Ibadan Chronicle 3
June
29th 2002, is a day we shall never forget. It was the date chosen to have a
Grand Thanksgiving service for Pa Adesina's 80th birthday which actually was
5th April. He was born on that date in 1922. I had earlier curtailed my
London and Paris trips this year so as to be present at the thanksgiving.
Mummy too had to close down Elidel Enterprises in Ilorin for two working
days so that she could attend. That day too marked the 49th wedding
anniversary of Pa and Ma Adesina! It was indeed a double-celebrations!!
St. James Cathedral was
agog for the Thanksgiving service which began at 10am prompt. The
officiating Ministers were led by the Very Revd. Prof. M. A. Osunnade
followed by Canon Collins O. Babalola, Revd. Sola Obaleye, Revd. Lolu
Akinyinka, and Revd. Dr. Adeye-Oluwa.
The service, conducted in
a dignified and spiritually edifying manner, was preceded by an
Anglican Holy Communion, and a special prayer for the celebrant, Pa Roland
Folorunsho Adesina. After the reading of the scriptures and presentation of
the sermon, the Cathedral Choir led the congregation in singing melodious
native airs for the thanksgiving. The celebrant and his family, in joyous
mood, led the congregation to the alter. Invitees from Obafemi Awolowo
University (OAU), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and
Representatives of Odu'a Groups of Companies were there; so were invitees
from St. Mathew Church, Ojowo, Ijebu-Ode. For the in-laws, the Ilorin
contingent was led by Grandma and Grandpa from Ilorin with Jumoke
Oloruntoba, Bimbo and Bisi Oloruntoba present. The Ofulues were adequately
represented by Yetty, Thony, Ehi and Odara from Lagos.
The thanksgiving
reception took place at the Obisessan Hall, Ibadan. Dr. Kunle Kehinde, the
Deputy Vice Chancellor of OAU was the Chairman of the day. There was plenty
to eat and drink. In short, it was all a bash!
In the brief Biography of
Pa Adesina, it was revealed that in August 1949, while working as an
Assistant Shed Supervisor in Apapa Wharf, he and a colleague made
arrangements with the captain of one of the cargo ships to stow away to
England to read Law. On the day the ship was due to sail, the two were put
in what Pa called the "Down Below" - that was the cargo hold. Nevertheless,
ten minutes to the departure of the ship, Pa Adesina changed his mind. He
said, "The thought of my mother agitated my mind. If I should sneak away
who would take care of my mother? I did not want my mother to suffer. I
quickly changed my mind and nimbly ran out of the ship...".
Just think about this for
a moment - if he had stowed away, not only will his mother suffer hunger and
neglect but there would not be today Akin, Kayode, Leke and the wives, grand
children and in-laws that honoured Pa so eloquently on his 80th birthday! We
thank the Lord for the enviable life of Pa and Ma Adesina.
The IBADAN CHRONICLE
brings you two photos from the photo albums of the celebrant. Click the
thumbnails to see the larger pictures. The first on top left is Pa when he
was 30 years old in 1952. The second photo on the bottom left is Ma in 1952.
WaO! She married him in 1953.
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