On Saturday, 7th September, 2019, a successful Corporate woman, Olawunmi Oyeyemi Olanrewaju celebrated her 50th birthday at the Naval Dockyard, Ahmadu Bello Way, beside NTA, Victoria Island.
It was a classy party. It was a celebration of God’s faithfulness in her life. Olawunmi Oyeyemi Olarewaju (nee Alabi) was born on 3rd September 1969 into the family of Commissioner of Police (rtd) and Journalist, Mr. Lekan and Mrs. Olufunmilayo Alabi, a retired Teacher. Olawunmi hails from both the ruling house of Bashorun Fajimi of Oranyan, Ibadan and also from the royal alaafin family of Oyo. She attended American International School, kindergarten and elementary and then went to Federal Government Girls College, Gusau, Sokoto State where she had her secondary education. She went on to Federal Government Girls College, Sagamu, Ogun State for her ‘’A’level before leaving for the University and graduated in 1991 at the age of 20 with a bachelor’s degree in Law.
By 1992, he bagged her BL from the Law School. She later went back for her Master’s degree in Law specializing in Corporate and Finance Law from Lagos State University. She has other qualifications in Human Resources Management. She is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association by virtue of her legal profession, Financial Reporting Council and Nigerian Institute of Management. Olawunmi Oyeyemi is a lawyer of 27 years. She started her career by working with African International Bank (AlB), practicing in law firms, before opting out into the corporate world in 2002.
She worked with Industrial General Insurance (IGI) before moving to Netcom Africa, a multinational telecommunications company starting out as a Manager. She has since risen to become Vice President, Legal Services and Company Secretary of the company, a career she built with the immense support and help of her husband and parents who were always pushing for her to excel in her career while helping to take care of the children in her absence when they were younger. Besides being the Vice President, Legal of Netcom Africa, she continues to run the law firm of Ola Olarewaju & Co as well as TrulyYours, a property company both owned and managed by the family. She is on the Board of Directors of three other companies to bring in her wealth of experience as a lawyer and dministrator to bear on these companies.
She met her husband, Oladipo James (OJ) Olarewaju, then a Sub-lieutenant who was also a law student in 1992 at the Law School. They got married in 1994 and are blessed with 3 wonderful children.
Olawunmi Oyeyemi is a Christian, an ordained Minister and Assistant Pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God. She is currently the Evangelism Coordinator in Lagos Province 6 Headquarter Parish. She was before now, serving as coordinator of the Counselling unit and Workers -in- training, positions she held for 14 and 10 years respectively. Her love and desire to serve God and show gratitude for her life led her to start an annual missions’ outreach in 2015 where a mission field! community is identified with a relevant impactful film show i projected in the local language of the community. Empowerment programs are embarked upon to teach and train on how to make various snacks that can help them generate income. Additionally, welfare offood stuff, clothes and bibles are also given at these outreaches. It was her way of thanking God after saving her from a near fatal surgery in 2015. She has since held these outreaches in Ibeju Lekki area, Oyo and Ijebu Ode. To mark her 50 ” birthday she reached out to a mission field called Magbon Alade, Eleko where the inclusion of free medical treatment was provided to members of the mission field and its environs. Olawunmi Oyeyemi is called several names, Ola, Wunmi, ‘Lawunmi, OWunmi, Sweerie Poraro, Iya ‘Niyi, Iya ‘Lam ide, Iyawo Soldier, Labe, Headmistress, Principal, a doting mother and wife, loving sister and daughter, confidant and solution provider to her friends.
WORD OF THANKS
My utmost love and grati tude go to my children Olaniyi (Bobo), Olamide (0 lam baby mi) and Ololade (Lollington Lollipop), “awon omo Jesu”. God, I am grateful for these ones! Blessed and proud to be your mother even though you sometimes wear me out with all your stress. The deep compassion and your constant thoughts of how I feel all the time makes every sacrifice of motherhood worth it. May God keep each of you to fulfill purpose and make impact. You fill me with so much pleasure. It is unquantifiable! I love you my children and God bless you!
