By Idowu Sowunmi
Today, I celebrate my father, mentor and helper, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye, who clocks 80 today.
Since my encounter with you about 15 years, I have had every cause to appreciate God for granting me the opportunity to meet and know you. You’ve ever since then embraced and adopted me as your son, and you’re always ready to support my vision.
I would always appreciate your impactful words of wisdom and encouragement. You’re always everly ready to listen, advise, guide and guard me accordingly, counselling and providing alternative viewpoints where necessary to achieve better results.
Thank you for your fatherly support and wonderful show of love over the years. Thank you sir for granting me the initial capital for the ongoing project I’m executing. Thank you for supporting my vision. Thank you for offering me fresh and new perspectives all the times.
Even when I don’t remember to call or update you on the status of the project, you’ll call me to inquire to know and find out if there’s any difficulty on my way. What a wonderful father I’ve got in you!
Ten years ago, we gathered to mark your 70th birthday anniversary and it was indeed a celebration of your great deeds as one of Nigeria’s most influential personalities of all times.
At 80, you remain one of the greatest and most outstanding Nigerians who has essentially contributed to the development and transformation of our dear country.
Your indelible marks of achievement, most importantly, your quests for investment and encouragement of local content remain subjects of reference while you served as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Nestle Nigeria Plc; Chairman, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria; Chairman, Lafarge Plc; Chairman, International Chamber of Commerce Nigeria; and President, Society for Corporate Governance in Nigeria.
You have touched many lives with your managerial acumen, creating employment opportunities for a large number of people. And you remain one of Nigeria’s finest boardroom gurus and excellent administrators of all times.
As you celebrate your 80th birthday anniversary today, I pray Almighty God to continue to sustain you with good health and grant you fresh grace to enjoy your old age. Amen.
Happy birthday to you, my dearest father and mentor.
Idowu Sowunmi is a Lagos-based journalist
