Following the speculation of who becomes the Asiwaju of Ikorodu after the demise of late Chief B.O. Benson, Oriwu Sun have learnt from reliable source that there have emerged a candidate. Otunba Steve Anifowoshe-Onabanjo, who is an Otunba Adegorushen and a Pharmacist, has been named the Asiwaju designate. Though, details of the event have not been formally announced, Oriwu Sun got scoop that Chief Steve Anifowoshe has been served a letter of notification to that effect. There is expectations that the palace will make an official statement on the new designated candidate to occupy the lofty chieftaincy title of Asiwaju of Ikorodu.
The reserved Steve Anifowoshe is a trained pharmacist, who has carved a niche for himself as a successful drug manufacturer in the United States of America. He is from the Lasunwon royal family of Ikorodu. He is from one of the two ruling houses and by virtue of his birth, a full-blooded prince of Ikorodu kingdom. Otunba Anifowoshe has been shuttling the United States and his Ikorodu hometown for years. Though, a silent achiever who doesn’t blow his trumpet, Anifowoshe-Onabanjo has been a community man, who participates in community activities.
During the 2020 lockdown, he sponsored palliatives for people in Ikorodu by giving out ham packs of food items and cash to vulnerable families.
Steve Adewale Anifowoshe is a member of the royal family of Ikorodu, from Adegorunshe family in Ejina. For more than forty years, he has been in the United States of America, where he studied and practiced as a Pharmacist in Maryland, USA. Steve Anifowoshe-Onabanjo attained the level of Chief Pharmacist at a prominent health centre in Maryland, USA. Since he relocated to Ikorodu, he has been shuttling Nigeria and the United States. Many describe Prince Steve Anifowoshe as a quiet giver and a true philanthropist. He does his philanthropic donations unannounced and gives to people without interest in publicity, always looking good and conducts his affairs nobly and thread in the society with caution.
Currently worth a fortune in terms of cash and investment, he has properties not only in Ikorodu but across Lagos metropolis.
Born on October 3, 1953 to the family of Prince Zaccheus Akogun Anifowoshe of Adegorunshe family of Ajina, Ikorodu and late Mrs. Taiwo Anifowoshe (Nee Anibaba). Steve Adewale had his primary education at Tinubu Methodist School, Lagos and obtained his O’level from the Methodist Boys High School, Lagos in 1970. He got his Advanced Level GCE from the Federal School of Science, Onikan. After a brief stint as a clerical officer at Shell BP and Lagos State Ministry of Health, Steve proceeded to the United States of America in 1974 to study Pharmacology at the Department of Pharmacy, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, USA.
He also worked at the Eckerd Pharmacy in New Orleans, where he was employed as the Pharmacy Manager and overall store manager. His job with the Rite Aid Pharmacy in Baltimore, Maryland marked the beginning of his entrepreneurial head start. He was employed a Pharmacist in Maryland and worked for a while before establishing his private Pharmaceutical firm.
Steve’s two pharmaceutical firms competed favourably with well-known pharmacies in Maryland. In recognition of his contributions to the development of Pharmacy, Prince Adewale was honoured with numerous awards including Honourary Doctor of Pharmacy by Louisiana Board of Pharmacy and Maryland Board of Pharmacy in 1990 and he was enlisted in the America Nationwide Registers of Who’s Who in Executives & Businesses.
Prince Steve Adewale Anifiwoshe-Onabanjo is a member of Maryland Pharmaceutical Association and American Pharmaceutical Association, a member of the elite Oriwu Club, Ikorodu, President of Ikorodu Descendant in Washington, Nigeria and the whole of East Coast, presently Patron of Ikorodu-Oga Division Descendant in Washington, America and has been actively involved in developmental projects in Ikorodu. He has granted scholarships to students in Ikorodu. He belong to the Island Club, Lagos Lawn Tennis Club and Ikoyi Club 1938. Currently a patron of Eko Club International of Maryland, Washington and Virginia chapters in the United.
Many who heard of his latest appointment as the next Asiwaju of Ikorodu were happy and pleased because they felt Steve Anifowoshe-Onabanjo is a good candidate for the traditional title. The traditional title of Asiwaju is the lead and first chief in the roll of honourary chiefs in any Yoruba kingdom. When installed the Asiwaju of Ikorodu, Otunba Steve Anifowoshe will become the foremost honour