Oluwatoyin Shakiru Gafaar was born in Lagos on February 7, 1968 to the illustrious family of Late Ogunyemi Gafaar; an Ikorodu indigene and a business man who lived in the heart of Lagos Island.
He grew up with his parents at 39, Maloney Street, Opposite St. Joseph Church, now Adeniji Adele road, Lagos Island.
Oluwatoyin attended LCC Primary School, Ebute Elefun and Muslim Missions Primary School, Mushin for his basic education; Mushin Boys High school, Okota, Isolo for his secondary education and Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin to study Business Adminstration. His thirst for knowledge further took him to the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) to bag a Bachelor of Science in Economics.
In his unflinching zeal to see others succeed, as an undergraduate student, Toyin engaged his friends in a free after-school tutorial for students which was a rare privilege enjoyed in those days. He was the head of the WAI brigade and was also made captain of the Mushin Boys High school football team in Tournaments.
Due to his brilliant academic profile, young Toyin became the Senior Prefect at Mushin Boys’ High school, Okota, Isolo while he was also made the President of all Secondary Schools in Okota at that time.
As an Undergraduate and Activist, he was involved in Student Union activities and was appointed the Electoral Committee Chairman during the ABU Students Union election in 1994.
Upon graduation with honours and several awards, Toyin alongside progressive minds started the Life Scope Africa; an NGO dedicated to cater for the less privileged and HIV/AIDS Victims in 1997.
As a pragmatic, charitable and grassroots person, who sees community service as a veritable tool for social development especially for the youths, he established BOLOWOTAN FOOTBALL CLUB (BFC) in 2007 to help develop and nurture young talents in Ikorodu.
Bolowotan Football Club which has been in the forefront of discovering hidden talents of youths in Ikorodu for over a decade has also assisted successful young talents get International football career. The Bolowotan Gold Cup also known as the Ikorodu World Cup is in its 10th edition and has been promoting young players from local to national level.
To Toyin, community service means giving his all to serve humanity which made him sponsor over 50 indigents from Primary education to tertiary level amongst other philanthropic acts. The beneficiaries are mostly those who he doesn’t know but chose to support their dreams as a result of his passion in rendering humanitarian services to people. He may be summarily described as an unrepentant philanthropist whose act of giving is second to none.
Presently, Toyin Gafaar is on the board of Prime Signs Limited as the Head of Administration and Accounts. He is happily married and blessed with lovely children.
Toyin Gafaar is a proud son of Ikorodu.