Remembering An Uncommonly Good Father: Jacob Adeniyi Olusunle: (1938-2018)

Hwould have been 80 on Friday, November 2, 2018, but on Saturday August 25, 2018, less than three months to that milestone, however, Jacob Adeniyi Olusunle, an ordained Pastor of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), and my beloved father, breathed his last. That ended the life, career and times of an uncommonly good, distinctly inimitable and exemplary personality.

He began his elementary education at the Anglican Primary School, Ijowa, Isanlu in 1945, continued at the Anglican Primary School, Mopo, Isanlu and completed that phase of his education at the Baptist Primary School, Zaria, in present day Kaduna State in 1952.

In January 1955, Pastor Olusunle obtained a scholarship into the Government Trade Centre, GTC, Bukuru (an institu- tion that has since been rechristened Government Technical College), in present day Plateau State for his secondary school education, completing his studies in December 1959.

He led his class convincingly and had a ‘First Class’ endorsement on his certificate. His teachers and instructors regarded him highly as ‘a well rounded student,’ given his active pursuit of spirituality as leader of the Christian Students’ Association at GTC, Bukuru; his abiding interest in sports as Vice Captain of the table tennis club and his dogged commitment to his academic pursuit.

Between 1959 and 1963, he worked as a civil servant in the Ministry of Works of the erstwhile Northern Region in Kaduna, as a Technical Assistant (Hydrological). He was soon head-hunted by the former Northern Nigeria Spinning Company, ab- breviated ‘Norspin’, as Trainee Supervisor, from 1963 to 1966.

His funeral rites begin on Wednesday, December 12, 2018, with a Service of Songs and Night of Tributes in his residence in Ilorin, at 5pm. On Friday December 14, 2018, there will be a Christian Wake in the family residence in Isanlu, beginning from 6pm. His internment will take place on Saturday, December 15, 2018, followed by a thanksgiving service at the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-adeye, Mopo, Isanlu.

Representative of Ooni of Ife, His Royal Highness Oba Olawale Adeyemi Fare ( right); Obaro of Kabba, His Royal Majesty, Oba Solomon Dele Owoniyi, Obaro Otitoleke Oweyomade I, and his wife, during the 2018 Kabba festival of cultural heritage, in Kabba yesterday. PHOTO: JOHN AKUBO

High Chief (Dr.) O. B. Lulu-briggs OON, in a warm handshake with Dr. Dawari George, with Dr. (Mrs.) Seinye O.b.lulu-briggs, at Mrs. Briggs 60th birthday, last week.

Financial Controller, SFS Capital Nigeria Limited, Abisola Bisiriyu; Executive Director, Dimeji Sonowo; CEO, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar N. Onyema; Managing Director, SFS Capital Nigeria Limited, Patrick Ilodianya; United Capital Trustees, Motadeni Balogun; and Head, Finance & Mortgage Asset (Union Homes REIT), Oladayo Osawemem, at the Gong Ringing Ceremony for Union Homes REIT.

Mr. Cosmas Nwachukwu (l); Mrs. Bridget Onyebuchi; Groom, Egbujuo Christopher, bride, Comfort Onyebuchi, Groom’s mother, Mrs. Rose Nwachukwu; and Mr. Daniel Onyebuchi, during their wedding ceremony, yesterday in Owerri, Imo State.

Olusunle

Graduand’s father, Senior Photo-journalist, Theguardian, Najeem Atanda Raheem (l); Graduand, Barakat Damilola Raheem (middle); her Mother, Olawumi Raheem, during the graduation ceremony of Damilola, at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State.