God in my life

I felt humbled by the applause of members of Torchbearer Society of Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral at our January 2024 eeting when I announced my readiness to give the lecture ‘God in my Life’ during their appointed time in 2024. It was a situation of better late than never, as members ordinarily had expected me to volunteer or respond to the promptings of our previous Presidents, Late Honourable Justice Samuel Ilori and Late Engineer Ogundana.

The truth was that I joined the Society 33 years ago and have enjoyed the fellowship that is abundant in the mutual love and brotherhood of older and matured members of the church, most of whom have reached the pinnacle of their careers and professions.

The reason for coming so late was the rather busy involvements with Business Advocacy through the Chambers of Commerce Movements, Accountancy Profession, and Community Development issues.

Now, so much is apparent, loud and obvious about the Grace and Mercy of God in me. The Lord has done so much for me that I cannot hide. Is it my health, my family, my position in society and my interventions in Society? My present state of mind compels me to: Count my Blessings; Tell the Reasons why I am Praising the Lord; Confess the Power, the Omnipotence and Mercy of the Almighty and Jealous God

My state of mind eminently derives from: ‘What makes you better than anyone else? What do you have that God has not given you? and if all you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?’ (1st Corinthians 4vs7)

Parents, birth, and early years to age six
I was born April 4, 1939 to the family of Martin Aworinlewo Odeyemi of Lokore Compound, Ilode, Ile-Ife. My mother Alice Aralola Odeyemi from Ile-Lodi, Agbedegbede St. More, Ile-Ife was the Second wife. My parents did not have formal education and were close in age. Father was born in 1909, Mother 1910, and were both brought up in traditional settings.

My paternal grandparents were traditional religion worshippers whilst my maternal were Muslims. My mother was therefore brought up a Muslim and remained so through her marriage with my father. My father joined Anglican Church from peer influence and remained so until death at age 45 in 1954 when I was only 15.

In effect, I was brought up in a multi-religious environment where everybody lived happily and celebrated together as a family as each religious festival occurs.

My birth and naming ceremony
There had been two divinations and prophesies foretold to my mother during her pregnancy that all would be well with her for normal delivery. At different times, the same babalawo and prophet have warned her to be watchful, protective about the baby son as he would be confronted with envy and jealousy from birth, and for life as a result of his aura, talents and impacts.

My parents prepared for this through prayers and were watchful and cautious. This informed an episode on the day of my Naming Ceremony where my family had agreed on – Agboola Olaniyan, Aremu. An extended family man came late but drunk. He insisted his spirit led him to add Ololade to the names as the baby being named will be wealthy, popular and impact the family and society.

As a result, we should all be prepared to watch and guard him against envy and jealousy. The elders reluctantly considered his insistence and added the additional name. My mother only released the story to me on the day of my installation as “The Obasewa of Ife” by His Imperial Majesty, Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse ii – The Ooni Of Ife, on December 24 1980, barely 18 months before she died on June 16, 1982 at age 72.

My two grandfathers were farmers but I did not know them. My maternal grandmother cooked beans (Adalu) which she sold early morning for breakfast and she did this until she was about 90 when I insisted she packed it up as she was a workaholic even though she did not need the money. My paternal grandmother was a versatile woman. She traded in Egunsi, Ogiri, Plantain and Aro Rire, and also money lendering. She was also a Priest of Osun and Oya.

The import of describing the personality of my two grandmothers is to emphasise the mutual love, stress free understanding and devolution to my welfare in particular my early years of life when I was brought up by three mothers. “AgboolaAlawoki”.

In each case, the women were strict, very protective of me but will not tolerate my misbehaviour. My mother was very strict about telling any lies or coveting anything from other women and peers. If you misbehaved, you would get the message from the movement of her eyes, your ears would be twisted and she would match and grind your toes.

