The Quintessential Rotarian Adeyemo at 70
Somewereborngreatwhilesomeattain greatness.Oneofthosewhoattained greatnessthroughdoggednessand grace is Oloye Asiwaju Ayodele Adeyemo. Born in Ede, Osun State on 08 May, 1952, Ayodele was not born with a silver spoon hence he struggled to be great in his endeavours.
LittleAyodelelivedhisearlyyearsinOgobi,asuburb ofEdeuntil1960,whenhestartedschoolinginIwo.
Livingwithhisguardian,PaD.MOgunrinade.Ayodele developed a passionate interest in schooling as a younglad,aninterestthatgoadedhimintoacquiring many academic laurels in all reputable secondary andtertiaryinstitutionsheattended.Heisaveteran broadcaster,apublicspeaker,asocio-politicalanalyst, counselor,aseasonedadministrator,apublicrelations practitioner/consultantwithvariedexperiencesin bothprivateandpublicservices.
Ayodele’s love for qualitative education led him to various institutions of learning where he graduated in flying colours. Among schools attended by AyodeleoftheMapoArogunclanweretheUniversity of Ibadan where he obtained Bachelor of Science Degree(1977)andMastersofScience(1981);Nigeria Institute of Journalism, where he earned a Post Graduate Diploma, 1995 with specialization in Advertising;BaptistHighSchool,Iwo,in,1972and Iwo Grammar School, Iwo, where he obtained his West African School Certificate, in 1969.
Right from his early years in the secondary school, he demonstrated sterling leadership qualities which led to his appointment as the Labour Prefect. While he was at the University ofIbadan,Ayodelewaselectedasamemberofthe Students Representative Council, the legislative arm of the Student Union Government.
Asatradeunionist,AyodeleservedasthePublicity SecretaryofOyoStateCouncilofRadio,Television and Theatre Workers Union (RATTAWU) in 1983.
Hardworktheysayistheanswertopoverty,hence Ayodeleworkedinmanyorganizationsandheldmany positions of trust and responsibility among which was primary school teacher in variou schools,in 1970includingBaptistHighSchool,Ede,1973-1974; Broadcastings Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), 1978-1990 and the National Drug Law Enfocemet (NDLEA),1990-1994.
AyodeleretiredfromtheNDLEAin1994as theActingDeputyDirectorofDrugDemand ReductionDivisionAsthepioneerHeadofPublic Enlightenment Department of the agency, he coordinated all the public enlightenment projects and campaign against drug abuse andtrafficking.
After retirement, Ayodele ventured into MediaProductionandManagement,abusiness thatsawproductionandsponsorship ofradio, televisionanddocumentaryprogrammesfor international organisation such as UNDCP.
HewasHeadofPublicRelationsDepartment ofUNIOSUNTeachingHospital,Osogbo,Osun State(formerlyLAUTECHTeachingHospital, Osogbo).AyodelestartedthePublicRelations Departmentanddevelopedthepublicrelations policies,objectivesandplansoftheUniosunteaching HospitalhithertoknownasLautechteachinghospital whichhasgiventheobscurehospitalanow dinstinct identityandimage.
Ayodele is well tavelled and has attended many professionalandspecializedcoursesandseminars bothnationallyandinternationally.Hehastravelled widelyinNigeriaandtoIndia,UKandUnitedStates as a participant, resource person, or consultant.
AyodelehaswonmanyaccoladesfrommanyinstitutionsandorganisationsincludingtheBroadcasting Corporation of Oyo State; the National Drug Law EnforcementAgency;LAUTECHTeachingHospital, Osogbo,2009;theNonAcademicStaffUnion(NASU), LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo; Senior AssociationofUniversitiesTeachingHospital,Research Institutes&AlliedInstitutions(SAUTHRIAI)andthe
LAUTECHTeachingHospital.
He has also won the Paul Harrison Fellowship Award of Rotary International; Distinguished Icon of Selfless Services Award by Rotary Club, Osun StatePolytechnic,IreeandAwardofExcellenceasa VeteranBroadcasterbyAgidigbo88.7Fm,Ibadan.
Thebestofserviceistheonededicatedtohumanity. This prompted Ayodele into serving humanity wholeheartedly.Acommittedandpassionatemember ofEdeDescendantsUnion;
Chairman,OrganizingCommittee,pioneeredition of Agbale Hall of Fame, Ede (2010) and Chairman, OgobiElectricityProjectunderCSDP-WorldBank Scheme.
Theschemewasexecutedthoroughlywithunflinchingcommitmentandunquestionableaccountability
Heisarotarianofnote,whohasoccupiedvarious positionsintherotaryclub.AsapassionateChristian, hehasservedinseveralchurchministriesinanycommunityhelivedin.Hisfamilyandfewothershadthe graceofbeingfoundationmembersofGloryBaptist Church,Wakajaye,Ibadanin1994.
Just as Joshua said...”but as for me and my house, wewillservetheLord”,(Joshua24:15)..,Ayodeleand hisfamilyremaindeterminedtocontinueto serve hisLordtotheend.
Ayodelehasinterestinresolvingsocialproblems especiallyoneducationaldevelopmentsandyouth affairs.Heisnotedforbrokeringpeaceandencouragingharmoniousrelationshipsamongfriendsand colleagues.
Heispassionateaboutprojectsandprogrammes designedtobringimprovedhealthcareandgeneral developmentstothegrassroots.Asidefrombeing anavowedhumanitarianandacommittedRotarian, AyodeleisaJerusalemPilgrim(JP).
Hisactivities,doggedness,humilityandtransparencywasrewardedwhenAyodeleandhislovelywife, Olufunmilayo, were conferred with the honorary titles of Asiwaju and Yeye Asiwaju of Ogobi Land by His Royal Highness Oba AbdulWasiu Iwaloye Abidoye,OlogobiofOgobi,withthesupportof His Royal Majesty, Oba Dr Adesola Lawal, Laminisa 1, TimiAgbaleOfEdelandonMarch17,2021,fortheir committedcontributionstothedevelopmentofthe townandunparalleledleadership.
Asyouclockseventyonthelandoftheliving,wepray God to grant you sound health so that you worship yourGodthemore.
Happy birthday Ayodele Adeyemo.