By Gbenga Sodeinde
Tuesday March 29, 2022 was a day of glory and “great reward” for Alhaji Deji Ayelabowo, an indigene of Ikoro Ekiti in Ijero Local government area of Ekiti State and an erstwhile General Manager of the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State when the Board, Management, and Staff of the Corporation honoured him by renaming the Multipupose Hall of the station after him.
Alhaji Ayelaboyowo, a socialite, arrived the BSES complex, amidst cheers and resounding applause from all and sundry. He was clad in a yellow flowing Agbada, an attire of the Yoruba race, made of woolen textile material with a cap to match. the native attire of the Yoruba race.
Accompanied by his wife, Deaconess Modupe Deji Ayelabowo who also wore a yellow kaftan and gorgeously dressed, the couple received cheers from excited friends, relatives and many of the staff members of the BSES who gathered to celebrate the celebrant who was been honoured in his life time.
The building, which was christened after Alhaji Ayelabowo consists of a bigconference Hall, six office rooms with conveniences. Well wishers could not hold their admiration as they shouted “Alhamudlilahi ” to appreciate the Almighty God that it was not a Posthumous honour.
Highly elated, Ayelabowo could not hide his joyful feeling as he joined his wife to dance to the melodious beat of the instrumentalists and the choristers of the Corportion who were in high spirit to add colour to the ceremony with their performance.
Ayelabowo served as the General Manager of the BSES from May 2005 to January, 2007. He was described as a man of honour and integrity, an achiever, pragmatic, reliable, committed, kindhearted, hardwotking, thorough, competent and disciplined professional who had added value to the BSES during his short but eventful stay as the head of the broadcast outfit. There were testimonies of a host of dignitaries who graced the ocassion that included ex-Vice Chancellor of the Ekiti State University (EKSU) Prof. Dipo Kolawole, veteran broadcaster, Kunle Olofin, Segun Omolayo, Mr. Idowu Oguntuase, Layi Oyawa, Yomi Osuntokun, and the current Generanal Manager of the BSES, Olu Popoola.
In his Speech, the General Manager, Popoola said the honour was bestowed on Ayelabowo because of the laudable achiements and infrastructral developments recorded during his tenure.
The guests’ deluge of encominms were so overwhelming that Ayelabowo’s wife was emotionally moved on realizing how precious her husband is to many.
Responding, Alhaji Ayelabowo who thanked the Board, members of staff and Management of the BSES for the honour done to him, said: “to the best of my best of knowledge, nobody has ever headed BSES and left ceremoniously, but I thank God today for making me to be celebrated and I also thank all those who worked with me and supported my administration to be successful’.
The take away lesson from the outing is simple, keep doing what you are good at. One thing is sure, there is a pay back time,
So, If you know how to do good and if it is the opposite, there is always a day of reckoning. For Alhaji Deji Ayelabowo, it was a day indeed, a day of reckoning and day of glory for him.