On the other hand, my grandmothers will not allow you to wander off and play with unapproved peers. They, each every week, arranged prayers for grandchildren in accordance with their worship. In all this I got scolded or punished for any misbehaviour, praised and encouraged for good behaviour and assisted each time I needed help.

Primary and Teacher Training College years
I started school at St. Paul’s Anglican School Ife in 1945 and did well for my first three years after which my father sought transfer for me to go to Okemesi in Ekiti State in January 1948. Although my parents did not have formal education, I participated in Family Exchange Programme which my Paternal Grandmother established with her siblings whereby children are sent across to live with relations so as to maintain family contacts with those who marry to non-Ifes or who left Ife to live in other towns. I was in Okemesi January 1948 to December 1950.

My host relations, a sister to my grandmother had two sons: one a farmer in Okemesi and the other a trader in Ado-Ekiti and a daughter married to the Oba of Okemesi.

I attended St. Peter’s Catholic School Okemesi as the uncle, farmer, was a Catholic. The school remains remarkable in my life for two reasons, First, I was converted to Catholic Church worshipper and actually was re-baptised, confirmed and started receiving Holy Communion in 1949 at the Divisional Church in EfonAlaye.

The school had good teachers that brought out my talents and responses to quick mental test in figures and spellings. I was always the best and reference point in all my classes.

In 1949 our class teacher and headmaster Mr John Pariola so much loved me for my performance that if nobody knows the answer to any mental arithmetic or spelling, he will call me last and Say “Cat” tell them and I always got it right as his “oracle”.

Being the best all-rounder, I became his most trusted. The reward for being distinct is that I could be sent on errands by foot to Efon Alaye to carry foodstuff on my head and walk about 10 miles from Efon Alaye to Okemesi through mountains, and Rural Roads. In those days teachers only gave such onerous responsibilities to bright and best behaved pupils. That teacher is now 96 and we are still chummy as I visited him when he was 90 at EfonAlaye and still got in contact with him by phone four months ago after my 85th birthday.

At that time, you do not worry about being kidnapped or source of food. As you walked through rural roads there was banana, plantain, cooked yam, maize, water and palm wine by roadside. You could stop to eat free of cost or leave any coin behind if you had or wished.

St. Peters Catholic School Okemesi, a Junior Primary School, highest class being Standard 2 and I finished as best student in 1949. The Supervisory District at EfonAlaye did not approve Senior Primary School for 1950, and we were persuaded to repeat Standard two in 1950 so that approval for Standard three would come in 1951. Unfortunately, this did not come and I had to return to my parents in Ile-Ife January 1951 to join St. Peters and Paul Catholic School, Lagere, Ile-Ife for Standard three.

I cannot conclude my sojourn at Okemesi without mentioning the exposure I had on the farms making heaps of yam, plantain and harvesting maize, cassava both at school farm and family farm most weekends. I also cannot forget in a hurry the punishment at school by flogging for any flimsy mistake of boys and girls on their buttocks.

I was happy to be back to Ife early January 1951, in particular, under the care of my loving mother and grandmothers. The good news was that I maintained the trajectory of brilliance and hard work that kept me atop of my classes up to Standard six in 1954.

Even though my family house to my school at Lagere was about two miles I kept good attendance leaving early morning to walk to school and be back home late afternoon. I joined Boys Scout movement and was an Alter Server to the Rev. Fathers.

Tragedy struck in March 1954 when my father died as I was preparing for my Common Entrance Examination into Secondary Schools. Hope was dimmed as my mother and I wandered what next for me in January 1955 after I must have completed Primary School.

By the Grace of God and the implementation of Late Obafemi Awolowo’s Primary Education Policy Commencing 1955, the God Factor produced the solution and destiny enabler in Papa Obafemi Awolowo.

My hope and faith in God was re-established in three ways: The Rev. Fathers at St. Peter and Paul worked out a policy of Human Capital Development to run the Awolowo Universal Compulsory Primary Education Scheme by recommending, bright hardworking and well behaved boys and girls for employment and development if they did well in 1954 December School Leaving Certificate Examination.

