Akeem Lasisi
Unlike Ajegunle, Mushin, Surulere, Festac and Lekki areas of Lagos, Liverpool, in Apapa, is hardly a hub for artistes. It is rather one of those cool areas exuding elitism.
But that was before Bolaji Rosiji became the President of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria – PMAN.
After taking over from Charly Boy, he turned his Liverpool base into a centre of music, culture, networking and every other thing that attracted many stakeholders.
It was not an empty instinct, as he filled PMAN with revolutionary activities, in a bid to raise its profile and keep many musicians profitably busy.
Rosiji indeed deployed his wealth to moving the industry forward.
Apart from also establishing a studio where he encouraged artistes to record their works, he empowered those in need, with cash and partnerships he helped to activate.
When Rosiji thus breathed his last on Sunday, December 5, the Nigerian entertainment sector simply lost a catalyst like no other.
This is apart from his philanthropic gestures in other areas of life, through his Gaurapad Foundation.
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The soundly educated Hare Krishna man had his own challenges and weaknesses like every other fellow. His leadership of PMAN, for instance, later ran into controversies – although the association never gets tired of swimming in such.
Also, he had issues in his business, including his arrest over a loan.
Yet, Rosiji was, on the entertainment and charity scenes, one who could be described as coming, seeing, fighting and considerably conquering.
His relationship with India had also propelled him to launch an Indian Festival, deepening cultural relations between the Asian country and Nigeria.
A son of a First Republican politician, the late Chief Ayo Rosiji, he was 56.
A statement from his family, signed by Olayemi Esan, who is the Public Relations Officer, Gaurapad Charities, announced the death on Tuesday, shocking many of his fans.
Titled, ‘Nigerian philanthropist and former PMAN president, Bolaji Rosiji passes on,’ it read, “This is to announce the passing into glory, Mr Bolaji Rosiji who died on Sunday 5th December 2021 at 5.30 pm at the Lagoon Hospital Ikoyi after a brief illness.
“Until his death, Rosiji, was the Founder of Gaurapad Charities founded in 2004, Former PMAN President, Former Director of NDL and the former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Network of NGOs. His tireless efforts to make his companies progress by leaps and bounds, as well as his attitude, guidance and effort, is worthy of applauds. He is survived by a son, Narada Alvin and siblings.”
