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Posted By Admin
Published By Fitness Network Communications
How time flies! It’s one year since the passing of the pioneer Chief Operating Officer of Lagos First BRT Cooperative Society Ltd, Mr. Olukorede Oluwole Adeyemi, the pioneer leader at the helms when the globally celebrated Bus Rapid Transit started in Lagos, Nigeria. He was also responsible for the planning and implementation of the continuous training programme for its workforce.
This training programme is noted for equipping the management staff, bus pilots, officers, and support staff with best practices in various areas of life.
The great administrator, Oluwole Adeyemi was also respected as a cerebral gentleman having authored some books. He was writing the book ‘Heroes and Heroines’ before he died last year, this medium gathered.
The Books
The book chronicled the contribution of 61 notable Nigerians towards national development. By the efforts of his wife, Mrs. Ibereayo Adeyemi, the book was seen to completion and launched yesterday at the special One-Year memorial and book launch.
The memorial service was coordinated by God of Glory Church, the church which the late Adeyemi attended before his demise.
Wife of the deceased Mrs. kafayat Olukorede Adeyemi popularly called Kaffy, Representative of Minister for works and Housing Hakeem Bello
It had in attendance the Hon. Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN; former Ogun state Commissioner of Health, Hon. Dotun Babatunde Ipaye; Special Adviser (Education) to Gov. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, Hon. Tokunbo Wahab ably represented by SSA on Education to Gov. Sanwo-Olu, Hon. ; and former Chairman of Conference 57, Alhaja Iyabo Akerele. Other dignitaries present are Prince Adeyinka Oyediran, Adekunle Osinubi, Ehijie Madojemu, Dr. Samuel Adeyemi, Ola Omosanye, Otunba Labi Ogunsanya, Arogundade Adewale, Dayo Odukoya, his secondary school mate, Mr. Seyi Idowu among others. Also present were members of Royal Galaxy Club as well as their wives and the leadership and members of the church that the Adeyemis attend.
Galaxy Women lunching the book written by Olukorede Adeyemi
The Chairman of the day, Hon. Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola who was represented by his Special Adviser on Communications, Mr. Hakeem Bello said that we are in a constant state of transition as humans. He thanked the devoted wife, Mrs. Adeyemi who followed through on the publication which her husband worked on.
Mrs Kafayat Olukorede Adeyemi,and her children
Sharing in his foreword to the book, ‘Heroes and Heroines’, Babatunde Fashola noted: ‘I feel a sense of responsibility to write this foreword to honour the memory of Mr. Adeyemi who served Lagos state in various capacities including contributing significantly to the setting up of the now internationally recognized Lagos Bus Rapid Transit launched in 2008.’
Kafayat Olukorede Adeyemi,and her family members
‘Although Mr. Korede Adeyemi is not with us to witness the launch of this important scholarly contribution to our national life, he has left behind a legacy which will speak eloquently about him for generations to come and preserve the memories of those whose earthly sojourn have left us with positive impact’, the Minister wrote.
In her appreciation to everyone who attended the memorial service, Mrs. Ibereayo Adeyemi said: ‘Now I know that eniyan laso mi, you are all wonderful. I couldn’t have done the journey alone and I didn’t do it alone because of the person Korede is. He is a gentleman to the core. He gave me nothing but total peace. I will try not to cry and I will cry no more. Korede has gone to sleep but for me, he is very much alive. His legacy lives on.’
She revealed that the book was birthed when one of their children asked late Adeyemi about our past heroes and heroines. ‘That is when he decided to write the book to celebrate them. They shouldn’t be forgotten like that. Korede is a giver. He is a great man’, she told this medium.
The book reviewer, Dr. Surajudeen Owosho from University of Lagos said that the book ‘Heroes and Heroines’ by Olukorede Oluwole Adeyemi is ‘a giant stride by one man arranged in no particular order to chronicle the contribution of 61 notable Nigerians to the freedom, growth, and development of Nigeria as a nation. It brings out short biographies of nationalist heroes and heroines such as Chief Herbert Macaulay, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Anthony Enahoro, Sir Ahmadu Bello and others. The book is a finished product from expert pictography and artistic production.’
