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From Taiwo Oluwadare, Ibadan
Former Nigerian ambassador to the Philippines, Dr. Yemi Farounbi, has opined that service to humanity should know no bounds and be rendered at whatever age. Old age should not be a barrier or an excuse.
He, therefore, charged Baale Igunurisa of Oyo and Ogun states, Prince Ademola Ayoade: “God still has a purpose for you.”
“At 75, Abraham heard God’s voice and received the greatest promise of his life. At 80, Moses began his assignment to deliver Israel. At 85, Caleb said: ‘Give me this mountain!’
“So, at 75, you are not retiring, you are refiring! There are still souls to inspire, lives to touch, prayers to pray, and testimonies to share. The world still needs your light.”
The ace broadcaster and astute administrator was speaking at the 75th birthday of the Baale in Ibadan at the weekend: “Today, we gather to celebrate not just a number, but a testimony — 75 years of grace, mercy, and divine faithfulness. Many began this journey but did not make it this far. If you are alive at 75, strong in faith and surrounded by love, it means God still has a purpose for your life!
“Seventy-five is not a full stop — it’s a comma in the sentence of your destiny. God is not done with you yet!
“When you look back on the past 75 years — the mountains climbed, valleys crossed and battles fought — you see the fingerprints of God everywhere.
It’s not by strength, not by wisdom, not by connections — but by grace. You are a living proof that ‘His mercies are new every morning.’
“At this stage, life is not about possessions but about legacy — the values you pass down, the faith you impart, and the love you sow.
“Let your story encourage the younger generation that serving God pays, that integrity lasts longer than wealth, and that faithfulness brings fruitfulness. Your journey is now someone else’s motivation.
“Psalm 92 promises that the righteous shall still bring forth fruit in old age. That means you can still be joyful, prayerful, and fruitful.
Old age in Christ is not a decline but a divine design — a season to mentor, to testify, and to enjoy the harvest of years of sowing.
“Let thanksgiving rise like incense. Thank God for where He brought you from, where you are, and where He’s still taking you.
“You are not just 75 years old, you are 75 years young in grace!”
Mr. Femi Adeoti, Deputy Editor, Daily Sun, described the celebrant as “ a man of unwavering discipline whose life is a moral compass to many.
“Baale Ayoade could be blindly loyal and committed. My relationship with him spans almost three decades. Precisely, it started in uncommon way in 1998.
“Loyalty and commitment. That’s all I see in the celebrant since our paths crossed for good. Whether in leadership or followership position, the essentials are loyalty and commitment. Baale Ayoade is an embodiment of both.
And he does it naturally.”
Former Commissioner for…, Osun State, Mr. Taiwo Akeju, revealed how Ayoade saved his life during the military era: “He’s a true and committed lover of his Yoruba race. He does everything within his reach to protect the Yoruba interests.”
His children; Adedamola, Olabisi (Okoh), Ayowumi, Ayotunde and Abiodun (Obalowo) expressed deep appreciation to God for their father’s “life of grace, discipline and unwavering love.”
To all of this, Ayoade’s response was expectedly emotional, straightforward: “A celebration can have all the planned elegance in the world, but it’s the spirit of its guests that gives it a soul. Your presence here is a gift I feel deeply.
You take time from your life to stand with me, and in doing so, you help turn a milestone into a memory I will always treasure. It is the love and friendship of people like you that have given my 75 years its truest richness.
Thank you for being part of my story. I am truly grateful.”
