Tourism entrepreneur, economist, author, and development advocate, Hafsat Yetunde Jatto, is set to mark a significant literary milestone in December 2026 as she becomes the first female biographer from Offa, Kwara State, with the official launch of her debut book.
The upcoming biography, titled “From Heart to Hand: A Philanthropist’s Journey,” chronicles the life, enduring legacy, and community contributions of her late grandfather, Alhaji Bello Ajibade Jatto, one of Offa’s most revered historic philanthropists and community leaders.
Alongside the book presentation, Jatto will formally launch the Yetunde Jatto Development Initiative, a non-governmental organization created to institutionalize and sustain her grandfather’s legacy through structured community development, educational support, and social welfare programs.
In a statement made available to 9japarrot on Sunday and according to historical family records documented in the book, Alhaji Bello Ajibade Jatto was born in 1877 and built a flourishing commercial enterprise, which notably included supplying charcoal fuel to the Nigerian Railway Corporation for locomotive operations during the early colonial era.
The publication details his instrumental role alongside other prominent community leaders in the founding of Offa Grammar School recognized as the first community-established secondary school in the defunct Northern Region.
A passionate promoter of interfaith harmony and civic advancement, his philanthropic donations included land for the Offa Post Office and financial support for classroom construction at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Offa, despite being a devout Muslim. He also prioritized higher education within his family, sponsoring his son, the late Dr. Ibrahim Jatto, to study Medicine and Surgery at the University of Glasgow.
Commenting on the publication, the author stated that her motivation stems from a commitment to historic preservation and intergenerational leadership. She noted that documenting her grandfather’s life ensures that his pioneer contributions to the socio-economic foundation of Offa remain accessible to future generations, while the Yetunde Jatto Development Initiative will serve as an active vehicle for continuing his values of service and philanthropy.
Hafsat Yetunde Jatto, daughter of the late renowned architect, Arc. G.O. Jatto, currently serves as the Executive Director of Ankara Tours and Afzal Travels and Tours Limited in Abuja, where she promotes sustainable travel and African heritage tourism. She remains an active advocate for economic empowerment, girl-child education, and women’s political participation.
The official date and venue for the December 2026 unveiling which is expected to draw traditional rulers, community stakeholders, historians, and literary figures will be formally announced by the organizing committee in due course.