The late Rilwan Olasunkanmi Alowonle was the first President of Egbe omo Oduduwa at its inception in 1995, an organization which he helped formed. Rilwan is from the famous Alowonle family of Ikorodu where he grew up as well as in Lagos Island. He graduated from Mayflower High School, Ikenne, Ogun State. He was among the early students that moved to Minnesota, United States in 1976 and attended St. Cloud State University before transferring to the University of Minnesota (Go Gophers!). He graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering, and a minor in Math. He receive a Masters in organizational Leadership from Capella University and a Masters in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from St. Thomas University. He worked as a Pilot Plant Supervisor at 3M before becoming the President of 3M Engineering Tech Forum. He also worked for GE Marketing, Inc. and was the Chairman and CEO of Northland Plastics & Manufacturing, Inc. In 2016, he went to work for Delta Airlines and was working for them up to the time of his passing. Throughout his life, Rilwan was a part of many organizations including Junior Achievements (3M), Association of Nigerian Engineers in Minnesota (ANEM), Minnesota Institute for Nigerian Development (MIND), Egbe Omo Oduduwa, Eko Club MN, Eko Club International (ECI), Toastmasters International, and Oduaa Progressive Union – USA Chapter. He was a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity – Minneapolis Alumni Chapter.
Rilwan is survived by the love of his life, his wife Toyin Kuburat Oduloye-Alowonle; 6 children: and 7 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his mother and his father.
Rilwan was a tireless champion and front runner in issues of culture and preserving the Yoruba tradition, is passage in June 2019, was a devastating blow to the Egbe Omo Oduduwa where he was loved by so many and will be dearly missed by all who knew him. His outgoing personality, compassionate heart, and joyful spirit allowed him to live each moment to the fullest and is how he will be remembered.