A few weeks back,Erelu Abiodun Akinola turned 70 and she had a classy birthday party in Lagos to mark her new age. At her party many distinguished Nigerians and friends spoke glowingly about this beautiful and elegant woman,who does not look 70 over the years,
she has managed to keep her beauty,and lovely figure intact. For those who don’t know her,let us quickly tell you about Erelu Abiodun Omowunmi Akinola (MON).She is a retired federal Civil Servant.Though she is retired,she is not tired. A few days after her party,City People got her to reveal her success story.How does she feel at 70? What are her thoughts on life at 70?
These and many more were the questions we asked her and she was forthright in her answers. How does she feel at 70? “Honestly 70 just sounds and remains a number to me. No difference between the way l felt ten years ago.”
“Hmmmm… at 70, the reality of the emptiness of life is clearer. Now, l don’t want to own anything, l do not need. I wake up everyday thanking God for loving me unconditionally and thinking how to touch lives positively.”
How did she celebrate her 60th,we asked her ? “It was celebrated in a big way in Abuja. A church service at the First Baptist Church, Garki and a party at the Akwa lbom Hall,Garki, Abuja.”
Does she feel accomplished at 70? “Oh yes.I do.
Oh yes I feel accomplished
How has she been able to adjust to life in retirement?
“Hmmm, l retired earlier than i would have. I retired at 54 because l believe in the saying that the young shall grow. If elders give them the opportunity. I got to the peak of my career, got a national honour and l asked myself what next?
How did she feel listening to all the good things people said about her at her party that Sunday?
“Listening to people that beautiful day got me a bit emotional and I pray to God to give me the grace to do more.”
Is she a Lagosian? “No,I am not a lagosian, but l was born and bred in Lagos. My father is from 0yo town and my mother from Fiditi, a town, nine miles from 0yo.I am an omo oke.”
How about her schooling? “My primary school was at Araromi Baptist School,32 Moloney Street Lagos. Then,Fiditi Grammar school, Fiditi,and I went to Pitmans Central College, London.”
“There,I studied Secretarial Studies.The rest is history.”
As regards the secret of her refreshing youg look at 70 she said there is no secret. “I am a carbon copy of my father. You won’t believe it l have no choice of food. I can wake up at 8am and start with fufu and ogbono soup. I take up to four cans of coke daily.”
