The Asiwaju of Ijesaland, Chief Olayinka Fasuyi, has expressed profound appreciation to traditional rulers, community leaders, religious organisations, socio-cultural groups, professional associations, family members, friends and associates for the overwhelming outpouring of goodwill that marked his 71st birthday celebration on Sunday, October 25, 2026.
In a heartfelt appreciation message dated Monday, October 26, 2026, the Ijesa community development advocate described the numerous congratulatory messages, sponsored tributes, prayers and personal expressions of affection as a humbling affirmation of friendship, fellowship and the enduring bonds that unite people across communities and generations.
Chief Fasuyi particularly acknowledged the support and goodwill of royal fathers across Ijesaland, members of the Ijesa Community Development Assembly (ICDA) and Ijesa Development Fund (IDF), religious bodies, clubs, societies, professional colleagues, media platforms and the many well-wishers who took time to celebrate his milestone.
He noted that the remarkable response had reinforced his belief that the true worth of a life lies not merely in the years accumulated, but in the relationships nurtured, the lives touched and the goodwill shared with others.
The appreciation message also carries prayers for God's abundant blessings, good health, peace and continued success for all those who celebrated with him.
Below is the full text of the appreciation message by the Asiwaju of Ijesaland.
WHEN GOODWILL BECOMES A TESTIMONY, AND GRATITUDE FINDS ITS VOICE: ASIWAJU OLAYINKA FASUYI EXPRESSES HEARTFELT APPRECIATION TO TRADITIONAL RULERS; COMMUNITY LEADERS; THE RELIGIOUS ORGANISATIONS & BODIES; ICDA MEMBERS, IJESA & NON IJESA SOCIETIES & CLUBS; FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES FOR THE OVERWHELMING TRIBUTES ON MY 71ST BIRTHDAY
There are moments in life when the abundance of goodwill leaves one searching for words; occasions when the generosity of human affection transcends the ordinary language of appreciation; and milestones that remind us that the true measure of a life is found not merely in the years it has accumulated, but in the hearts it has touched, the relationships it has nurtured and the memories it has helped to create. The remarkable outpouring of congratulatory messages, sponsored tributes, goodwill publications and personal expressions of affection that accompanied my 71st birthday celebration has left me deeply humbled and profoundly grateful. I have been touched by the thoughtfulness, warmth and generosity with which you have chosen to celebrate me. What might ordinarily have been a personal milestone has, through your collective gestures, become a memorable affirmation of friendship, fellowship, mutual respect and the enduring bonds that unite us.
On behalf of my distinguished family, I extend my sincere appreciation to our revered Traditional Rulers in Ijesaland, distinguished Community Leaders, esteemed Community Chiefs, the Religious Organisations in Ilesa, illustrious members of the Ijesa Community Development Assembly (ICDA), revered Societies and Clubs in Ijesaland and outside; valued associates, and treasured friends. To everyone who sponsored a tribute, published a congratulatory message, sent a personal note, made a telephone call or expressed goodwill in any other form, please accept my heartfelt gratitude. You have done far more than celebrating my age; you have given profound expression to the value of human connection. I am particularly overwhelmedly grateful to the following groups of well-wishers:
