By Ishola Balogun
The death of High Chief Tajudeen Oriyomi Ayeola has reverberated across communities in Epe, Lagos, Nigeria, Africa, and the wider cooperative world. A respected leader, advocate, and builder, Ayeola passed away suddenly at the age of 56, leaving behind a legacy of service and reform.
Ayeola died in Epe on December 25, 2025 before his breakfast. His remains have been buried in line with Islamic rites.
A three-day Fidau prayer is slated to hold on Saturday at his Epe residence, time is 9am.
The Lagos State Cooperative Federation, LASCOFED, CFN, International Cooperative Alliance have extended condolences to his family, colleagues, and the cooperative movement across Africa and beyond, recognizing his enduring impact on the global cooperative community.
ICA-Africa’s official statement described his passing as “a monumental loss — to the family, community, the state, the nation, African Union and all who benefitted from his wisdom, leadership, philanthropy, and unwavering commitment to unity, peace, and humanity.”
His legacies
In Epe, Lagos, where he held the traditional title of Àrobayo of Epe Land, Ayeola was celebrated as a community pillar whose initiatives strengthened local cooperatives and empowered families. His leadership of the Lagos State Cooperative Federation (LASCOFED) between 2012 and 2020 brought reforms that improved governance, financial sustainability, and inclusion of youth and women in cooperative enterprises.
At the national level in Nigeria, Ayeola rose to preside over all four tiers of Cooperative Administration and served as President of the Cooperative Federation of Nigeria (CFN). His work advanced cooperative structures across agriculture, healthcare, and real estate, positioning cooperatives as engines of development and social welfare.
Across Africa, his influence deepened when he was elected President of ICA-Africa in 2021, a role he retained after his re-election in October 2025 during the Africa Ministerial Cooperative Conference in Nairobi. Under his leadership, ICA-Africa promoted agricultural value chains, pioneered cooperative healthcare schemes, and expanded cooperative contributions to housing and infrastructure. His vision was clear: “to add value to cooperatives in Africa and join hands with progressive Cooperative Leaders in other regions of the world towards an enhanced global Cooperative Movement.”
On the global stage, Ayeola’s voice resonated within the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), where he worked to align Africa’s cooperative movement with international partners. His efforts underscored the role of cooperatives in fostering unity, peace, and sustainable development worldwide.
Tributes have poured in from local communities, national organizations, continental bodies, and international institutions.
