Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu and senior security chiefs were among prominent personalities who gathered in Lagos on Sunday to celebrate the 50th birthday of the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr Ayodele Ogunsan.

The event brought together government officials, military and police officers, heads of security agencies, business leaders, traditional rulers and Christian ministers for the fifth edition of Ogunsan’s annual Gospel Hymns and Worship Concert, held five days after his birthday on October 6.

The evening centred on thanksgiving and Christian worship. Ogunsan opened the programme with ‘I Love You, Lord, for Your Mercy Never Fails Me’, setting the tone for the celebration.

His wife, gospel singer Dr Ajoke Ogunsan, popularly known as Ajokesings, ministered through songs including ‘Holy Forever’, ‘Great Is Thy Faithfulness’ and ‘Great Is Your Mercy Towards Me’. She also performed her original composition, ‘Iba Re’.

The couple’s three daughters, Mercy, Joy and Oluwaseun, also performed, singing ‘Good God, You Are So Mindful of Me’, ‘Nagode’’ and You Are My God’.

Ogunsan and his wife later presented a duet, ‘I Wonder If I Have Done My Best for Christ’, while the Young Executive Forum, a mentoring community led by Ogunsan, performed ‘Oh, Ask the Man’.

Christian ministers at the event included Pastor Yemi Akinwande of Deeper Life Bible Church in the United Kingdom, who delivered the exhortation, as well as Pastor Sehindemi Johnson, Prof Albert Oikelome, Pastor Tope Ojemen, Pastor Olaomo and Pastor Olanipekun.

A personal highlight came when Ogunsan’s former schoolmates from St Joseph’s Secondary School, Agege, paid tribute to him.

Describing the gathering, Ogunsan told the audience: “This isn’t just another event. It is a sanctuary of praise.”

Sanwo-Olu led the delegation from the Lagos State Government. The Deputy Governor, Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, was represented by the Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai.

Other government officials included the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Tayo Ayinde; Deputy Chief of Staff, Sam Egube; the APC deputy governorship candidate in Lagos State, Princess Damilola Senayon James; and the party’s campaign Director-General, Musiliu Obanikoro.

Members of the state executive council at the event included the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro; Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso; Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem; and Commissioner for Special Duties, Gbenga Oyerinde.

Also present were the Chairman of the LSSTF Board, Kehinde Durosinmi-Etti, and retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Agboola Oshodi-Glover.

The Inspector-General of Police, Disu, led senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force to the event. They included Deputy Inspectors-General Adegoke Fayoade and Bode Adeleke, as well as several serving and retired assistant inspectors-general, commissioners of police and other senior officers.

The military was represented by the Commander of the 9 Brigade, Brigadier-General Ayokunle Owolabi; Commander of the Nigerian Air Force 651 Base Services Group, Air Commodore M.A. Imam; and Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams Aliu.

Also in attendance were General Olumuyiwa Okunowo and Rear Admiral Olugbenga Oladipo, identified as the Commander of Operation Delta Safe.

Other security agencies represented included the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Agency.

Their representatives included the NDLEA Lagos Strategic Command chief, Wali Liman Abubakar; Lagos NSCDC Commandant, Adedotun Keshinro; Lagos Immigration Comptroller, Chris Olu Onajinrin; FRSC Lagos Sector Commander, Kehinde Hamzat; and General Manager of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Agency, Ifalade Oyekan.

Business leaders whose presence reflected the private sector’s participation in the state’s development included the Chairman of Gibraltar Construction, Sir Olu Okeowo; First Bank of Nigeria Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Segun Alebiosu; Chief Executive Officer of JB Farms, Ajibola Adebutu; and United Bank for Africa Group Managing Director and CEO, Oliver Alawuba.

Others were Zenith Bank Executive Director, Akin Ogunranti; Managing Director and CEO of the ASR Africa Initiative, Ubon Udoh; and Managing Director of Lagos Bus Service Limited, Idowu Oguntona.

Traditional rulers were led by the Ooni of Ife and Arole Oodua, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, who was represented by his wife. Others included the Alara of Ilara, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo; the Ologba of Ogba, Oba Lateef Egbeyemi, and his wife, Olori Kadijat Egbeyemi; and the Onikoyi of Ikoyi, Oba Ibikunle Fafunwa. Several Lagos white-cap chiefs also attended.