There was discretionary and voluntary saving scheme for indigent ones to work, save and transit to Teacher Training Colleges for further education.

The Western State Government launched the scheme to recruits school leavers as teachers for the Commencement of the January 1955 Education Scheme, and the School assured us instant job if we passed our examination. In my own situation, the same school retained me to teach Primary two in January 1955.

The salary was 60 pounds per annum i.e 5 pounds sterling a month. For the young ones who opted for saving for Further Education.

They could draw 2 pounds sterling – 3 pounds sterling a month and save the rest for Training College Education.

My mother opted for 1pound a month for me and a saving of 4pounds per month, saying she would co-operate with me and God for my higher education and that I was lucky to get the opportunity in the same school where I was well known. The scheme allowed you to work for a minimum of 1 year before you sit for entrance examination to a 2-year or 4 year Teacher Training College.

My mother encouraged me to try four years Teacher Training as she was ready to work hard and augment my 48pounds savings with her efforts during my four years at college. I sat for entrance examination to St. Leos Teacher Training College Abeokuta and was selected on merit to start my course in January 1956. That was game changer in myself development, empowerment, and fortune hunting.

Life in St. Leos College 1956 – 1959 was good to me severally, I continued the trajectory of brilliance, hard-work and top-rate performance always rotating positions first, second, third with two other brilliant boys in the class. I developed so much self-confidence, self-discipline and fellowship with God and man in a robust Roman Catholic Boarding House managed by experienced Rev. Fathers and Brothers from U.K, Ireland and Canada. I met some of my life-long friends at the boarding house, talent development including choral singing was acquired and I was happy to be selected by the college to represent Abeokuta Province at the First Art and Cultural Festival in Ibadan in 1957 – as member of the choral group we won third place. I also did very well in my final examinations in 1959 and this enhanced my reputation and recognition in Ife and Oyo Catholic Diocese, in our final year the Western Nigeria Television Service commenced operation and our school was one of the selected Institution to watch TV in 1959.

I was posted to St. George’s Catholic Secondary Modern School in Oyo January 1960. Life at college was good with the financial collaboration of my mother and the provision of Good Food, curriculum and social life at the boarding school.

Post Teacher Training worklife preparation for higher education
I reported for employment January 1960 at St. George’s Catholic Secondary Modern School Oyo. The School Administration after considering my capabilities and requirements of the teaching programme, gave me four subjects to teach including Sports and Games. The others are English Literature, Mathematics and Geography mainly in Modern one and three. The yearly remuneration was 180 pounds, payable at 15 pounds a month.

I came to Oyo with two plans. First, I was anxious to impact knowledge to my students in such a firm but friendly manner that I will be respected. The second plan was to apply myself to self-development for higher education.

My new friends at work and in town were like minds and from conversations I got information about extra-mural studies classes at St. Andrews College being conducted majorly by University of Ibadan and the Tutors of Baptist Academy Oliver Heights Oyo. By the end of January 1960, I enrolled as a student and was appointed Class Secretary to Rev. J.B Lafinhan of blessed memory. He was a pleasant, brilliant and accommodating Lecturer and made Part-Time Evening Learning a pleasure. I enrolled for six O/ Levels in the first year and passed all as most of the subjects had been covered by Higher Elementary Teachers Curriculum.

In 1961, I enrolled for three A Levels, Economics, Modern History and British Constitution (Government Studies). In addition to the Extra – Mural Classes, I joined my peers in subscribing to Rapid Results College, a mailing educational Teaching Institution in the U.K. The mailing system of those days made it possible. Our WAEC Examinations for Private Candidates, were normally conducted in December and I chose Ilesha Grammer School as my center for convenience from Ife, during the Christmas Break, I passed two out of the three A levels from December 1961 Exams i.e. Economics and History.

