Legal luminary, Adeyemo, celebrates 80th birthday, builds church in hometown
Barrister Adeyemo Adeleke, Acting Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation titles, on Tuesday celebrated his 80th birthday with a thanksgiving event in
Barrister Adeyemo Adeleke, Acting Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation titles, on Tuesday celebrated his 80th birthday with a thanksgiving event in his hometown of Iragbiji, Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State.
As part of the celebration and his service to God, the legal practitioner also built a church in the community.
Adeleke, a member of the Lagbua royal family of Iragbiji, was honoured by his children, grandchildren, the management of Vintage Press and TVC Communications, members of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, former students, friends, and residents of the town.
The celebration, held at his residence in Ataba Zone 7, Oke-Moori, Iragbiji, featured thanksgiving songs, praise sessions, and testimonies from well-wishers.
Delivering a sermon at the event, the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church, Ikeja, Rev. Kolawole Ogokunle, spoke on Joshua 14:6–17, with the exhortation titled “An Old Age to Emulate.” He highlighted four virtues elderly people should embrace to live fulfilling lives.
Ogokunle urged older people to cultivate a positive spirit, remain joyful, maintain a heart for service in God’s house, and rely on divine wisdom.
He likened the celebrant to the biblical figure Caleb, describing him as a man who has remained devoted to God.
“I want to charge all parents here to ensure that they put their homes in order to secure their legacies. The celebrant has lived a fulfilled life because he continues to prioritise God, even to the extent of building a church for Him,” Ogokunle said.
He encouraged elderly people to allow the joy of God to guide their lives as they age, describing it as a key to longevity.
Former students of Adeleke at Baptist Secondary Modern School, Iragbiji, also paid tribute to their former teacher, praising his impact on their lives.
Speaking on behalf of the alumni, Mr. Adebowale Morunkeji described the celebrant as a disciplined and supportive mentor.
“He is my uncle and a teacher. His father taught my father carpentry between 1929 and 1931. When I completed my primary education, I attended Baptist Secondary Modern School in Iragbiji where he taught me in 1967,” he said.
Morunkeji recalled that Adeleke often entrusted him and his sister with assignments and was always ready to assist them when needed.
“Barrister Adeyemo is a good man in all aspects of life. We are proud of him, both within the royal family and in the town,” he added.
He prayed for the celebrant to enjoy a long life, noting that Adeleke’s parents lived beyond 150 years.
The celebrant’s first son, Barrister Adekunle Adeyemo, described his father as a disciplined and principled man whose values shaped the lives of his children.
Read Also: Champion Breweries Plc meets the Free Float requirement of Nigerian Exchange Group
“I want our children to emulate the discipline they see in Baba. That discipline has helped us achieve much in life. He is a great father who deserves to be celebrated,” he said.
A longtime friend of the celebrant, Otunba Olawuwo Oni, said he had known Adeleke for about 30 years through the First Baptist Church and the Ifelodun Society.
According to him, the celebrant is known for his sense of humour and readiness to assist others.
“I am aware that he built a church, and that is highly commendable. It reflects genuine service to God, which everyone should emulate,” he said.
Dignitaries at the event included the management of Vintage Press Limited, led by the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief, Victor Ifijeh, and the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr. Sunday Adeleke.
Also present was the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of TVC Communications, Victoria Ajayi.
Other attendees included members of the Adeyemo Lagbua Royal House in Iragbiji, members of the Ifelodun Society in Lagos State, members of Ogo Oluwa Baptist Church, Oluode, Iragbiji, and representatives of the Nigerian Baptist Convention.
