Growing up in the Oke-Apomu area of Abayawo, Ilorin, was a pleasant experience due to the communal spirit and unwavering relationships among the young and old, indigenes and non-indigenes, the rich and the less privileged, religious clerics and technocrats, among other strata of human endeavor.
At the centre of the Oke-Apomu community are the renowned Bature and Olowo Mosques, which bring congregations together to observe the five daily prayers as commanded by Almighty Allah (SWT), while members of the community attend the Ilorin Central Mosque for their weekly Jumu’ah prayers.
Oke-Apomu has countless family compounds such as Ile Olowo, Ile Koro, Ile Sebutu, Ile Bature, Ile Alhaji, Ile Asileke, Ile Kijan, Ile Apala, Ile Alowoeru, Ile Eleji, Ile Ayilara, Ile Gabasi, and Ile Olosan, just to mention a few.
The community is blessed with many successful individuals who have contributed their quota to the development of the Ilorin Emirate and humanity at large, ranging from Islamic scholars and business tycoons to civil servants, artisans, and top-notch professionals.
Born in the Olosan family compound (Ile Olosa) on Friday, 12 April 1946, Engr. Yusuf Olanrewaju Sagaya, FAEng, MFR, OFR, is one of the most respected, influential, and impactful members of the community and the Ilorin Emirate at large.
A civil engineer by training and practice, Engr. Lanre Sagaya, as he is fondly called, has contributed in no small measure to the development of many engineers and administrators making waves in Nigeria and abroad. He deploys his God-given talent, resources, influence, and connections to positively impact the lives of many people, both indigenes and non-indigenes.
As a successful civil engineer and project consultant, he has assisted many higher institutions of learning (universities and polytechnics) nationwide in training students during their Industrial Training (IT) and Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES). He has also supported countless members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in gaining practical workplace experience when posted to YOLAS Consultants Ltd, under the daily supervision of experts such as late Engr. Tony Molukwu, Alhaji Ibrahim Salman, Mrs. Ebi Awulaba (the longest-serving YOLAS staff member), Professor Y.A. Jimoh, Engr (Dr) ‘Lanre Oyenekan, Engr. Onundi, Engr. Issac Oyeleke, Engr. Timothy, Engr. Akeem Raji, Engr. Ladi Yusuf, Baba Ajewole, Engr. Abdulkareem, and Mr. Segun Ogbonnibi (IT expert), among other dedicated staff.
Although, I was not privileged to be close to his late father, Alhaji Busari Alabi Sagaya, who died in 1999, but because , I was privileged to know and be very close to his mother, late Alhaja Munirat, also known as Iyamero (may Almighty Allah be pleased with their souls), and his stepmother, Alhaja Afusat (Iya Atanda). This was on the instruction of Alhaji Ibrahim Salman-Arowona, who detailed me to visit Olosan Compound every Friday to carry out some special tasks.
Lanre Sagaya is one of the few wealthy individuals with sound moral and academic backgrounds. While many wealthy individuals now struggle to obtain certifications or pay heavily to earn honours, he attended Alore Junior Primary School, Oke-Apomu, Ilorin, where he studied between 1953 and 1956, before moving to the then Native Authority Senior Boarding Primary School, Omu-Aran, from 1957 to 1959, where he earned his First School Leaving Certificate.
He attended the then Provincial Secondary School (now Government Secondary School), Ilorin, where he obtained his West African School Certificate (WASC) and Higher School Certificate (HSC) between 1960 and 1966.
The social entrepreneur was admitted to the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1967 and earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 1970.
With this academic achievement, Lanre Sagaya began his engineering career with the British firm of consulting engineers, Ove Arup and Partners, in Ibadan. He was recruited directly from the university upon graduation to work on the redesign and supervision of war-damaged bridges between Benin and Ore. It is noteworthy that Engr. Sagaya was a student at Ahmadu Bello University throughout the war period from 1967 to 1970.
He worked as a trainee engineer at Ove Arup and Partners from 1970 to 1972, focusing on highway and bridge design, before transferring to Osot Associates, also in Ibadan, where he gained further training and experience in water design and supervision.
Valuable information about Lanre Sagaya appeared in his autobiography entitled Chronicle of Monuments, published in 1996 during his 50th birthday celebration and authored by Mallam Rasaq Gidado, a veteran journalist and now a Federal Commissioner of the National Population Commission representing Kwara State.