The Full-Time work at the Secondary Modern School did not suffer as I was young, vibrant and really enjoying everyday of it with the cooperation of the students and freedom from undue interference from the School Authority. The school had good reputation for sporting performances and my students did well in my subjects.

I also had the time and privilege to enjoy my leisure travelling most weekends to neighboring places with friends, in particular we went to Iseyin, Saki, Ibadan, Ogbomosho, Iwo, Fiditi, Awe and also took part in Catholic Church Activities.

In 1962, I was transferred to Ife, St David’s Secondary Modern School Lagere Ife near my old school. The principal was happy to absorb me and gave me exactly same subjects and function as Games Master as I had in Oyo.

Again, I joined another ambitious peer group including Late Omoboriowo then Tutor at Murumba College Ile-Ife and later Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Late Mr. Gunju Ogundipe, then an Employee of Barclays bank Ife and later Managing Director Nigerian Merchant bank Ltd and founder Prudent bank Limited and Dr. Omotosho Eluyemi, Former Director of National Museum.

This group is of particular significance as we were all preparing to go on further education after passing GCE A Levels. Boriowo went to Ibadan September 1962, Gunju Ogundipe also went to the University. Omotosho, Eluyemi went to the USSR to read History and Archeology at Moscow University.

Between September 1962 and October 1963, all of us had left for further education in Nigeria Institutions, USSR USA, and the United Kingdom. That was the attribute and benefits of peer influence those days, not for Drugs, Yahoo, ritual killing and the evils we witness today.

In line with the practice of my peers, I left Nigeria October 1, 1963 to further my studies, moving from Teaching to Accountancy in line with those who counselled me. The arrangement for travel took similar plan as I did for going to St Leo’s College for Teacher Training. Six of my Colleagues contributed Ajo (Esusu) of 10 pounds per month between July 1962 and June 1963 each by turn harvesting 60 pounds. In 12 months, I had harvested 120 pounds out of which I paid for my student Fare, obtained my passport and VISA and did all preparations, leaving just a balance of 6 pounds in September 1963.

My only trusted partner, Destiny helper, collaborator, encourager and Mother, late. Madam Alice Aralola Odeyemi matched my six pounds with another 6 pounds. Thereafter, I left by Air to the U.K on October 1, 1963 with only 12 pounds in search of the Goldeen Fleece.

Professional education, work experience and life in the united kingdom
I arrived UK in October 1963 with VISA classified as Employment Voucher as my Teacher Training Education and teaching experience were recognised and accepted for Work Permit.

However, as I had only 12 pounds and needed money for Winter Clothing, pay for additional A Levels Examinations and rent a room, my host friend Duro Ademuyiwa suggested I did two things immediately. First, I presented my VISA to the authorities for the issuance of my NHI number and sought a job to take care of immediate expenses.

I succeeded on October 2nd to secure a Job as a Kitchen Porter at J. Lyons and Co, Holborn London for six working days at six pounds a week. In addition, I ate breakfast and lunch at work. My immediate needs were met including winter clothing and a 2.50 pounds a week Rent Starting from December 1963.

Conversations with Friends in London led me to apply to the Parcel Section of Post Office in London. I did the Job Examination and Interviews and was accepted to start work In December 1963. This triggered a huge surprise from my Restaurant Supervisor who could not believe that I passed the qualifying test to train for a Postman’s Job at Mount Pleasant. He fell on his chair and invited the ladies I worked with that John was an incredible Joker, claiming he was leaving his secure job for the Post Office. I smiled at their ignorance not knowing my educational attainment and just left them.

