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A.M AGORO
Abdul Mukandasi AGORO (24 March 1892 - 26 March 1948) was a well known businessman and building contractor, born to the illustrious and noble family of late Pa Abdul – Rahman and Mrs Ajaratu AGORO in Lagos. He was the last amongst his mother’s four children and in all had twenty-five (25) siblings all descendants from late Pa Abdul-Rahman AGORO. A.M. Agoro was a quick learner and after his early education, he went into commerce where he did quite well to raise and support his family.

Work
A.M Agoro was an astute businessman, a hard working building contractor as he effectively managed his company A.M Agoro & Brothers. He executed many contracts, owned properties in Ibadan and Lagos and was adjudged a man of considerable wealth in the 1930s & 1940s in Lagos, Nigeria. He was deemed to be one of the first entrepreneurs in Lagos.

He was married to seven wives at different times during his lifetime in the tradition of the times and fathered eighteen children. He worked very hard to ensure education for his children and where necessary he sent them to the UK to further their studies. At the time of his death two of his children were already in the UK. He had left enough money which allowed ALL his children to further and complete their studies.

Religious Life
A.M Agoro was truly a religious man, a devoted Muslim and member of the Jama-at-ul Islamiyya of Nigeria. “The Jama-at-ul Islamiyya of Nigeria formerly known as Islamic Society of Nigeria was founded by its first leader Alhaji L.B Agusto on the 1st March 1924. But the history of Jama-at-ul Islamiyya of Nigeria cannot be written without reference to the part played by some individuals in its establishment, growth and nurture to its present stage of Life. A.M Agoro was one of the individuals who joined to nurture the growth of Jamat-at-ul Islammiyya and was one of the first 50 members of the society. Indeed the need to have a mosque of its own was strongly felt by all the members of the Jamaat Society at the time and consequently they set up a high powered Building Land Committee on the 26th December, 1943 made up of:


 * 1) Bros L.B Agusto (Chairman)
 * 2) H.A Subair
 * 3) A.M Agoro
 * 4) S.O Gbadamosi
 * 5) B.M Hanidu and
 * 6) A.K Laguda

Their primary assignment was to look for and buy land for the proposed Mosque. After extensive search for almost 2 years, the committee was able to recommend to the Jamaat to purchase a single-storey dwelling house at 109 Tokunboh Street, Lagos. A.M Agoro was therefore an active member of the Jamaat and a dedicated Muslim who participated in all the activities of the Jamaat society till his death in 1948 and till date some of his children are still members of Jamaat, 69 years after his death, the hallmark of a good father.

Social Life
The colonial days under the British colonialists in Lagos depicted an experience of a tough life and considerably discriminatory life for the indigenous locals. This discrimination was very vivid in the social and sporting life in those days with the Europeans segregating themselves into exclusive clubs and one of the first being set up in the twenties in Lagos was the exclusive Tennis Club which later became the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club.

This was the forerunner to the need for indigenous people of Lagos to consider setting up their own club and thus the Yoruba Tennis Club was established in 1926. The club grew in membership with Mr Abdul Mukandasi Agoro admitted into this illustrious club (Club No 113) in 1944. He was one of the first members to be admitted by taking an Oath of Allegiance to the Club, a practice which is still in existence till today at the Yoruba Tennis Club. He was a regular and committed member of the Yoruba Tennis Club until his death in 1948.

Death
A. M. Agoro died on the 26th of March, 1948 at the relatively old age at the time of 56 years. The cause of death is unkown due to religious practise. He was a fulfilled man who had worked hard with a good blend of social, religious and exemplary family life. Late A.M. Agoro left an Estate in his Will which was utilised to further educate many of his children in Nigeria and Abroad and the benefits of the Estate from 1948 has and is still being enjoyed by his children and grandchildren.