I want to join your numerous friends and well-wishers to celebrate you and to express thanks to God Almighty for granting you the special grace to land safely and softly on the 7th floor of life. Congratulations to Asiwaju Olayinka Lington Fasuyi.
I equally congratulate your amiable wife and partner: Yeye Asiwaju, Dr. (Mrs.) Olubisi Fasuyi without whose support, wise counsel and understanding, you will not be what you are today. God bless you, Yeye.
Providence brought us together over 4 decades ago and I was drawn to Asiwaju by his tremendous work ethics, energy, diligence, attention to details and high sense of responsibility. Amazingly, he combines these attributes with unimaginable sense of sociability. This is a rare combination of two extremes; one is often an extremist in one to the exclusion of the other. These qualities further reflect the enigmatic nature of AYF who a mutual friend will often refer to as ‘Akanda eniyan’.-a special breed.
Added to these qualities are his calculated risk taking and uncommon courage. Otherwise, how would one describe his voluntary walk away from a much sought- after job and promising career at the then Total Nigeria PLC (now TotalEnergies) to venture into the uncertainties of business world. Not a few thought he must have been out of his mind or that the enemy used ”jaaz’’ on him for taking that ‘’foolish” decision. However, events and developments of the last 3 decades have shown him to be a visionary and that he was right and they were wrong. Asiwaju has proved that, with the right vision, diligence, self-belief together with steadfast and inspired determination, there is no limit to human accomplishments.
“Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he will not stand before mean men” Proverbs 22:29. This is true of the celebrant of today. Asiwaju Olayinka Lington Fasuyi is a man of many parts and we have watched with admiration over the past 3 decades, how AYF metamorphosed from a struggling businessman, to an astute professional, then to a successful and accomplished entrepreneur, then to a philanthropist of note and then to an eminent and respected community leader. Today, he can aptly be described in the words of the late Chief Ozumba Mbadiwe as “a man of Timber and Calibre, a Juggernaut and a Caterpillar”. Putting it succinctly, Asiwaju has become an institution in his own right.
In contemporary times, one cannot talk about infrastructural, social and human capital developments in Ijesaland without a mention of Asiwaju and his inspiring and able leadership. In these past 9 years as the first Asiwaju of Ijesaland, he has made indelible marks in virtually all facets of Ijesaland that are self-evident. A unifier of no mean repute, he has brought unity into various groups and people of Ijesaland. He continues to set standards of leadership, resourcefulness, integrity and value creation that will be hard to match.
Despite, the tons of responsibilities from running his business and attending to community matters, Asiwaju Fasuyi creates quality time for his retinue of friends and also to socialise. He possesses this special quality of making and keeping friends and how he does this, speaks volume of his unique and energetic persona.
At this juncture, I want to seize the opportunity of your 70th birthday celebration to express my appreciation and that of my family to you as a true and dependable friend. It has been a privilege to count you among my innermost circle of friends. I cannot recount the numerous times Asiwaju and his family have stood by my family in good and very trying times. You are a friend indeed!!
As you continue your life journey, it is my prayer that may your years ahead be filled with the same love and fulfillment you have given to others. May the seed of empowerment you have sown continue to flourish and prosper. May Almighty God grant you inner peace, limitless joy, long and healthy life to enjoy in full, fruits of your labour in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Once again, congratulations and 70 hearty cheers to the Asiwaju of Ijesaland, Balogun of Ijebu-Ijesa, Baba Oba of Iwaraja-Ijesa, Baba Oba of Ilaa-Ijesa and Balogun of Cathedral Church, Omofe Ilesa.
Life begins at 70 and be rest assured the best is yet to come.
Signed:
Engr Olusola Ayeni
Oluyole Estate, Ibadan
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