1. Our Revered Royal Majesties from the six LGAs in Ijesaland
2. President, Executive, & Members of Ijesa Progressive Obas Advocate Forum (IPOAF)
3. Our Revered Traditional Rulers & Oloris of Communities of Baba Obas and Yeye Obas
4. Titled and Honorary Chiefs In Ijesaland
5. Political Class in Ijesaland
6. Board of Trustees of ICDA.
7. Management Team of ICDA
8. Chairman, Executive, & Members of Ijesa Development Fund (IDF)
9. Esteemed Members of Ijesa Community Development Assembly (ICDA)
10. Chief Commander Prof (Evang) Sir Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi
11. Trustees, DG, and Members of Ijesa Felates Club
12. President, Executive, and Members of Roots Club of Ijesaland
13. President, Executive, and Members of Egbe Atunluse Ile-Ijesa
14. Chairman, Executive, and Members of Ijesa Elders Forum
15. Trustees, President, Executive, and Members of Ijesa Society, Lagos
16. Patrons, Trustees, President, Executive, and Members of Ijesa Sports Club
17. President, Executive, and Members of Ijesa Development Council (IDC)
18. Chairman, Executive, Members of Ijesa Mineral Resources Development Forum (IMRDF)
19. President, Executive, and Members of Ijesa Youth Forum (IYF)
20. Chairman, Executive, and Members of National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Osun State Chapter
21. Trustees, President, Executive, and Members of Ibadan Recreation Club (1902)
22. Chairman, Executive, and Members of IRC(1902) Billiards/Snooker Section
23. Chairman, Executive, and Members of IRC(1902) Table Tennis Section
24. Chairman, Executive, and Members of Lagos Country Club Table Tennis Section
25. Club Chief, Executive, and Members of Silver Knights, Ibadan.
26. Chairman, Executive, and Members 69/73 ILEGSOSA
27. Diocesan, Provost, Clergies, and Members of Ilesa South West Diocese.
28. Diocesan, Provost, Clergies, Members Ilesa Anglican Diocese
29. Diocesan, Dean, Clergies, Members of Ijesa North Anglican Diocese
30. Diocesan, Dean, Clergies, Members of Ijesa North East Anglian Diocese
31. Archbishop, Prebyster, Clergies, Members of Ilesa Methodist Diocese
32. Chief Imam, Alfas, Members Ilesa Central Mosque
33. Chairman, Executive, and Members of Omofe Kogokogo Group Cathedral Holy Trinity
34. President, Executive, and Members of Yeye Egbe Gbobaluyi Adimula of Ijesaland
35. The Patriarch and Members of Chief Jacob Olowookere Fasuyi Dynasty
36. The Matriarch and Members of Madam Sijuwola Dynasty
37. The Patriarch and Members of Mr Olutayo Olubamowo Family
38. The Chairman, Executive, and Members of Fasuyi Dynasty Stars
39. The Chairman, Executive, Members of Farinloye Descendants
40. The In-laws to the Asiwaju and Yeye Asiwaju Olayinka Fasuyi
41. The Chairman, Executive, and Members of T-EXCLUSIVE, Ibadan
42. The President, Executive, Members of Men Christian League, All Souls Anglican Church Ibadan
43. Administrators and Members of University of Ilesa Stakeholders Platform
44. Administrators and Members of Ijesa News Hub
45. Administrators and Members of Ijesa Ni A Re Platform
46. Administrators and Members of IDC Social Platform of Ijesa
47. The Publisher, Administrators and Members of Newspot Platform
48. The Publisher, Administrators and Members of The Crest Readers Hub Platform
49. The Publisher, Administrators of Kakaki News
50. The Publisher, Administrators of Tumex News
51. Administrators and Members of Ijesa Culture TV Platform
52. Administrators and Members of Jumoke Ayeni Platform
53. Administrators and Members of Ilegrams Old Students Association, Ibadan Chapter
54. Presidents and Executives, and Members of Chapters of Ijesa in Diaspora
55. Management & Staff of Supreme Management Training and Consultancy Services Ltd : Current & Former
56. Management & Staff of Ibadan Business School: Current & Former
57. Management & Staff of Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi Foundation (AYFF)
58. Friends and Associates of Asiwaju Olayinka Fasuyi and Yeye Asiwaju Dr Olubisi Fasuyi
59. All Well-Wishers
*THE TRUE WEALTH OF A LIFE IS MEASURED IN THE HEARTS IT TOUCHES*
At 71, I find myself reflecting not simply on the years behind me, but on the people, experiences and lessons that have given those years meaning. Life has taught me that no individual succeeds entirely by personal effort, no worthwhile accomplishment exists in isolation, and no journey of consequence is sustained without the encouragement, cooperation and goodwill of others. Your tributes have brought these truths home to me with renewed force. Each message, each publication and each personal expression of affection has reminded me that the privilege of being remembered and celebrated is one of life's most precious gifts.
I offer my profound appreciation to our revered Traditional Rulers for the honour and goodwill conveyed through their felicitations. Your recognition means a great deal to me, given the indispensable place you occupy as custodians of our heritage, traditions and communal values. To our distinguished Community Leaders and esteemed Community Chiefs, I am equally grateful for your thoughtful messages and the spirit of fellowship they represent. Your gestures affirm the enduring value of mutual respect and the bonds that connect us as members of one community of Ijesaland.
To the various Ijesa and Non-Ijesa Societies, Clubs, Organisations I remain profoundly grateful for your immeasurable expression of love and affection through your numerous tributes and messages.
I express my sincere gratitude to all the Religious Organisations in Ijesaland, Ibadan and beyond for your prayers, kind remembrance and congratulatory messages. Your gesture has added a meaningful spiritual dimension to this milestone. I deeply appreciate the Church's enduring contribution to nurturing faith, promoting godly values and strengthening the bonds of love and service within society. My prayer is that Almighty God will continue to uphold the various Dioceses, Archbishops and Bishops, strengthen its clergymen and congregation, enrich its ministry and make it an ever more effective instrument of spiritual growth, peace and service to humanity.
To my cherished ICDA & IDF family, I thank you most sincerely for the sponsored tributes, overwhelming radio messages, congratulatory messages and other expressions of goodwill through which you marked my 71st birthday. Your gestures are particularly meaningful because they reflect relationships strengthened through shared experiences, common aspirations and a collective commitment to the welfare of Ijesaland. I value the fellowship we share and the confidence and mutual respect that have enriched our journey.
To my valued associates, professional colleagues and friends, I am grateful that, amid the demands of your individual and professional engagements, you found time to celebrate me. Your messages have reaffirmed my belief that relationships founded on integrity, mutual respect and genuine goodwill can endure beyond the circumstances in which they began. I treasure the friendships formed over the years and appreciate the kindness with which you have identified with me on this occasion.
To my beloved family whom I owe a special expression of gratitude. Your love, prayers, encouragement and steadfast support remain among the greatest blessings of my life. Public celebrations may bring recognition, but it is often within the sanctuary of family that one finds the strength, reassurance and affection needed to navigate life's many seasons. Thank you for sharing this milestone with me and for continually reminding me of the enduring value of family bonds. To my cherished friends, near and far, I am equally thankful for every telephone call, personal message, written tribute and thoughtful gesture.
What has made this birthday particularly memorable is not merely the number or variety of the tributes, but the humanity behind them. Every message represents someone who paused to remember; every sponsored publication reflects a deliberate choice to celebrate; and every prayer expresses a wish for my continued wellbeing. I do not take any of these gestures for granted. Though I may not be able to acknowledge each contribution individually, please be assured that your kindness has been received with sincere appreciation.
At 71, I am increasingly mindful that the worth of a life cannot be determined by age alone. It is better understood through the quality of our relationships, the values we uphold, the lessons we learn and the goodwill we share with others. Your overwhelming response to my birthday has given me yet another reason to cherish these principles. You have transformed a personal milestone into a memorable experience of collective affection, and for this, I remain profoundly grateful.
My heartfelt prayer is that Almighty God will reward your kindness abundantly, bless the works of your hands, preserve your families, grant you sound health and fulfil your noble aspirations.
With heartfelt appreciation and warm regards,
Asiwaju Olayinka Fasuyi
The Asiwaju of Ijesaland,
Oke Baba Okuta Villa, Ilesa.
26th October, 2026
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