It was an evening of festival of lessons and Carol in Lagos on Sunday, 18th, November 2018 put together by Adam And Eve boss, Dupe Ogunlesi alongside her husband, Lanre Ogunlesi at their GRA, Ikeja homeware store. This last edition featured the 20th anniversary of Adam & Eve , a foremost retailer of high-end homeware and luxury items store, located on the highbrow of Isaac John Street, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos as it hosted it’s customers and well-wishers to a special Festival of Carols. This year,the event started at about some minutes past 5pm and many guests were already seated for the event.
The event had many old students of St Anne’s School, Ibadan who took great part in the lesson reading and also old students of Government College, Ibadan. Officiated at the carol was the most Rev (prof) Adebayo Akinde,the bishop of the mainland Anglican communion alongside Rt. Rev.Yinka Akinlade, bishop of Ife diocese and Very Rev Fr.Ethelbert Ukpabi, dean of Epe, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos.The City Chorale was led by Sir Emeka Nwokedi. Before the lessons were taken, Rev Adebayo Akinde did the bidding prayer.
There were different bible lessons read at the event and the first was taken ny Teni Ojigbede, co founder, Adam and Eve who is the first daughter of the Ogunlesis. The second lesson was taken by Mrs Abiodun –Wright of St Clare house and old student of St Anne‘s school ,Ibadan.The 3rd lesson was taken by Mrs Foluke Oni of St Hilda House,an ex student of St Anne‘s school as well. 4th lesson was read by Mrs Robo Orekoya of St Hilda house, an ex student of St Anne‘s school, 5th lesson was read by Mrs Tolu Thomas of St Clare house, 6th lesson was taken by Dr Mrs Kehinde Ashiru of St Hilda house, 7th lesson by Mrs Ifeyinwa Saleh of St Mary house. 8th lesson by Dr Mrs Ngo Iyagba of St Hilda house, all are ex- students from St Anne’s School and the last and 9th lesson for the carol was read by Rt.Rev Yinka Akinlade, Bishop of Ife Diocese. Afterwards, the Christmas message as shared and Final blessings was done by the Reverend Fr.
It was an evening where guests were treated to beautiful Carol Songs which set everyone’s spirit into the Christmas season. Sophisticat Boss, Lanre Ogunlesi supported his wife and he also doubled as the MC of the day as he kept reeling out order of events for the carol. In his vote of thanks, he appreciated everyone who was at the event, thanked all the bishops, and reminisced on how his journey in Christendom started. He revealed that he got married in a Catholic Church because of his wife and ever since then he has never left Catholic Church though he is an Anglican. He thanked his wife for all the support in the last 43 years and hailed her for always putting a nice Carol service together every year. He was also full of thanks when he appreciated all the Government College Ibadan old boys that were present ,he said his joy knew no bounds hearing they have all come to support him. Some of the St Anne‘s school old girls too, where Mrs Dupe Ogunlesi finished from supported her with a beautiful cake and it was cut amidst pomp and pageantry and dinner was served. The celebrant’s daughter,Teni was the perfect host as she made sure all guests were all attended to maximally. Teni Ojigbede is the fun-loving daughter of Sofisticat boss and his wife.The dark-skinned mother of three, has been married to her childhood sweetheart, Aideloje, for many years. Teni runs several businesses including a jewelry shop, Gems of Nubia and Rodizzio restaurant all in GRA, Ikeja.This annual event which has become a trademark for Dupe Ogunlesi courtesy ,Adam and Eve, annually records dignatries storming the festival.Adam & Eve started by chance 20 years ago when her daughter wanted to get married. She came up with a wedding list of items but was unable to get what she liked. It was a sitting room size of shop when it started. It transformed from a shop of kitchen wares to include bathroom, toilet and complete home. Five years down the line, her daughter and her husband got tired of the sedentary work and wanted it shut down. Dupe worked out the value of the shop and she bought it off her. Since then it has remained a luxury home ware stores of premium quality.
A Chartered Accountant and entrepreneur extraordinaire, Ogunlesi explained that the Carols followed the format of the Kings College of Cambridge Christmas Carols, which is Nine Lessons that go through the whole miracle of Christmas. “So, you have the Nine Lessons, and then a proper priest reads the Ninth Lesson and delivers a sermon, which is the Christmas message. The event which is meant to celebrate the essence of Christmas was brought to an end with the closing prayer. Present at the event were Erelu Abiola Dosunmu, Chief Mrs Sena Anthony,Catholic Priests, Reverend sisters, Anglican Church topshots and many other guests.
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