The family of Chief Isaac Oladipupo Williams will again meet to celebrate the late scion.
He was the first born to the late Chief Alfred Ephraim Williams and Keziah Williams. His father, Late Chief Alfred Ephraim Williams was a famous slave owner and cocoa merchant.
He migrated from Sierra Leone to Abeokuta in Ogun State centuries ago and left during the intertribal refugee ravages in Egba Land and finally settled in Iju Station at Ishaga where he inherited the majority of the land as the first family to settle there.
He was also called ”Kiniun Igbo Iju, abanija ma jebi” which means he was the lion of the thick forest that fought without being blamed. The name IJU in Yoruba language means Thick Forest.
He married several wives and had many children. Williams’ family have grown in local politics over centuries and spread across various geo-political zones in Nigeria.
Late Chief Isaac Oladipupo Williams was the first counsellor of Agege Local Government and first Baale of Iju approved by the Ikeja Divisional Chieftaincy Committee in 1986.
Late Chief I.O Williams married Adetutu Williams who was also from the royal kingdom of Ajibode in Ishaga. She is still alive and she’s popularly called ”Iya Fred” meaning Mother of Fred Williams.
She had 5 children for him named Chief Mrs Victoria Iyabo Omoniyi (Nee Williams), Chief Babatunde Williams (Agba Aakin of Iju Station), Late Chief Samson Adekunle Williams (Former Baale of Alagbon Meta), Chief Abidemi Williams (Asiwaju of Iju Station) and Late Adewale Williams.
Chief I.O Williams was a philanthropist and a leader with a very good heart, he donated his land to the government to build Iju Primary Health Centre beside his home at Ladipo Avenue in Iju.
He also allocated land freely to other pioneer families that came to settle in Iju.T he Williams descendants have embraced the family tradition set down by their ancestors and they also celebrate yearly festivals where Fokoko and Agodongbo masquerades display their colourfulness and skills to entertain the public.
The entire Fred Williams family and the community in total celebrate his good deeds and legacy.
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