THE Oluyole Progressive Front ’91 on Monday, January 10, 2022, celebrated the posthumous birthday of educationist and humanist par excellence, Venerable (Dr) Emmanuel Oladipo Alayande, who transited in 2006.
The event, which was held at the St Peter’s Anglican Church, Aremo, Ibadan, Oyo State, had in attendance members of the club, Pa Alayande’s family members, led by the matriarch, Mrs Olubukola Oni, members of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) and students of Ibadan Grammar School.
In his exhortation on the occasion, the Provost of the Cathedral of St Pater’s, Aremo, Very Reverend (Dr) Adewale Adebiyi, commended the Oluyole Progressive Front ’91 for the remembrance service for the late Venerable Alayande, which it had held on two previous occasions.
Reverend Adebiyi, however, said the life of the late Alayande was a lesson to all and that he was being remembered because people benefited from his positive impact in the area of education, religion, politics, among others.
The provost described Venerable Alayande as God’s gift to his generation, adding that if he did not touch lives, then no one would remember him today.
“Venerable Alayande always found solutions to people’s problems. He was an educationist, a great man of repute who contributed immensely to the growth of the church.”
Reverend Adebiyi charged everyone to emulate the ideals that the late Alayande stood for so that they could also be remembered for good in this world.
“Let us go back to reflect on his life. There is no reason for us to be remembering him if we do not act like him.
“If we can’t positively affect the lives of people around us, then there is no reason to celebrate Venerable Alayand.
“So we must all consciously work to embrace his legacy and philosophy in our own little corner so that we can spread love to those around us,” Reverend Adebiyi said.
The president of Oluyole Progressive Front ’91, Comrade Olu Abiala, in his remarks, said the club is an affiliate of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), “and it is a club of professionals largely in the industries of education, environment and law.
“Over the years, the club has been making its contributions albeit in advisory capacity to recharge the dwindling fortunes of education practice and to return same to the days of the Obafemi Awolowo, Alayandes and Ajasins.
“We have advocated environmentally sustainable education practice, presented memoranda to the state government on the efficacy of State University, to reverse the discriminatory policies of other state universities against Oyo State students, and of course, we have advanced the cause of teachers’ welfare as key to the enhancement of quality education in the land.
“These remain the pathways of Oluyole Progressive Front’91 and will continue to be the vitamin to affect the development and growth of Ibadanland and the larger society through Venerable Emmanuel Alayande Foundation. This event is, therefore, being marked with a memorial service and charitable cause.”
In her appreciation, Mrs Oni thanked the Oluyole Progressive Front ’91 for the posthumous birthday celebration.
She also thanked the St Peter’s Anglican Church for the love to the family of Pa Alayande at all times.
A short service was then held at the final resting place of Pa Alayande at the church’s cemetery.
