Prince Muftau Moyosore Atanda Kosoko (26 March 1937 – 26 July 1994) was born on the 26th of July, 1937 to parents Prince Yesufu Ebun Eko and Nimota Kosoko (Nee Agiri).
He was the 17th of 19 children on his paternal side and 4th of 5 children on his maternal side. His Father Prince Yesufu Ebun Eko Kosoko, was a merchant trader for UAC and GB Olivant. His mother sold fried sea food. She was fondly called “Iya Elejadin”.
ROYAL DESCENDANCY
Prince Muftau Moyosore Atanda Kosoko comes from a long line of Lagos Royals.
This is his descendancy.
King Ologun Kutere reigned 1780-1803. Parents Erelu Kuti (daughter of Oba Ado) and Alagbigba (A royal Adviser to Oba Akinsemoyin). He was the first successor through a matrilineal line.
King Eshinlokun reigned 1821-1829. His siblings were Obas Adele and Akitoye.
Ologun Kutere is the only dominant royal line in Lagos to date. His children were Oba Idewu Ojulari, King Kosoko and Opo Olu.
King Kosoko reigned 1845-1851 He was not favored to be king due to political strife at the court. He eventually ascended the Lagos throne after long and drawn out political tussle. His siblings were Idewu Ojulari, Olufunmi, Odunsi, Ladega, Ogunbambi, Akinsanya, Ogunjobi Akinmosa, Ibiyemi, Adebajo, Matimoju, Adeniyi, Isiyemi, Igbalu, Oresanya. He was exiled by the British to Epe town for his resistance to the English crown and his Uncle Akitoye, younger brother to his father King Eshinlokun was installed as King in his stead. He was later allowed to return from exile after the British annexed Lagos under the treaty of 1861. King Kosoko died in 1872.
- Prince Meshimo Kosoko; eldest son of King Kosoko. Married and had issue.
- Prince Buraimoh Kosoko; son of Prince Meshimo Kosoko. Married and had issue.
- Prince Yesuf Kosoko; son of Prince Buraimoh Kosoko. Married and had issue.
- Prince Muftau Moyosore Atanda Kosoko. Married and had issue.
The children and grandchildren of Prince Muftau Moyosore Atanda Kosoko are:
- Prince Hammed Morakinyo Kosoko (grandchildren: Fadekunbi, Alexander)
- Prince Tara Kosoko (grand children: Isham, Kynon, Saoirse)
- Princess Fadekunbi Oke {Nee Kosoko} (grandchildren: Carlton, Albert, Joanne, Vivian)
- Prince Mobolaji Kosoko (grandchildren: Damilola, Olaoluwa)
- Prince Moradeyo Kosoko
EARLY LIFE & EDUCATION
Prince Muftau Moyosore Atanda Kosoko’s father passed away while he was still very young, so he was raised by his maternal uncle.
He did however live at the family house on Ita Omo, the housing quarters for princes and princesses of Lagos monarchy for a period of time just before he travelled to Europe. His address was No. 7 Egbe Street.
He attended Ahmadiyya Primary School Elegbata Apongbon, one of the 10 schools founded by the Ahmadiyya Islamic movement (now Anwarul-Islam Muslim association) in South Western Nigeria in the early part of 20th century. This was where he obtained his early education. He would later attend Ahmadiyya College Agege for his secondary education as well, both experiences likely having a strong influence on his personal beliefs, faith and social orientation. He passed his A-Level exams with flying colours earning himself a scholarship in the process.
CAREER & BUSINESS
Prince Muftau Moyosore Atanda Kosoko worked for the Nigerian office of statistics briefly as a statistical clerk in 1961.
He also worked for the accounting firm Casselton Elliot, which later became KPMG, as a trainee on government scholarship. Casselton Elliot was the founder of the accounting company, originally established in the 1940s in Jos Nigeria. It expanded to Lagos and other West African countries doing audit for the colonial governments. It was later joined by PEAT MARWICK as partners. To establish uniformity in training and professionalism, it opened a UK office and trained West African students.
He travelled overseas to further his studies in 1964 as was common practice at Casselton Elliot for trainees who showed promise and to create uniformity. While there, he attended the prestigious Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales where he obtained the ACA (Associate Chartered Accountant) professional qualification.
Upon his return in 1974, he was married and had two sons (Morakinyo Hameed and Tara Kosoko) with a girl (Farouquat Fadekunbi) on the way. He stayed briefly in Lagos still working with the accounting firm KPMG. He travelled on several assignments around the country performing audits for the firm. It was on one of these trips that he visited the city of Kano and its quiet, calm and peaceful allure, which was a sharp contrast to the hustle and bustle of Lagos, captivated him. He soon requested relocation in 1975 to go live there with his family and his request was granted. It was while in Kano he had three more of his children two boys born (Muhyideen Mobolaji and Musodiq Moradeyo Kosoko) and a girl. However, he lost his youngest daughter to brief illness at infancy.
It was also in Kano that he eventually resigned his position at KPMG and forged his own path. This decision birthed the accounting firm “Moyo Kosoko and Company Chartered accountants” that would go on to be chief auditors for firms like The Alhassan Dantata group, Tanarewa Nigeria Limited, Ishyaku Rabiyu and sons, among several others
His final professional engagement came in 1989 and was with SCOA Nigeria Motors where he served as General Manager Audit. which was a contractual position he held for about five years and that saw him leave the city of Kano and return to the city of his birth Lagos.
FAITH AND BELIEFS
Prince Muftau Moyosore Atanda Kosoko was a devout Muslim who followed fastidously the tenets and teachings in the Quaran and Hadith. He was exemplary in life and conduct and was notable amongst the Muslim community both in Kano and Lagos under the aegis of the Anwarul-Islam Islamic movement.
Notable amongst his circle of religious friends and mentors is the renowned Islamic cleric Alhaji Muhyideen Bello.
He was also a key member of the Rotary Club of Nigeria both Kano and Lagos chapters where he contributed immensely toward the development of society through several social programs and charitable works.
Prince Muftau Moyosore Atanda Kosoko passed on, on the 26th of July 1994 after battles with persistent health challenges and is survived by five children and eleven (11) grandchildren.
PHOTOGRAPHS
Photographs can be accessed on this Google Drive link.
ORIKI OMO OBA KOSOKO
Omo Oba Kosoko Okun Oye
T’Oduro nita Apa
T’Oduro nita ILASA
Apa Ile kogbodo r’oko
Ilasa ko gbodo r’odo
Eko Ile ko gbodo ta firi firi loju omi
Pamu Pamu jigij jigi
Ose Omo Oba Ja’gun bi eru
Opa imaro bi eni pa Igbin
O gbori Olori ka’le L’osan gang an
Okan sos Ajanaku
Edie yen ogun opa ogun
Edie yen ogbon opa ogbon
Eri Edie ko pa mo re
E gbe edie ta, e fi omo ra awo
Awo yen meji, opa okan soso
Ma Ja’gun bee mo
Omo Oba kii ja’gun bii Eru
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