It was a day of double honours for Ayo Akinyemi. It was a gathering of family, friends, colleagues and associates from far and near to celebrate the man who at 70, is indeed, full of life with “fluctuating fortunes”.
The dateline was 4 June, 2023; the time was 12:30pm and the venue was Pentorise, an exclusive event centre located at Old Bodija, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Gathered in the expansive hall were the high and the mighty in all fields of life…the pen-pushing profession, academic and numerous achievers in other spheres of human endeavours.
The event was the 70th birthday of Mr Ayo Akinyemi, a media guru who has seen it all in the world of journalism and management of the high and mighty in the political circle.
Present at the event was a former Editor-in-Chief of the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publishers of the Tribune titles and one of the famous “Three Musketeers”, Mr Felix Adenaike.
Also in attendance was another veteran and a cerebral touch-bearer in broadcast journalism, Dr Yemi Farounbi (Nigeria’s former Ambassador to the Philippines and Kingdom of Cambodia).
Also present was Chief Bisi Adesola, a former Secretary to the Oyo State State Government and former chairman of the state-owned Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS).
On the roll-call were Chief (Mrs) Moji Ladipo, a former Registrar of the University of Ibadan; and a former chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and a politician of note, Professor Soji Adejumo, along with his beautiful wife.
Mr Clement Ige, a former Features Editor of the Nigerian Tribune; and a former Bureau Chief of the Guardian Newspaper, Mr Yinka Fabowale, were also not left out, among several other dignitaries.
Elated at attaining the age of 70, Akinyemi was on his feet throughout the duration of the event, beaming toothy smiles and dancing to the melodious music dished out by the musician on the bandstand.
His beautiful wife, Ronke, and five children- Adebola, Olaitan, Olaoluwa, Olamide and Olaore- were also on their feet, attending to the guests present, the presence of hired hands to do same job notwithstanding.
Chairman of the occasion, Ambassador Farounbi, was at his witty end as he went back into history to dig out the past of the celebrant.
He described Akinyemi as a “carpenter [carpentry was truly his first job] of words who knocks and knocks stories into elegant, seductive shapes which readers find irresistible.”
Mr Felix Adenaike, who the celebrant said is his mentor without whom his (Akinyemi) would not have been completed, also spoke glowingly of his former mentee and protegee, describing him as a hardworking, dedicated and focussed journalist during his practicing days.
The ageless and beautiful former Registrar of the Premier University, Chief (Mrs) Moji Ladipo, was the Minister-In-Charge of the cutting of the birthday cake, to the admiration of the guests seated in the hall.
It was also a moment of double honour for the birthday celebrant as he made a public presentation of his latest book, “Life Of Fluctuating Fortunes: Memoirs Of A Crazily Ambitious Subtly Radical Professional”.
The book reviewer, Sunday Saanu of the University of Ibadan who is a younger ally of Akinyemi, did justice, not only to the book but also went down memory lane to exhume the thorny path of the celebrant to success
Speaking on the book, the celebrant cum author said it is simply the story of his life, adding: “it is a concise paraphrase of the graphic picture of my experience in the course of my earthly journey.
“It is the story of travails and triumphs, of challenges and victories, of experiences that shook and toughened me.
“The totality of which brought to my consciousness the utmost appreciation of the awesomeness of God…”
In his ‘Toast To Newsroom ‘Master ‘Carpenter’, Fabowale, formerly of the Guardian Newspaper, wrote about Mr Akinyemi thus:
“A celebrated columnist with a pungent pen, Akinyemi is a former Managing Editor of Monitor Newspapers owned by late billionaire, Alhaji AbdulAzeez Arisekola-Alao, to whom he was an associate and close confidant…I was glad to be part of the glitterati.”
“The celebrant deserves all the honours and encomiums the guests poured on him. He has not only paid his dues, he continues to be an inspiration to us, his junior ones, with his vibrant literary engagements and sense of modesty!
“Congratulations Egbon, the man famed as a “Carpenter of words”, who knocks and knocks stories into elegant, seductive shapes…readers find irresistible!”
Ayo Akinyemi started his media career in Radio Nigeria, Ibadan, in September 1974 and worked with various media houses through the years up till December 1995 when he joined the Monitor Newspapers Limited, first as Editor/Chairman, Editorial Board, and later, Managing Editor, until April 2004, when the newspaper titles were rested.
He was appointed the Chief Press Secretary to both the Sole Administrator, Brigadier-General Adetunji Olurin and acting Governor Tope Ademiluyi during the six-month emergency oeriod in Ekiti State, between October 2006 and May 2007.
On assumption of office as Ekiti State governor in May 2007, Engineer Segun Oni appointed him as his Principal Private Secretary and he served in that capacity until October 2010.
Also as a media consultant, Akinyemi was engaged in the Directorate of Public Communications, University of Ibadan from August 2012 to November 2015.
