Idowu Olufemi Samuel extols the virtues of Chief Regina Olayinka Akande, mother of billionaire businessman, Chief Harry Akande, who recently clocked the rare age of 100.
A time-tested heritage for every man is the ‘love’ of God. Yet, God has His favourites for whom He pours endless favours and affection. This explains why, for ages, most men struggle with ecclesiastic zeal to be on God’s side.
Those often favoured by God usually enjoy one of his rare and priceless gifts; the grace of longevity, which wealth, biological make-up, good diets, adequate medical care, adaptation, place of birth and others may sometimes not offer. Indeed, Centenarian, Chief Mrs. Regina Olayinka Akande, mother of Nigeria’s renowned business mogul, Chief Harry is a beneficiary being one of God’s favourite.
Mama has not just lived to be 100. She drags the grace along with stunning strength and sound health. Dementia and general incapacity are the hallmarks of old age. But not so for Harry Akande’s mother who always radiates affection, deepest joy, happiness and a palpable sense of fulfillment for a life well spent!
What’s more! Her very visage of wellness and willful display of wits and humour can cause one to marvel in a straight encounter. In the world of today, so full of anguish, uncertainty, chaos, pains, strives and mind-wrenching bad news, anyone who lives to be 100 and still moves about unaided is a star and indeed, God’s chosen! Somehow, the life and times of mama are a good study on how one should yearn to have the grace of longevity.
The Akandes have come to appreciate God for this. They had enormous reasons to roll out the drums in celebration of their own Jewel who has, all through, defined herself as imbued with a heart of gold. She was the reason Ibadan was agog on Sunday June 14, 2015 with celebration of her birthday. The meeting port for the celebration of the centenarian was the Anglican Church Diocese, Kudeti, Ibadan.
The roll call at the event attested to how well the society appreciates and respects mama. In attendance were the governor of Oyo state, Abiola Ajimobi, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, represented traditional rulers; the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odugade, represented by Prince Femi Lana; the Oshinle of Oke-Ona Egba, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, his oloris and chiefs; Emir of Ilorin, Sulu Gambari, represented by the Onisanlu of Isanlu; Mr A. J. Owonikoko, Chief Bisi Omidiora; deputy national chairman of the APC, Chief Pius Akinyelure and Senator Tunde Ogbeha.
Others include Dr Fredrick Fasehun, Pa and Mrs Adesina, who represented former Minister of Agriculture, Mr Akinwumi Adesina; former President Olusegun Obasanjo, represented by his wife, Bola; General Alani Akinrinade, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Justice Moji Olatiregun, Justice Olabode Sodipe of the Court of Appeal, retired Justice Mustapha Akanbi and the Owa Obokun of Ijesa, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran.
Chief Ayo Fasanmi, Chief E. O. Oyelowo; the Soun of Ogbomoso, represented by Chief Ojo Ogunwole; Professor Taoheed Adedoja, Folu Olamiti and Chief Jumoke Ogunkeyede were also in attendance.
The worth of Chief Mrs Regina Olayinka Akande as a special breed among women could better be appreciated with the manner she shook off the trauma of losing a beloved husband at a tender age to break barriers in raising children, tending great businesses and devoting time to God to become a world celebrity. Her story, any day, easily attests to every quality traceable to an Amazon.
Mama began to come across as a sign and wonder from a tender age. Academic brilliance led the way as she paddle through the difficult waters of life. Always in the class of firsts with a sharp mind, she had little problems scaling the hurdles of academics. She later ventured into business, where she stood out with exceptional results. She was appointed a distributor to various companies including John Holt, PZ & Company and Nigerian Breweries. From then on, there was no going back for a woman with blessed hands. With hard work, more opportunities came, making her to soar in business.
Mama took time to choose the love of her life. Maturing with age for marriage, she encountered many suitors and many of them she rebuffed until her right choice came. He was James Afolabi Akande, her brother’s friend. Seeing in him good attributes and character of a husband; love, devotion, and the fear of God made her shudder. The husband attended Grammar School, Ibadan and he loved her dearly. She gladly accepted his proposal and the rest was history. “We had a beautiful marriage and lived together happily until death came ruefully,” she said.
The celebrant recalls that the story of her successes would not be complete without an attachment of the role her father played in her life.
She said, “At every point, my father was involved in my personal growth, decisions and development. He convinced me that I was special and I believed him. He loved and cared for all of us his children. He was a great inspiration, a devout man of great standing.”
Indeed, the children of the centenarian have been the luckiest for the wealth, love, care and affection that mama often had to share equally among them. Today, each of them, Architect Olufemi Akande, Mrs. Abimbola Okediji, Chief Harry Ayoade Akande, Mr. Olayiwola Akande, and Dr. Bolaji Akande, stands tall with success stories to tell as icons.
The love and total devotion mama showed to God all through her growing years have been a major secret of her successes. She grew into a deep Christian faith, tapped from high and crisp inspiration from the father. Having been raised in a venerable home of a church builder, she tells the story of her unflagging relationship with God.
Her father started demonstrating affection for God by building churches. By internalising good Christian precepts, she latched onto her Christian upbringing to become very active in the choir. Then she took more than passing interest in playing piano and learnt to strike the buttons more beautifully. Playing Piano, for her then became a hobby, which proved helpful in a way. She said, “After my husband died, it was the piano that healed me. Once I started playing it, I forgot my trials,” she said.
Mama also aspired to earn more respect from God by imposing church activities on herself. Apart from being a regular member of the Choir at the Cathedral Church of St. David, Kudeti, she also belonged to different groups, which made her soar in faith.
On how she feels at 100, even with hope of seeing more years, she said, “I am overwhelmed with gratitude to my God. I have every reason to celebrate. I never knew that I could attain this age considering all that I have gone through in life. I feel good, happy and truly fulfilled.”
What’s more! Mama has been in a circle of good friends all through. Those she associated with are great and reputable women in Nigeria’s history. They include Mama HID Awolowo, Habibatu Mogaji, Madam Laide Odunsi, Chief Mrs Wuraola Esan (Iyalode of Ibadanland), Mrs Ogunmola and a host of others. Politics linked her with some of the great women with whom she made great exploits serving the people.
The governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, in his goodwill message during the Church service, spoke eloquently about the life and times of the celebrant, anchoring her success story on her total devotion to God.
The governor said, “Everybody wants their lives to be like Mama’s. Such a person must have three things. One, Mama believes in God. Two, it is not enough to believe in God, Mama has godliness in behaviour. She is fortunate. That is why she is this old in wealth and health. We are all here because of her children. And she is so blessed that she still has very retentive memory.
As if to confirm the governor’s words, Chief Mrs Regina Olayinka Akande demonstrated the wonder that she is even at her age. In her words of appreciation at the end of the Thanksgiving Service, her voice shrilled through the microphone like that of Nightingale. She stunned the congregation with her ability to stand up on her feet, as she recalled dates and events with precision. She kept people marveling at the rare privileges she has enjoyed up till this day.
Andre Maurois summed up one of mamas secret of gracefulness in age, when he wrote: “Old age is far more than white hair, wrinkles, the feeling that it is too late and the game finished, that the stage belongs to the rising generations. The true evil is not the weakening of the body, but the indifference of the soul”.