Lastly, all glory be to God for my husband, MD, Ladi, Oladipupo himselfl There is something unknown by many about this man except his children. My husband is my “fiercest defender” (off course after God). I use the adjective,” fierce” to qualify the sort of defense. No one and I mean no one is permitted, allowed, excused to say anything negative, complain, grumble or even report me to him for anything even if justified to do so. Such a person is immediately considered, tagged and or presumed to be his enemy! In the same vein and for the same reason, over the last 25 years of our marriage I restrain and even refrain from telling him about anyone who has offended me or made me upset otherwise they are in trouble as well. You can now understand why I have used the phrase, “fiercest defender”. You give me so much confidence. I know you work so hard to leave the children and I a legacy and I am grateful for all your hard work as I see it has paid off through the grace of God. You told me you wanted to celebrate my 50th and in your words you said, “I want to use it to appreciate you”. I am deeply touched. Thank you very much for this celebration. May we always have reasons to
celebrate together. I appreciate you loads for my journey with you. You give me confidence and I love you and pray that God preserves us to the end in Jesus name!
As I celebrate my so” year, I pray for more of God in me to forge ahead to conquer, to be a better person, better daughter, better wife, better mother and better servant of God. I am humbled by it all yet I feel privileged to experience the life God has given me. Indeed, GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS O LORD!!!
THOSE I APPRECIATE
All glory be to God for His faithfulness over my life. I cannot thank Him enough for His love, protection, mercy, kindness and all He has blessed me with over the last 50 years! I ask myself all the time where and how would life have been without Him. Words are not enough to express my gratitude to the Lord God Almighty.
Looking back and recounting my childhood, I see how privileged I have been indeed. I want to use this opportunity to appreciate, honour and Mum and Dad. God is so gracious to me that He blessed me with them. As a parent myself, I do not think I am half as good a parent or can measure up to how they have been to me as parents as I have been to my children. I lacked nothing emotionally or materially from them. My joy was their joy and my pains were their pain. Till date, friends from school still ask after them as they cannot forget the kind of bond we shared as a family. My friends are their friends and continue to remain so long after.
Without them I would not be who I am today. “best of education was given with immense sacrifice”. I am because God brought them to me as destiny helpers for my life’s journey. Even after my 25 years of marriage their love for me has but spilled over to my children and my husband. By the way, they too have fallen for both my parents all because of their true, sincere, humble, kind and sacrificial love. YOU TRULY ARE THE BEST PARENTS IN THE WORLD!! E jeun omo pe pe pe l’oruko Jesu!
To my in -law, the Olarewaju’s from Ilesha and in particular my late father-in-law who accepted me wholeheartedly and my mother-in-law. I recall the letters my father -in-law would write to me in his beautiful, classic and elegant cursive handwriting (which is the way I write and come across only very few people who still write in that manner…… the remnants).
May the Lord continue to make the house of Olarewaju family prosper in all areas. Oruko a ro yin o!
For my one and only sibling, “aburo mi atata, omo olori ire, omo alalubarika”, ‘Mobola (I call her “Mobos Mobostine”). Thank God you came after many years of waiting for you otherwise our parents would have followed me everywhere! You are a true sister and I love you unconditionally. To now imagine you and your husband, Ayosiji have become my children’s, all my friend and “best and favorite Aunt and Uncle” in their in own words, gives me so much pleasure that you both will always be there for them and have my back regardless of any situation. Ayosiji, my one and only brother -in-law, yet to be rivaled. You are a blessing without measure to me. You and my sister are invaluable! May God keep you both, bless you and your children beyond measure!
My appreciation goes to my spiritual parents, Prof (Pastor) Fola and Pastor (Mrs.) Olabisi Aboaba who has gone to be with the Lord. God positioned them in my life’s path knowing I will need spiritual mentors. For the last 22 years of my life they took me as one of their own, brought me up in the things of God, grooming me to be who I am today in the Redeemed Christian Church of God. You have impacted and influenced me so much. You mean alot to me and I thank both of you from the depth of my heart!
To my spiritual parents, Rear Admiral (Pastor) Rufus and Pastor (Mrs.) Eyitayo you have been there for me through the years nurturing, pushing and prompting me in the service of God. You are part of my story and I cannot tell it without mentioning your names. I am proud to be called and grateful for all your support and care through the years!
My appreciation goes to my paternal family, so huge and spread all over the diaspora ably represented by one of the youngest, educated, progressive and forward looking “Mogajis”. Really proud to be called, “Omo Ibadan kini so”.
To my maternal family from Isara Remo, Ogun Sate, wonderful people! You have always been there rallying round and supporting my mother over the years. I see and witness your love and kindness that has cascaded down to me and truly appreciate your love! To all my wonderful friends brethren and all those met along my life’s journey, who have been there with me through thick and thin, thank you! I do not take my friendships lightly in anyway. May God preserve you all for good in Jesus Name. Amen.
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