By Oluwasegun Abifarin
Today, Ezekiel Olufemi, the son of Olayemi climbs the 60th ladder as he turns 60 years.
We have known ourselves for almost 50 years because we are both family friends from Ekan in Oke Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State in the present Nigeria’s North Central region.
While he is from Odo Owa Compound, I am from Oke Okin Compound in Ile Obajemu zone of Ekan town.
Coincidentally, we were both in the United Anglican Primary School in the community for our early education.
After our primary education, our paths crossed at the Community’s Fatima College for our secondary education from 1978 to 1983…before we moved out to Lagos for greener pastures and further education.
Curiously, we were both living in the Bariga area of Lagos.
While I was struggling to get my bearings and further my education, he was working somewhere at Matori, struggling to get his bearings too.
While I was struggling to write my JAMB exam in 1987, I remembered I used his office address at Matori for my Self Stamped Jamb address.
Getting the admission in Unilag that year was tedious and frustrating.
I remembered I was in Unilag the month of October 1987 to meet a lecturer who was helping me to “process” the admission..he flatly told me to come back for an update at the end of the month.
I left his office dejectedly and even forgot I had no money to transport me back to Ketu where I stayed with my uncle Demola.
As I was lamenting my ordeal to my cousin Jide, amidst the bout of malaria that was hitting me as a result of my long trek from Unilag gate to Bariga and then Ketu.
Suddenly, Ezekiel Olayemi was seen coming to our house from a distance. I saw him and was wondering what his mission was in the area.
Later he came inside our house and we exchanged pleasantries …asking about any update about my varsity admission. Before I started lamenting, he just brought out the brown envelope saying that the postman brought it to his office that day. And that was his mission to our house that day…
I was relieved…and I started recounting my frustrating ordeal that day.
Eventually, he left for his house and I started my long preparation for resumption in Unilag.
We were getting in touch through my stay in school until he got his own admission to a higher institution as well.
Even now as an adult, our path has been crossing.
After my graduation in 1991, I have been practicing as a journalist, Olayemi has crisscrossed many areas and now a Deeper life Pastor.
While he celebrated his 60th birthday, I join others well wishes and friends to celebrate his diamond milestone!
Congratulations to the birthday boy!
