Biography of Mr. Abraham Alade Sawyerr

BIOGRAPHY OF MR. ABRAHAM ALADE SAWYERR

Mr. Abraham Alade Sawyerr was born on the 25^th August 1934 to Late Prince Cornelius Abiodun Sawyerr from Offa, Kwara State and Late Mrs. Hasanotu Taiwo Ajose-Adeogun from Isale Eko, Lagos.

He had Primary school education in Mercy Model School, Ebute Metta, Lagos between 1940 and 1946. After which, his uncle, Late Mr. Samuel Oduoye Sawyerr took him to Yola in Adamawa State.

In 1948 he joined the Electricity Corporation of Nigeria (E.C.N.) as Assistant Power Station Officer. He was later transferred to the Store as Assistant Store keeper where he rose to become Store keeper and then the Salaries and Wages Clerk.

His desire to better his lot in life led to his pursuing and obtaining a Diploma in Business Administration/Office Management from Metropolitan College, Saint Alban, England after which he resigned from E.C.N and joined Barclays Bank D.C.O. (now Union Bank of Nigeria Plc.) in 1958.

He attended several Barclays Bank D.C.O. Courses between 1958 and 1964 in Lagos and Abeokuta. He was transferred to Barclays Bank D.C.O., Jos branch to head the Mining department in 1966. In 1967, he was transferred to Ahmadu Bello way agency of the Bank as the Officer-in charge and in 1971 he was transferred to Ahmadu Bello way branch, Kaduna as the Branch Manager.

He served the Bank in Gombe, Bauchi, Jos, Zaria, Kano, Kaduna, Uromi and Lagos. In 1974 he was transferred to the Bank’s Advances department, Head Office, 40 Marina Lagos for three months and later transferred to Awolowo Road, Ikoyi branch as the Branch Manager. During his stay at Awolowo Road he was asked to open a branch at Falomo, Ikoyi which he nurtured to a full branch. He was then in charge of his branch Awolowo Road Ikoyi, Falomo branch, Federal Palace agency, Ikoyi Hotel agency, Federal Secretariat agency and Eko Hotel agency. He managed these six branches for six years. In 1981 he was transferred with promotion to 131 Broad Street branch as a Sub-Manager and in 1985 he was transferred with promotion to 21/23 Kakawa Street branch also as a Sub-Manager and later retired on the 25^th August 1989 at the age of fifty five. He was also a professional member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIBN) and the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM). 

Mr. A. A. Sawyerr actively served The Almighty God in Wesley Cathedral Church Olowogbowo, Lagos since 1974 when he returned to Lagos. He joined the Wesley Guild Society in 1974 and was appointed a Class Leader in Wesley Cathedral Church Olowogbowo in 1981. He served in various capacities in the Church as:

1.      The Trust Treasurer of Wesley Cathedral Church, Olowogbowo, Lagos

2.      Treasurer of Wesley Guild, Olowogbowo, Lagos

3.      Treasurer of Wesley Cathedral Church Olowogbowo

4.      Auditor of Wesley Cathedral Church Olowogbowo

5.      Auditor of Wesley Guild Central Body Lagos Diocese

6.      Auditor of Wesley Cathedral Church Olowogbowo Circuit

7.      Member of The Board and a shareholder of Methodist Church Nigeria Tailoring Factory

8.      Member of Wesley Cathedral Church Olowogbowo Building Committee

 He also served as the Patron of the following societies:

1.      Association of Methodist Students Society, Olowogbowo

2.      Wesley Cathedral Band,  Olowogbowo

3.      Boys’ Brigade of Nigeria, Olowogbowo

4.      Girls Brigade of Nigeria, Olowogbowo

5.      The Light Bearers, Olowogbowo

6.      Ladies League, Olowogbowo

Mr. A. A. Sawyerr married his heartthrob Mrs. Arinlade Omolara Sawyerr (nee Ajao) on 10^th December, 1964. They are blessed with five Children and Twelve grandchildren.

Adesegun Akitoye
http://www.spiritualhymnsong.blogspot.com