The Post Office job had a basic salary of 12 .70 pounds per week with overtime opportunities every week. As I was only there to save money for my full time Accountancy Education, I offered my time for maximum permissible overtime hours. My take home net wages was an average of 20 pounds a week as occasionally I hit a maximum target that gave me up to 35 pounds per week. Within nine months of concentrated working and saving, I had earned enough to acquire basic needs, sit and pass one additional A ‘level and seek admission for my fulltime Sandwich Course at Wednesbury College of Commerce and Technology, Midlands UK

Unlike my Nigerian Ambitious Peers in Nigeria, most men earning good pay in the Post Office are well dressed Party Goers and some of them had spent 3 to 10 years enjoying themselves. I became a laughing stock by those who heard I was leaving London to Study in Wednesbury. Some of them rebuked me for being hasty and precocious and threatened that I would be back to them when I exhausted my savings or fail the tough accountancy examinations. The God in my life was faithful to me and showed mercy that brought out the best in me.

Whereas, in my reckoning, I had allowed five years of full and part time studies to acquire one qualification. I finished double Accountancy Courses ACCA and ACMA in less than 3 years: October 1964 to June 1967. A number of significant effects happened. Many of the Nigerian peers and long-standing colleagues at Mount Pleasant Post Office London were shocked at my first-year result whereby I passed both the intermediate of the ACCA and ACMA at one sitting in one session of eight months. Most of them left their jobs to go to colleges.

My college were ecstatic to see such wonderful result for the first time and by a black man. They awarded me the Most Distinguished Prize in 1965 as I occupied seat one on Prize Giving Day. The College Head invited me for a chat to know more about me and asked me if I needed any assistance. It was then I confessed I was a Private Student, spending my own savings which I was aware could finish midway and lead me to complete on part – time basis.

He then offered to contact the Council’s Educational Authority to consider me for a Study Grant on exception basis. Within two weeks, this was granted in October 1965 with generous allowances for me and my wife. That was the beginning of unbroken highflying good life as ordered by God in My Life.

In July 1966, I also passed the two finals part one of the two Accountancy Examinations and was awarded “Outstanding Performance of the year 1966”.

Finally, I finished the two Professional Examinations in less than three years instead of my five years planned programme. It is instructive to note that my illiterate paternal Grandmother had prayed for me and predicted I would finish my course in less than four years. I said Amen, in denial as I felt she was rather ignorant to appreciate my plight. The voice of elders, the voice of God prevailed.

Professional training and work life was interesting, enjoyable and well rewarded after good and rapid examination results. I changed jobs twice and later spent a little over two years with Coopers and Lybrand, Birmingham.

Four situations are worth mentioning. First was my experience when I was leading an audit team to a big industrial iron and steel manufacturer in Smethwick. The firm had already intimated the MD and the Finance Director of my name and nationality. On getting there the first day of the Audit, the Chief Security Officer refused me entry into the reception and I asked him to send my name to the MD and F.D on the 3rd Floor. He got the shock of his life when the MD took a lift downstairs, shook my hand, took my car keys, parked my car by the side of his car and walked to the lift to take me to his office.

At lunch time, I joined the directors to dine in the senior management restaurant. There was another tragedy as the lady coming with a tray of soup bowls was shocked to see a black man in the Directors canteen, she dropped the tray with four soup bowls sweating and shivering.

I was counselled to be calm and understand her situation as their staff had not met a black man at my level entering the Directors Office. As from the second day, they all became courteous and friendly, treating me with dignity.

Two of the clients I audited offered me Senior Management level Jobs, one a forward board appointment for 1971. I declined as I was bent on going home.

Back in Nigeria 1969, self discovery and main thrust for life of service and impact
When I decided to return to Nigeria by Mid – Year in 1969 at age 30 during the Civil War, I applied for five relevant Job Vacancies advertised by U.K. Multinationals in Nigeria, one in Jos a mining company and four in Lagos, I was offered the Five jobs and had the pleasure of choosing what I considered most suitable for me in terms of: Total package, car – bought and shipped for me, accommodation allowance, family passages by ship paid for and training arranged for me in London and Nigeria including Air Passage to Lagos.

James Kilpatrick and Son Ltd a Subsidiary of Balfour Beatty, a major British Construction Company met my terms and brought me to Nigeria after my over two years stint with Coopers and Lybrand, Birmingham.

