Mr. Francis Adeniyi Ademola was born on the 25th of April, 1942 in Iseyin, Oyo State of Nigeria. His father was a percussionist and a pioneer member of the Yusuf Olatunji Sakara band while his mother, a princess of the Adekunlehin (Adekun) Royal House in Iseyin was a business tycoon.
Francis Ademola had his early education at St John's Catholic Primary School, Iseyin and St George's Modern Secondary School in Oyo. He prepared himself for teaching profession by attending Grade III Teacher Training College in Iseyin and later St Joseph Teacher's College in Lagos, obtaining a Grade II Certificate in 1970.
In January 1971, he started his teaching career at St. Thomas Primary School, Surulere Lagos and as an adjunct teacher at St. Gregory’s College, Lagos. He left the school in September 1974 to pursue a further education at the University of Ibadan starting in October 1974 where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education with History as the major subject in June 1977.
After his National Youth Service Corps in Idah, Benue State, he had a brief stay as a teacher at the Baptist Secondary School Ilora under the then Oyo State Central School’s Board between August 1978 and November 1979.
Francis Ademola thereafter joined the Civil Service of Oyo State on November 30, 1979 and was posted to Government College Ibadan as a teacher of History where he was the Head of Department of History in Government College Ibadan and House Master of Powell House.
In August 1985, he was posted to Odo-Otin Local Government in Okuku, now in Osun State as the pioneer Local Inspector of Education (L.I.E.). He was later made the pioneer Secretary of the School’s Board in Iseyin Local Government. Since then, he served as Local Inspector of Education in Saki, Oyo and Ibadan North East Local Government, Iwo Road, Ibadan.
In 1991, he returned to Government College Ibadan as Vice Principal Academics. However, in April 1994, under the Gen. Sanni’ Abacha’s regime, he was given a political assignment as Supervisory Councilor for Education, Information, Youth and Sports and Culture in Iseyin Local Government.
After several years as Zonal Inspector of Education, he returned to Government College Ibadan as the Principal and Director of Education, Oyo State in April 2001. He served two terms as the Principal from 2001 to 2003 and from 2004 until he retired in April 2008.
While in Government College Ibadan, his interest apart from moral and academic pursuit vested in the School’s Cadet. And throughout his tenure in office as the Principal of Government College Ibadan, he enjoyed the full support of both staff, students and the entire Old Boys of Government College Ibadan. He worked with the caliber of Dr. Lekan Are, Mr. Banwo Smith, Mr. Mosuro and others who made his stay as the Principal for about seven years a memorable one.
After retirement in 2008, Francis Ademola worked with the Catholic Women Organisation of Ibadan Province to establish the Ave Maria Model Girls Secondary School, Oyo. He also served as the first Principal of the school working with the governing council led by Mr. Segun Aina.
He was a devout catholic and at some time, the Church Guitarist at the Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Cathedral, Oyo. He was a pioneer member of the Christ the King Catholic Church, Oyo and attended St Peter's Catholic Church, Apata, Ibadan while working at Government College Ibadan. He was a member of the St. Peter’s Society in his home church at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Iseyin.
He was a Husband, Father, Grandfather, an Uncle, a bridge-builder and a rallying point to all his people.