Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh
‘One man of courage makes a majority.’ - Andrew Jackson
The media today is awash with tales of successful people who created class for themselves in their chosen fields by virtue of their achievements. I am always skeptical about such stories most especially when it has got to do with individuals from rich families. If Femi Otedola today buys all the refineries in Nigeria, I would not be surprised and if tomorrow I read that Paddy Adenuga is the richest young Nigeria, it won't amaze me, they're all from extremely rich families.
You bring a story of a man who was born with a sliver spoon; who never tasted hardship, who studied under pleasure and attended one of the best universities in the world and you want me to toe his lines or envy him? No, we do not have the same conditions and owing to the difference in places of birth, we started the race of life at a different pace. Show me a man who was raised by parents who couldn't afford 3-square meal a day; who walked almost bare-footed to school and who wore same clothes for many years, yet made gold using these extant conditions and I will appreciate!
Mr Adeniyi Johnson Talabi was born on 3rd of April, 1959 in Ilese, at a time when our forefathers had fed their children with negative tales about western education. It was even some families' tradition not to invest in education because to then, education would make their children oppose their customs and traditional practices yet there was a little boy who despite this notions and impediments found that his fortune lies in same education and did everything humanly possible to realize his dreams.
He attended St Paul's Anglican Primary School, Ilese between 1965 to 1970 and Adeola Odutola College, Ijebu-Ode where he obtained S75 in 1974. He attended Methodist Teachers Training College, Sagamu for his Grade II certificate in 1974. He again proceeded to Tai-Solarin College Of Education, Ijebu-Ode in 1986 and University Of Ado Ekiti in 2003 for his degrees.
This man toiled hard to achieve all these. He blazes the trail and sets himself as a role model, not only for the youths, but importantly for his contemporaries. All my life, I have never privately sat side-by-side with this man, never! In fact, I can count on the finger of one hand the number of times I have set my eyes on him this year, yet news of his great deeds keep reaching me every now and then.
I am not going to make pretence of it at all. I have a fondness for him, his overwhelming humility, his sincerity of purpose, his dedication to duty and his remarkable gentlemanliness.
He is useful to mankind in all ramifications. At St Paul's Anglican Church, Ilese, where he's a pillar, he has been the secretary of the church's Harvest Committee since 1995. He is currently ACF President and Vicar's warden.
In service, he is the Treasurer of Ogun State Association Of Primary School Headteachers (COPSHON) till retirement; Ijebu Divisional Chairman, COPSHON from 2009 till retirement, Assistant Secretary, Odogbolu Zonal COPSHON between 2001 till 2007 and Chairman of Endwell Scheme Building Committee, Odogbolu.
Within the community, he is Vice President and co-founder of St Paul's Co-operative Multipurpose Society, Ilese; board member of Ijebu Central Cooperative Service Society (ICCSS) and Vice President, Olorunsogo Cooperative Multipurpose Society Limited.
Mr Adeniyi is a recipient of many awards including Fellow Of the Teaching Industry (FTI) and Best Headteacher Award in Odogbolu which was presented to him by foremost industrialist and former Ogun State governorship aspirant, Rev Olajide Awosedo.
Above all, Mr Johnson Adeniyi Talabi possesses one thing that most of our leaders are lacking; a gift you cannot buy with money; you cannot learn it in school, it's simply humility! His humility is legendary; to me, he remains the most humble individual I have ever seen walking the surface of this earth.
-Saint-Olawale Jimoh
Observers' Reflections Int'l
www.saint-olawalejimoh.
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