ALAJO SOMOLU, Nigeria’s Most Famous Thrift Collector
Alphaeus Taiwo Olunaike is not a name that many Nigerians are familiar with but once you mention Baba Alajo Somolu, people from the western part of Nigeria can easily identify themselves with the story of this man or a proverbial statement in the Yoruba language that states: “ Ori e pe bi alajo Somolu” when translated in the English language means ‘You are intelligent and smart thinking individual like the Somolu thrift collector”.
The young Alphaeus lost his father at age three, and that didn’t deter him from going to school as he started his primary education at the Emmanuel Primary School, Ijebu-Isonyin, he was yet to finish his primary education when his paternal uncle, STA Torimoro took him away from Ijebu-Isonyin to Lagos to further his education at the St. Johns School, Aroloya. From there, he proceeded to the Christ Church Cathedral School, Lagos, and finished there in 1934. Two years after his education, he was enrolled as an apprentice under a tailor named Rojaye. He was a tailor-in-training for nine good years before he got his ‘freedom’. When he started working as a tailor, he noticed that the income was not just going to be sustainable for him and he needed an alternative fast.
On a certain occasion, his uncle STA Torimoro, was to travel to Cameroon on a commercial trip, Alphaeus decided he would also seize the opportunity and follow him. In 1950, Alphaeus was on his way to Paul Biya’s nation. Upon reaching Cameroon, he unleashed the entrepreneurial spirit that was in him. A very determined fellow, he tried his hands on various tasks and duties in Cameroon. He sold goods, and newspapers and tried his hands at many ventures. In Cameroon, one of his neighbours was a thrift collector and they often discussed the business of thrift along the line, he became interested in the thrift business.
In 1954, he moved back to Nigeria with the plan to start the business of ajo gbigba (thrift collection). He was 39 at that time. Before he left Cameroon, he took with him a copy of the thrift collection card used by his Cameroonian neighbour. Upon reaching Nigeria, he made his own copies of the card and he named his own venture Popular Daily Alajo Somolu.
Also, At the peak of his career, he was so hardworking and diligent at his work that sayings were coined in his name. The sayings are as follows:
‘’Ori e pe bii ti alajo Somolu, to fodidi oôdun meta gbajo lai ko oruko eni kankan sile, ti ko si siwo san fenikeni.’’ (Your brain is as sharp as that of Alajo Somolu, who collected thrift for three years and paid back all his customers without writing down a single name and without making a single mistake with the payment)
There is also another one that goes thus:
“Ori e pe bii Alajo Somolu, to ta moto, to fi ra keke”. (You are so intelligent like Alajo Somolu, who sold his car to buy a bicycle)….
To read the full story, kindly place an order for a copy of the 102 editions by calling us at 08169767741 or 08035837934.
