Left to him, his 70th birthday anniversary would have come and gone without boisterous bunting, loud drums and dance, showmanship and needless display of wealth. This is because he doesn’t really believe in celebrating one’s birthday once a year. Rather, to him, every day is one’s birthday. In this regard therefore, it has always required subtle persuasion and diplomacy to convince him into agreeing to a yearly publication of a tribute in his honour.
Chief Oluwole Oladapo Olanipekun, Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR), and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) has ascended to the level of such eponymous figures recognized only on a first name basis such as Awolowo, Balewa, Zik, Soyinka, and Shakespeare among others on account of his professional achievements, phenomenal philanthropy and immortal ideals and the noble values he represents.
In a world that is surfeited with toxic individualism, conceited polarization and selfish aggrandizement, it is gratifying to see the like of this legal luminary, who is all out preaching the cultivation of Omoluabi cultural values in line with the motto of his Ilesa Grammar School which says “E huwa omoluabi” meaning, act with integrity.
The Omoluabi is a Yoruba philosophical and cultural concept that describes a person who believes in hard work, honesty and respects the rights of others, values integrity, gives to the community and believes in fair play, justice and equity. All these and more are what Chief Olanipekun represents. He wears his legal ministerial garment with gusto and grace and it fits him so snugly. He is rich and righteous. Indeed, he is a man of means, a man of affluence and influence who is gifted with remarkable verbal felicities of both English and Yoruba languages
I got the rare privilege of getting closer to Chief Olanipekun when he was appointed chairman, University of Ibadan Governing Council in 2009. As UI Chairman of Council in those days, he did a dandy job. His contributions were both largely interventionist and redemptive. He spent his personal money to assist UI. He never took a dime from UI. To mark his tenure in UI, he built a 400-seat capacity lecture theatre. He brought a private orientation into the public sector in UI and changed the operational styles. For instance, I remember November 17, 2012 when the then education minister, Prof. Ruqayyat Ahmed Rufai was to commission the Ajibode road, Wole Olanipekun Lecture Theatre before proceeding to the convocation ground, Chief Olanipekun dazed everyone with his attitude to work. He called me around 5:35 am to know if the chairs and canopies were already at the site. I couldn’t tell him it was not my responsibility. He called the then Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Adewole to know the level of preparations. He practically took over and was directing all of us towards success and perfection.
He is a man without wishy-washy equivocation, spartan and abstemious in lifestyle, honorable and noble in personal outlook who never waivers in his ideological commitment. He is indeed regal, resplendent and riveting. He is gracious in goodness, generous in giving as he is a man of excellent manner. A man of sterling integrity and zero tolerance for corruption.
Olanipekun is a great man that has been used by God to raise many men. Thousands of children of the poor have been raised through his scholarship scheme, which gulps millions of Naira every year. I equally benefitted from the scholarship for my Ph.D programme. What can we say about upcoming lawyers? He has assisted many lawyers in their career with his uncommon largeness of heart. Clearly, when some people are committed to self and selfish interests, Chief Olanipekun is committed to the good of the generality.
He is generally respected for his great humility despite his daunting intellectual exploits and professional achievements. With him, you are assured of wise-cracks, profound thoughts, spiritually ennobling insights, sublime statements and words of wisdom. Not too long ago, I ran into turbulence and solicited his intervention. After listening to my case, Chief Olanipekun looked at me and quipped, “Sunday, who taught you wisdom but failed to teach you the value of foolishness?” It took me a while before I decoded the import of his epigrammatic rhetorical question!.
Interestingly, it is on record that not long after finishing his tenure in UI as chairman of council, Chief Olanipekun was also appointed the chairman of Council of Ajayi Crowther University (ACU) Oyo. He is still there, replicating all the good work he did in UI. He has built several structures for ACU, tarred roads and keeps spending his money just to guarantee the optimal human happiness.
To corroborate the saying that charity begins at home, this legend has done so much for his ancient town, Ikere Ekiti. He built a multi-million Naira ultra-modern church for the Anglican Communion. He donated computer centres to some secondary schools in addition to the health centre, just as Wole Olanipekun Scholarship scheme through which many indigent but brilliant students across the country get the educational succor keeps running after 20 years.
To me, a life that touches others lives forever. This meek man of stellar character has achieved historical immortality with many lives he has touched. From his sartorial preferences to his leadership style, he stands pretty tall and far away from the archetypical lot. His signature smile is attractive, sparkling and memorable. His is a story of decency and dignity.
Call him a deft minefield walker, you will probably not be wrong. Chief Olanipekun has successfully meandered through some of the many traps of life, characterized by treachery, betrayal and outright envy. He is therefore an institution of learning, school of wisdom and mobile library who is indeed; a rare embodiment of courage, charisma and credibility. His exemplary life remains mnemonic.
As he celebrates his 70th birthday, one can only pray that Chief will not tumble from his tower. May he continue to be sensitive to the leading of the Lord as I ask for greater grace for greater glory for our collective benefactor in many years to come.
Perhaps one can only remind Chief Olanipekun of what God says concerning him and his like in the book of Isaiah 3:10, “Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds”. Happy birthday Chief.
- Saanu is with the University of Ibadan.
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