It was a day when family, friends, associates and acquaintances from near and far gathered at Jogor Event Centre, Liberty Road, Ibadan to celebrate the 80th birthday anniversary of a quintessential pharmacist, a man who has, over the years, grown to become an oak tree and a reputable voice of honour in the world of Pharmacy.
It was a two-in-one event as the leadership of Oritamefa Baptist Church, Total Garden, Ibadan organised an Order of Service for the Thanksgiving Service for the 80th birthday of the celebrant, Chief Adetunji Amole. The special programme, conducted at the same venue, took place at the scheduled time, 11am.
Thereafter, it was merriment time as all guests, both the high and the mighty, were treated to all sorts of foods and drinks. This was amid good music, both local and foreign, to the delight of all seated.
Chief Amole, otherwise known as Oluyole Chemists and his beautiful wife, Pharm (Mrs) Kehinde Amole, were all over the place, personally attending to those in attendance, even when the lovely couple were told to sit in the High Table; that their guests should rather be coming to greet them.
Chief Adetunji Amole was born in Ibadan on 12 October, 1943. Married to a pharmacist like himself, he is blessed with four children, the first two being pharmacists like their parents. An unrepentant Baptist, Amole attends Oritamefa Baptist Church where he is a member of the Sunday School Class Adult Men 1.
He had his primary school education at Idikan Baptist Day School, Ibadan. He was at the Ibadan Grammar School in 1957 for his West African School Certificate (WASC) and Higher School Certificate (HSC) courses and, wait for it!!!, with Admission Number 3200 and membership of Olubi House. Knowing this is very essential, especially now that the Nigerian political class and its clueless leadership are battling with issue of certificates, amid controversies over when some of these political actors went to school and where.
Chef Amole was at the then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife where he studied Pharmacy and graduated in June 1969.
After a successful working career, variously in the civil service of the then Western Region, Pfizer Nig PLC and Abbott Laboratories Ltd, the octogenarian founded the now renown Oluyole Chemists Ltd in December 1976.
A man of great clout and high connections, the celebrant is a past National President and current Trustee of Ibadan Grammar School old Students Association. He is a past chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Oyo State. He is a founding member and past National President of the Family Club of Nigeria.
An honourary member of The Club of Ibadan, Chief Amole is a patron of YWCA of St. Luke’s Anglican Church, Molete, Ibadan. He served on the Board of Governors of some secondary schools in the state, including Bishop Akinyẹle Grammar School, Òkè-Are, Ibadan and Oluyole Extension High School, Ibadan.
An awardee of the Distinguished Membership of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, Chief Amole has been a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (FPSN) since Year 2000. He is a past Chairman of Oluyole Extension Resident Association. He is a three-star Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International and a past President of the Rotary Club of Agodi, Ibadan.
Chief Amole was honoured by the Oyo State when he was given the title of Justice of Peace in Year 2000. He was conferred with the honourary chieftaincy title of Asaju Balogun Bobajiro of Ibadanland by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, the late Oba Yesufu Oloyede Asanike 1 on 3 February, 1984.
An incurable optimist who believes that Nigeria will still get better, Chief Amole is a lover of church and classic music who plays the keyboard with dexterity. He enjoys watching football and he is a die-hard fan of Arsenal FC, London.
Chief Adetunji Amole is a silent philanthropist whose good deeds, humility and loyalty were attested to by many guests who were at his 80th birthday bash.
Veteran journalist, seasoned administrator, a former Editor-in-Chief of the Nigerian Tribune and a former chairman of the Daily Times, High Chief Tola Adeniyi, described the celebrant as a childhood friend who nurtures and cherishes friendship. This was as Oloye Lekan Alabi, another reputable veteran in the pen-pushing profession, glowingly spoke about Chief Amole.
Engineer Ayoade Olatunji is another long-time friend who said his path crossed with the celebrant in late sixties “and ever since we have grown to be brothers and close friends.”
Engineer Olatunji further described Chief Amole thus: “Tunji, as I fondly call him, loves God, people, life (he’s a socialite) and values friendship. The celebrant is someone who treasures his friends and close associates.
“We have never had a disagreeable moment because he is a perfect gentleman who does no wrong. In short, Tunji is the “magnetic field” of our friendship, going by his impeccable manners and credentials. He is someone you can call an ideal friend and brother.
“Talking about Tunji is like talking about something infinite in finite terms- a rare gem, meditative, honest, trustworthy, reliable, a time stickler (keeps appointments) and takes delight in speaking the truth always.
“He is an iconic pharmacist who ran one of the most successful chemists in Ibadan-Oluyole Chemists, that I can say his way of handling things is masterly. In fact, his meteoric rise in pharmaceutical merchandising was unequalled and unmatched that he was conferred with the Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria.
“Tunji is a philanthropist with demonstrative affection for friends and family, and had passionate interest in the well-being of people around him. I assume his inestimable good deeds would have been extended to 80 per cent of those who are in attendance today to make them to come to celebrate him.
“I am filled with happiness that is threatening to burst inside of me today that a unique socialite, philanthropist, renown pharmacist and great chief of Ibadan is being celebrated.”
Phew!!! There may be no other words more suitable with which to the man who is a quintessential pharmacist and philanthropist for whom the gathering at the birthday bash jointly chorused “I wish you a happy 80th birthday and sound health as you age gracefully.”
