8 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2015
OSUN STATE
•From left Vice President FCMB and Chief Launcher; Mr Adetunji Lamidi, Chairman Prof. Ayodele Osibajo, Celebrant, Prof Osayawe Ehigie with his wife Dr. Rebecca.
How UI don hosted triple celebrations By Ola Ajayi
I
BADAN – IT was triple cel ebration for the Head of Department, HOD, Psychology Department, University of Ibadan, UI, Oyo State, Professor Benjamin Osayawe Ehigie, as he celebrated his 50th birthday anniversary and public presentation of a book , “Consumer, Marketing and Advertising Psychology.” He equally marked his 17th wedding anniversary. Relatives, members of the academia and other wellwishers who thronged the Anglican Church of the Messiah, New Bodija, Ibadan, to rejoice with Professor Ehigie, at the Thanksgiving Service, were unanimous in thanking God for his life as he narrated how God saved him miraculously from dare-devil robbers a year ago.
his wife, ‘Dr. Mrs. Rebecca Ibhaguelo Ehigie, and children, Testimony, Evidence, Ovecomer and Victory, was described as an epitome of humility. Speaking, he said he never wanted to mark the 50th anniversary, but because of his miraculous escape from the men of underworld last year, he could not hide the goodness of God in his life and that of his immediate family. According to him, “two years ago, I celebrated my birthday indoor. Last year, the devil provoked me. I was coming from Makurdi when armed robbers attacked the bus I boarded. While searching other passengers and collecting their belongings, I went past them without attacking or collecting
Dare-devil robbers The HOD who is also a Reverend with Anglican Church of the Messiah, New Bodija, Ibadan, was on his way from Makurdi, when the bus he was travelling in was attacked by armed bandits. The congregation including fellow professors in the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Psychology Department, could not hide their joy and continuously shouted halleluyah on behalf of Ehigie who equally marked his 17th wedding anniversary to commemorate the event. Ehigie who was flanked by C M Y K
If you have arrived at golden jubilee and you can testify there is something golden about you, even though, you are black like me, you should thank God
anything from me. I thank God for how he showed me his grace and favour. My father was a baker, while my mother was a trader. I used my head to carry her wares. But, God helped me in my academic pursuit. I didn’t miss a step. At 23, I started teaching. Where I come from in Edo State, people believe you have not made it if you don’t travel abroad. God help me and I travelled to the United States of America”.
Golden jubilee During his exhortation, the cleric, Most Reverend (Dr) Joseph Akinfenwa, Lord Bishop of Ibadan Diocese, said, “It is a situation of joy, joy and joy. Attaining golden jubilee is a great thing in life and fulfilment of God’s purpose. God is a mystery and he knows how he plans everything. I praise God for your life for this disciplined couple. At age 50, a man should have a sense of victory and fulfilment and not a sense of defeat and failure. At young age, you have reached the pinnacle of your career. That is the testimony. In church, you are doing well. You are one of the ministers I respect so much because of your commitment to the work of God. “If you have arrived at golden jubilee and you can testify there is something golden about you, even though, you are black like me, you should thank God. If you look around you and count
rounded off with a reception at the Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan where a book entitled; “Consumer, Marketing and Advertising Psychology” was launched.
how many of your childhood’s friends have gone to the great beyond, you will know that God is good indeed. You are not looking like a professor. You look very fresh and youthful. It is often said that university teachers age quickly because of so much studies. But, because you serve God, he has taken away every wear and tear from you.” However, he reminded Prof Ehigie that 50 years had gone out of his life and those years would never come back, saying “Prof. you may not see it in your calendar, but you are getting older and the time you have left is reduced by a day. The signs we see are signs of the end time. Prof. you have done well but, there is a higher place that God wants to take you to and I want you to look at missed opportunities and do greater exploits for God”. Alluding to King David in the Holy Bible, he admonished him not to nurse any grudge against anyone adding that despite all kinds of contradictions, he forged ahead. The tripartite event was
Dignitaries at the event Among dignitaries at event were Col. Kayode Are (rtd), former Director General, Department of State Service, DSS, and National Security Adviser to the President, Dr. Adebayo Jimoh, former Group Managing Director, Odua Investment Limited, AIG J. Olatunji Caulcrick, AIG Maritime Command, Dr. Mrs Akpan Clement Regina, Controller of Prisons, Nigeria Prison Service, Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Thomas Attah, Divisional Business Manager, Globacol Ltd, Prof. Ayodele Osibanjo, President, Men’s Forum, Anglican Church of the Messiah, the Rt. Revd. (Dr) Mrs Titus Babatunde Olayinka, the Bishop of Ogbomoso Diocese, Church of Nigeria, Prof. Francis Egbokhare, Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan, Mrs Vicky Falope, former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Oyo State, Mr. Adetunji Lamidi, Vice President, First City Monument Bank, Mr and Mrs Emmanuel Ekunno, Managing Director, Neimeth International Pharm Plc among others.
THE TEAM EDITOR: Adeleke Adeseri CORRESPONDENTS: Kolade Larewaju Ola Ajayi Gbenga Olarinoye Dayo Johnson Dapo Akinrefon Daud Olatunji Olasunkanmi Akoni Monsuru Olowoepejo Ikenna Asomba
Ibadan Osogbo Akure Abeokuta Lagos