THE ADDRESS BY THE AUTHOR AT THE LAUNCHING OF “THOUGHTS OF A VILLAGE BOY.” ON MARCH 6TH, 2021.
Thank you all for gracing this occasion with me.
Please permit me to acknowledge some people who played and still play some vital role in most of the things I do, including writing a book.
I am grateful to God for divine enablement and guidance. I am greatly indebted to my brother Theophilus Oluwadele. It was he who saw me mostly through secondary education. It was also him that I handed my first salary ever to. He collected it, prayed for me, and returned it without removing a dime. He advised me to open a bank account the following day. That was in 1980. It was also him in 1983 when I took my passbook to him and told him I wanted to return to learning, who offered to augment with what I had saved. I am grateful to him and his wife, Iya Titi, who packaged egusi and ground pepper each time I return to college. To my sister, Mrs. Victoria Apanisile, who taught me my first essay, “My best friend,” in 1971. God bless you all.
To Rev Abayomi Oyinloye, a friend for all season. In my difficult moment, he stood by me when relations, even those who ate at my table in good times, all deserted me. God bless you, brother.
To the one, we sat together on the rug during adversity dipping the morsels of semovita into the improvised efinrin soup with crabs from Iwaya market, the one who calls me his twin brother, Olorunferanmi, thank you so very much.
I cannot say thank you enough to the committee of friends who pull all these together despite my iconoclastic nature. To Abiola Oseni (who doubled as the district chairman of ICAN Canada), to Mrs. Apesin-ola, to Mrs. Asamudo, to Ibukun Aruleba (the pioneer chairman of ICAN Canada), to Tunde Lawal, to Biodun Adebisi (old soja), to Samuel Olanloye, to Joshua Morawo, for all the sacrifices and labor of love.
To Ola Otegbade, to Mr. & Mrs. Ajibola, to Blessing Familusi, to Toba Dada, to Alhaji Waheed Makanjuola, to Kemi Jegede, to Mrs. Seyi, Good bless you all. To the President and Council of our great Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), thank you for honoring one of your own. To the ICAN Canada District Society members and the Calgary Chapter of ICAN, I am greatly indebted to you all.
I am grateful to the two reviewers, Doctor Kunle Ojeleye and Tope Fasua. I am greatly indebted to you both. To Mrs. Moji Taiwo, the heartbeat of black immigrants in Calgary, God bless you real good.
To the two people who will not flog me for making mistakes when growing up but rather counsel and advise me for better behavior. To Baba Kekere, late Chief Akomolafe Alapo, a man of immense wisdom that I drank ceaselessly from, and my Uncle James Ige Adaralegbe, God bless you all.
To Susan Oluchi Oluwadele, the Queen of support and improvisation in challenging moments. The enabler who makes sure I am not interrupted once I am glued to my laptop typing. The one that cooks the authentic jollof rice and our revered Headmistress. To Erioluwa Adimchinobi, to Tumininu Chiyendu, to Adeogo Onyekachi, my beloved professor. To my beloved but stubborn cousin, Fadare Sunday, who also said I am stubborn. To Kunle Bamidele, to Peter Ogundele, to Kunle Owojori, to Wale Soluade, to Keji Oshagbami. Thank you all.
To Dr. Segun Ogidan, the one whose writings inspired me to try my hand at writing. He edited or perhaps rewrote my first ever article in 1983. Thank you for always being there.
To Anthony Dada, Pastor, and my cousin Ibiladun Adeyiola, who in 1985 in Jos helped me with the first compilation of some of my articles, aptly titled, “Delaw Echoes,” into a project like binding. Unfortunately, I can no longer lay my hand on any copy again. God bless you all. To Uncle Bola Alaka for hosting me for few months in Sokoto in 1986, God bless you and your family.
To the two Topes. Tope Adigun did a great job compiling the many articles in one place and choosing the front-page quotation out of many. Tope Fasua was with me through the journey to publication. It was him that mooted the idea of self-publishing. Though he never let me know how burdensome it could be. Thank you, Chairman.
To my accounting family at the defunct New Nigerian Newspapers. First, to my revered uncle Odetola, who made it possible for me to join the organization and an Angel the Lord sent to me, when on April 3rd, 1988, I was almost concluding to take my life. I heard the voice twice, saying, “do not take your life; help is on the way.” I am grateful. To our overall ‘father,’ the late Mr. Ajimati, you trained us well.
Thank you to Mallam Abdullahi Ohiomah, who trusted my works so much, that he will always sign off without review. It was him that led me to write the chapter, the rich also fart, on the day I wore a long face because I made a silly mistake. He let me know that no one is above mistakes. A great lesson I have not forgotten. To Adewale Adedeji, a colleague that many first thought was my younger brother. He is more than a brother indeed.
It was him that paid my house rent when I was prematurely kicked out because of what I wrote in chapter one of my book, “Beyond economic rhetoric” Thank you, Wale, for all you still do for me. Thank you, Pa Ogunleye, for your constant and useful counsels. Of course, I acknowledge other staff across departments. God bless you all. To Mrs. Oshagbami, to Aunty Remi, we call her ‘uncle’ Remi because of her ruggedness. I am most grateful. To the management and staff of GetAssist, Calgary, thank you, Bruce, for your leadership.
Thank you to our revered Mrs. Eyitayo (ICAN VP), Dr. Asein, Mr. Solomon Ojo, Mrs. Kennie Adebisi, Niyi Olaniyan, Chima Okafor, Kola Oladimeji, Dr. Tomi Adeyemi, Deacon Adeleke Solomon, Laolu Abimbola, Mrs. Ifeoma Ana, Ms. Morgan Smith, Mrs. Yinka Yusuf, Kayode Oshin, Mr. and Mrs. Lucky Adaghe, Olusegun Akeredolu, Uche Obeta, Yinka Oluwasanya, Abiola Idowu, Femi Jaiyesimi, Olakunle Bankole. Thank you, Abuja Writers’ Forum. Thank you, Dr. Femi Obikunle.
Thank you, Premium Times, for letting me in as one of the contributors to your Opinion page. I am grateful to the resourceful Opinion Sharers for the opportunity to lend my voice to issues of public concerns. To Paul, to Michael, to Timilehin, to Mrs. Dorathy, to Mrs. Yetunde Enendu, to Hanty Rebe, to Rasak Akinde, to Ms. Orenuga, to Mrs. Fikayo, to Tunde Aladekomo, to Tosin, to Chimnonso, to Libby, I am grateful to you all.
In an address like this, it is almost impossible to list all names that have contributed and still contributing to my art, some were listed in the book, yet there are many more that I cannot find sufficient space and time to acknowledge. I appreciate you all.
I can hardly find the right words to express my heartfelt appreciation to all who have graciously accepted the co launchers of a book written by the unknown village boy.
To all friends, professional colleagues, professors, and numerous readers that have taken their time to be with us online for this event, thank you, and God bless you all.
I am incredibly motivated to keep writing. As I said in the book, if my writing success will not motivate me, no one and nothing will motivate me. Nevertheless, today, I am glad to say that I am motivated.
Thank you all, and God bless.
©TheVillageBoy.