by a m...

Home - Naijefate Platform

Search This Blog