It was a comfortable home coming end of November 1969 with two Major objectives in mind, back home to my country in particular, my mother and prepare for actualisation of professional and work life and other burning desires for Life, Family and Country as Follows:

Gainful employment and entrepreneurship pursuit through active participation in indigenisation and worthwhile investments in quoted and unquoted or Joint Ventures in Oil and Gas, Banking, Insurance and Finance, Breweries, Food and Beverages and Construction.

Anchorage with God- evangelism and fellowships; advocacy for development in professions, business development and wealth creation in Nigeria, continuous self education and socialization, health and Life Style management for Self and Family.

I shall only talk to the Major issues above as they are contained in my Citation, my CV and my Autobiography for my 70th Birthday in 2009.

Concluding paragraphs
Some specific instant and striking interventions of God in My Life- (Verifiable Facts)
From my miraculous healing from cancers of the colon and liver, COVID-19 twice, and major fall. All between 2018 and 2023.

The unexpected synergy in 1954 between my father’s death in March at age 45, my hopelessness for further education after primary education and the announcement of free primary compulsory universal education at the second half of 1954 by Obafemi Awolowo– The Paraclete as in Holy Ghost. 1965 – 1967 – My stellar performance at Wednesbury College and the life changing rewards, 1969 – Rain of Job opportunities for returning to Nigeria during the Civil War, 1969 – God preventing my adversary from booking my return trip to Nigeria on Nigeria Airways VC 10 Flight 825 on November 20, 1969. All 87 Passengers died, 2003 – Timely Information in December 2003 at Oyo NACCIMA EGM about a planned attack by wicked spiritualists sponsored by an overbearing opponent for the position of President – Elect of NACCIMA as well as 1954 – At age 15 when in anger and dismay I petitioned God to bail me out of a false accusation of stealing the tailor’s scissor from the shop in our house. Within 30 minutes of my cry and petition to God, my playmate rushed out of their house, confessed stealing and brought back the scissors and 1999 – Self Confession of Spiritual attack on me by an overbearing colleague.

Coping techniques – trusting God
It is necessary for human beings to develop coping technics for unavoidable and unpleasant situations in life by trusting God. At my lowest Ebb after my surgery for Liver Cancer in November 2020 with associated Complications from Biliary Drainage. I concentrated on praising, praying to the Almighty God, and singing songs of Trust, Hope and Faith:
“You are the Lord that is your Name, You will never share your Glory with anyone,
You will never Share Your Glory with Anybody. Almighty God, that is your name”
Such times call for perseverance, endurance and resilience rather than ranting and blame games.
John 16: 33 succinctly put it “I have told you these things so that you may have peace;
In other words, you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world”
We should intentionally seek to sustain the face of God in our lives by: appreciation and reliance on the awesome power of God, keeping God’s commandments; praising God; praying without ceasing, including petitioning and blessing people, giving generously, love and care, peaceful coexistence and enabling others.

A remarkable summary of my life and time is that heaven helps those who help themselves.

The hand of God is most felt where there is synergy, good order and commitment by political leaders, government of the day parents and Civil Society intentionally working together to implement initiatives and developments that transform society for education, health, agriculture, industrial mobilisation and inclusive commercial and financial systems.
Such Monumental Initiatives were; the 1955 Universal Primary Education by Obafemi Awolowo, the indigenisation liberalisation and commercialisation of the economy in 1972, 1978 up to the 90s which enabled many Nigerians entrepreneurs and professionals the Housing Policy of the Federal Government and Jakande Administrations and the Federal Government Policy during the above periods that enabled borrowing for consumers and investments at 6-9 per cent interest rates.

When Human Capital Economic and Social Developments are liberalised. The Blessings of God are better accessed and shared by a much larger number of the Society, acknowledgment of almighty God with Songs: “Great is thy Faithfulness”, “the King of Love, my shepherd”, “You are the lord that is your name”.

Concluded

Dr Odeyemi is The Obasewa of Ife.