Prof. ‘Niyi Okunlola
Happy Birthday , my Oga, Mentor and Benefactor
It is with great joy and excitement that I write this tribute on the occasion of 70th birthday of my benefactor and Oga as I fondly call him. He is my Oga in many ways. I started my working career with Asiwaju as a training manager at Supreme Management Training and Consultancy limited (SMTC) in 1994. He thought me hard work, diligence, goal setting and multi-tasking. He abhors dishonesty and falsehood, he is a great mentor and a man who is always looking forward to others success. I recall his first conversion with me after I started working in SMTC. He admonished me to aspire for greatness and encouraged me to commence my PhD programme, on his own he went to UI to speak with some of my lecturers who are his friend and my supervisor in particular and assured him that I have his full support for the programme. This encouraged my supervisor and prompted him to always give me special attention.
Oga, is a person that will throw himself headlong into providing solutions to another person’s challenges, highly progressive as he always encouraged the younger ones to be the best, an optimist to the core as he doesn’t see impossibility in accomplishing desired goals. In oga, high standard mattered, details mattered, and focus mattered. He taught me to be courageous in life regardless of risk for successful life does not admit cowardice, he taught me to be conscientious for successful life cannot tolerate the laggard and you taught me to be honest and prudent for they are strong keys to a successful life. You are a reliable mentor and credible confidant as you have strategic ways of allaying fears and strengthening at difficult times those of us who are close to you. Oga , your generosity have contributed and imparted my life, I could recall an occasion where thieves burgled my house and carted stole my laptop in year 2010, you called and wanted me to carry out an assignment for you, you heard my voice and asked what was the problem, I narrated what happened, you sympathised with me, I went on the assignment, before I came back you sent the money for a new Laptop to my account. It was indeed a pleasant surprise and at every stage of my life I enjoyed your support. Indeed, you are my benefactor. Thank you very much for what you are and who you are to me. I wish you wonderful years ahead in good health, peace and joy and I pray that you will live long to reap the good rewards from lives that you have impacted.
Again, Congratulations my Oga, a highly inspiring, pragmatic, courageous and amiable leader. Igba odun, odun kan, as your age so shall your strength be in Jesus Christ name.
Happy Birthday sir
PROF. ‘NIYI OKUNLOLA
