By Kehinde Aderemi
On Monday May 5, members of the Lagos State chapter of the University of Ibadan Alumni Association (UIAA) gathered to celebrate a former Chairman and leader, Sir Kayode Otitoju, who just joined the Septuagenarian’s Club.
The ceremony, held at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, was a mixture of fun, glamour and excitement, as old friends, colleagues and associates gathered to serenade the man of the moment, Sir Otitoju, who just turned 70.
While welcoming the guests, Sir Otitoju expressed gratitude to God for the grace to be alive. He said in his seven decades in life, he had faced many challenges as a career person, politician, grassroots mobiliser and community leader.
But in all of these, he said, God has been faithful to him and his family by giving him the grace to fulfil his dreams in life.
Otitoju added also that the huge attendance at the event was a testimony to the kind gestures, love and admiration the people have for him. He prayed God to bless each and every one that came to celebrate and share the special day with him.
“I didn’t know the gathering will be of this great magnitude. It was a big honour done to me to see different people of diverse backgrounds coming here to celebrate with me.
“Even the Lagos State chapter of the University of Ibadan Alumni Association did wonders with the lecture and two great awards just for me. I couldn’t have asked for more.
“My community, the Lekki Residents Association, my immediate family, my colleagues, friends, Ekiti Parapo and my political associates honoured me with their presence. I will always remember this special day,” he said.
The guest speaker, Mr. Joseph Edgar said he was honoured to stand before prominent dignitaries to talk about Sir Otitoju.
He narrated how he met Sir Otitoju, and how the ‘birthday boy’ had impacted his life and the lives of many others.
“I want to use this opportunity to urge all the UI Alumni here present to think of how to give back to that prestigious institution that produced all of us.
“The infrastructure in the school is dilapidated. The situation in the school is not good and we can all contribute as little as N1000 to change the narrative. It is not impossible because I did it with my primary school and the experience was great. Therefore, I am appealing to you all to do something urgently, so that we can restore the lost glory of our alma mater,” he said.
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), in his remarks, described Sir Otitoju as a very focused and consistent man.
According to him, the ‘birthday boy’ had lived up to his name, Otitoju, which means truth is supreme.
“As a politician, he is very dedicated, honest and upright. We ran together in 2003 on the platform of the National Conscience Party (NCP), under the leadership of the late erudite lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi.”
Falana urged the guests to support any initiative that would bring back the glory of UI as the father of Nigerian universities.
He stated also that he was part of the team that drafted the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) law as scheme established by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2011, to manage and disburse funds allocated to tertiary institutions in Nigeria, but regretted that the funds have not been fully utilised for the original purpose for which it was established.
Renowned journalist and publisher, Dare Babarinsa said his relationship with Sir Otitoju has been that of a brother, noting that the bond between them is deep.
“Sir Otitoju is my brother. He is 70 today and I will be 70 in the next five days. Apart from that, as members of the Ekiti Parapo, we share the same ancestry with our roots in Ekiti.
“In all, Sir Kayode Otitoju is a great mobiliser, a grassroots man, whose passion for community service is next to none. He is always available to serve and that is exactly what is playing out today with the level of attendance of prominent guests that turned out to honour him,” Babarinsa said.
Eldest daughter of the celebrant, Tosin Otitoju, spoke on behalf of her siblings. She shared her experiences and those of her siblings while growing up under the tutelage of their father.
“I am very lucky to have Sir Kayode Julius Otitoju as my father. He taught us the enduring values of truthfulness, honesty, hardworking and commitment to service.
“My younger siblings and I are products of his selfless service and dedication to humanity and we are happy today that all his efforts are not in vain.
“On behalf of the family, I appreciate all of you for being part of our special day and I pray God to bless you all,” she stated.
Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the University of Ibadan Alumni Association
Dr Dauda Salau said the turnout at the event was a result of service to humanity, consistency and willingness to contribute one’s quota to worthy causes by the celebrant.
“Today, we have gathered here to celebrate our leader, a man of many parts and symbol of leadership.
The Lagos State chapter of the UI Alumni is honouring him with two great awards, and we are pleased to tell the world that Sir Kayode Otitoju is a blessing to us in UI, and to members of the alumni.
“In the Lagos State chapter of the UI Alumni, we always count on his wealth of experience, dedication and support. He is our pride and it is my prayer that God will bless him with good health and sound mind, so that he can continue to be such a blessing to humanity,” he stated.
Wife of the celebrant, Mrs Oladunni Otitoju, could not hide her joy, as she stepped out to dance with his husband and children.
Others that paid glowing tributes to Sir Kayode Otitoju included media icon, Sony Irabor, member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Otunba Stephen Ogundipe, Ambassador Folake Marcus-Bello, and the Ibrus, among others.
The event climaxed with the cutting of the birthday cake. And for the Otitojus, it was a special day as guests were treated to sumptuous meals with light Juju music adding more glamour to the ceremony.