Records show that Lanre Sagaya later proceeded to Canada for a master’s degree programme in 1973. He completed the programme in 1975 and worked with Maclaren International in Toronto. Interestingly, his project at Maclaren involved the design of the University of Lagos Science Complex.
He was transferred to Nigeria in 1976 to supervise the construction of this iconic project, which was completed in 1979. He subsequently resigned from Maclaren to establish his own consulting engineering firm, YOLAS Consultants. The name “YOLAS” was coined from his names, Yusuf Olanrewaju Sagaya. The firm has its headquarters in Ilorin, with offices in Lagos, Abuja, and other project sites.
YOLAS Consultants has successfully supervised many mega projects for multinational companies and federal and state governments across Nigeria, with high levels of client satisfaction.
Very dear to his heart are his amiable wife, Hajia Farida Sagaya, a successful business tycoon and travels and tours expert, and his children: Engr. Tajudeen Lanre Sagaya (Lanre Junior), Abdulraheed Folarin Sagaya, and Munirat Remilekun.
Professionally, Engr. Lanre Sagaya has paid his dues to many professional bodies and holds the highest status in associations such as:
1. Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers
2. Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Structural Engineers
3. Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Highway Engineers
4. Fellow of the Academy of Engineering in Nigeria
Because of his long-standing reputation, commitment, and dedication to the growth of the Ilorin Emirate and humanity in general, the Emir of Ilorin, His Royal Highness Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR, during his 11th coronation anniversary in 2006, conferred traditional titles on 11 distinguished individuals. Among them was Engr. Yusuf Lanre Sagaya, OFR, who was conferred with the traditional title of Zanna of Ilorin, while his close associate, Alhaji Aliyu Kola Belgore, OFR, was honoured with the traditional title of Jarma of Ilorin.
In addition, Sagaya has held many positions of responsibility at different levels, including:
1. Ex-officio Member of the National Executive Committee of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) for many years
2. Chairman of the Kwara State Town Planning and Development Authority (1992–1993)
3. Chairman of the Kwara State Chapter of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (1992–1993)
4. President of the Association for Consulting Engineering in Nigeria (2002–2003)
5. Chairman of the Ilorin Eid Praying Ground Remodelling and Management Committee, recently constituted by the Emir of Ilorin
6. National President of the GSS Ilorin Old Boys Association for many years
7. Founder of Aderoju International School, Tanke, Ilorin, initially managed by his late wife, Mrs. Aderoju Adunni Sagaya, of blessed memory
Sagaya is a friend to many global leaders including Presidents, State Governors, Traditional Rulers, Religious Leaders, Technocrats, Heads of State and Federal Government Agencies and Parastatals, Business Tycoons, Military/Para-Military Officers and many Top Professionals.
As part of efforts to appreciate and immortalise the engineering icon, in 2023, the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Ilorin Branch, instituted the “Engr. Yusuf Lanre Sagaya, FNSE, FAEng, MFR, OFR Annual Distinguished Lecture.”
At the advanced age of 80, Engr. Lanre Sagaya still looks youthful, energetic, patriotic, supportive, dedicated, and industrious. Despite his busy schedules around the world, he rarely misses community-based events in Ilorin. Another notable trait is that no matter the amount, he never makes a public pledge without fulfilling it.
Mai-Girma, Zanna Ilori, your journey from childhood to adulthood and now to becoming an elder statesman has been truly remarkable, filled with unprecedented achievements as a successful civil engineer and multi-award recipient.
Your kindness and mentorship have illuminated many lives and given breath to many souls, as you continue to support households and business owners toward sustainable livelihoods.
A sport enthusiast and ‘unrepented Golfer’, Engr. “Professor” Lanre Sagaya, your lecture hall is large enough to accommodate anyone ready for your mentorship. I can categorically say that I am a bona fide grandchild of your school of thought and always proud of you, sir, because your years of life continue to shape and inspire us positively.
As we await the celebration of your 80th anniversary come Sunday, 12 April 2026, we pray for continued comfort for you and your entire household, to the glory of Almighty Allah and the benefit of mankind.
Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona, PhD, a Journalist and Public Relations Expert writes from Lublin, Republic of Poland via sardauna2@gmail.com
