Born around 1906 in Iragbiji in Osun State, Alhaji Y. F. Idowu as he was popularly known was the third child of his parents, Pa Idowu Ayanda and Madam Aina Apekẹ. His father was a Prince of Alawode Opadotun lineage from Oba near Osogbo, while his mother was from Olorisaoko’s Compound in Obaagun near Ikirun.
Papa lived very well and passed on a highly fulfilled family man and an accomplished business man. Although he did not have the benefit of receiving western education as was the case with many people of his time and generation, Papa, nonetheless was able to receive adult education training through some renowned teachers of the time namely Pa Onifade and Pa Omikunle from Igbajo. His Cousin Alhaji O.M. Adewoyin was also one of his teachers.
As a result, he was able to read and write especially in Yoruba and became very proficient in arithmetic thereby able to make records of his business transactions and plans by himself and in his own way and fashion.
Consequently, Papa was able to keep up-to-date books of his business records, family records, including dates of important family events and birth dates of all his children and members of the extended family.
Infact, all members of the family that knew their exact dates of birth owed this to the ingenuity of this great man. Other important records that Papa kept very well, were the records of building and business projects he undertook for his friends, those he mentored into business, his children and family members.
Many of the books kept by Papa are still held intact and safe up till today for posterity and reference by the entire family.
Through his instrumentality, counseling and benevolence, Papa was able to assist many of his children, workers, brothers, friends and associates to be houses and business owners up till today.
Baba Elepo, as he was widely known, was a successful man of many parts who achieved greatness by dint of hard work. He started as a local Goldsmith in 1928, having learnt the art as a young man from Pa Ayeloja also from Iragbiji. Papa became very successful and prominent as a Goldsmith that he became popularly known and called “Yesufu Agbede” till around 1948 when he left his goldsmith for trading having lost his father in 1941.
As a business man, Papa started as a textiles dealer dealing in fabrics such as “Aran,” Satin, Ankara, etc., which he was taking to his customers in neighboring towns of Ikirun, Inisha, Ijabe, Eko-Ende, Iresi, Obaagun, etc.
Also in 1952, Papa went into corn milling business with the establishment of milling centers in five major locations in Iragbiji and environs. He ran this business for more than 30 years and he also became widely known and remained the president of the association for so many years.
However, Papa’s fortune as a businessman witnessed significant turn around when in 1955 he joined PZ Trading Company Osogbo as a dealer in products like Salt, Sugar, Iron Sheets and general goods. He also started his dealing in petroleum products from the PZ through the purchase of petroleum products (kerosene, petrol, diesel, lubricants, etc.) in drums and tins from the Company.
He was dispensing these products in British imperial gallons of those days. It was also around the same time that Papa joined John Holt Trading Company, also in Osogbo, where he was also dealing in general goods like building materials and provisions like milk, sugar, beverages, etc.
Papa made a success of his dealings with PZ that within a very short time he performed so well that he was recommended to the then BP (British Petroleum) for direct dealership position. Then in 1956, he opened his first sales depots for the sales of petroleum products at Baaleu’s compound opposite orita Alabiamo in Iragbiji.
Later in 1962, due to expansion, Papa moved his petroleum business to its present location at 44, Isale Offa Road Iragbiji where he built the first filling station in Iragbiji and environs, still as a Dealer under BP which later became known as AP (African Petroleum). Papa made huge success of this business and remained there until he died in 1999.
In fact, Papa was the only petrol dealer for over 30 years in Iragbiji and indeed, in the whole of the present-day Boripe local government of Osun State. As a dealer in petroleum products for over 4 decades, Papa also dealt with so many Independent marketers, apart from AP and as a result, he became popularly known and called Baba Elepo, even up till today. The petrol station still remains active up till this day as is being managed by the family.
During his life and time as a business man, particularly as a dealer in petroleum products, Papa had a number of friends and associates, prominent amongst which were Alhaji Raji Kolade, Alhaji Yusuf Sanni, Mr Ajijola, Pa S. A. Alabi, Alhaji Raji Oladosu, Pa Kosamotu, Pa Tiamiyu Afolabi Olanipekun, etc.
Papa was also a successful farmer as he had large plantations of cocoa, kola nuts, etc in Erinja and Ayekale villages, both in Osun State. Those farms remain up till today and are being managed by the family.
As a business man, community and opinion leader, Papa remained a role model, a motivator, a counselor and a rallying point for many trade associations for a number of years. Among these were the Cement Dealers Association, Kerosene Dealers Association, Corn Millers Association, etc. He was President and Patron of these Associations for so many years. In fact, his house remained the Secretariat and meeting point of these Associations and groups throughout his lifetime and even for so many years after his death.
As an ardent Muslim, Papa went on holy pilgrimage to Mecca in 1973, having lost his mother in 1972. He served Allah till he died having contributed immensely to the upliftment of Islam in Iragbiji and environs. In particular, his local mosque, Olorunsogo Mosque and Iragbiji central mosque will not forget in a hurry his contributions to the development of Islam.
At various times and for many years, he was the chairman of the building committees of this local mosque and the central mosque in Iragbiji.
In recognition of his contribution towards the development of Iragbiji, Papa was given Excellence Award by the Iragbiji Development Council in 1998. Papa, the great patriarch of the Idowu family of Iragbiji was visionary, honest, brave, reliable, hardworking, courageous, energetic, and enterprising and remained very active until he transited on December 9, 1999.
May his great soul continue to rest in perfect peace.