Written by AKINWALE ABOLUWADE, 08023927215
The expansive hall at Pentonrise Event Centre, Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo State was lit with colours and radiance on Saturday, September 3, 2022.
Mixtures of purple, lilac and gold dominated the space as musical band reeled out songs of worship, praise as well as merriment to the admiration of family members, friends and well wishers.
It was the 50th birthday celebration of Dr Kehinde Mosunmola Oluleye, proprietress of Hope Specialist Eye Clinic, Ibadan. In appreciation of God’s goodness for a life filled with grace and fulfilment, the Oluleye family rolled out the drum to celebrate the amazon.
Clad in beautiful wine attire with head gear and apparels to match, and flanked by her husband, children and close allies who graced the ceremony, Kehinde Mosunmola Oluleye beamed glowingly with smile.
The hall was electrified as she danced amid a long trail of people who thronged the isle in ecstasy. The audience cheered her as the paparazzi flooded the scene to capture different moves from all angles.
Popular radio presenter, Dr Enitan Olusegun Bamidele, treated the audience to moments of fun with jokes and exhilarating true life stories, one of which was his experience after eating a meal prepared with vegetable which, unknown to him, was dried cannabis sativa otherwise called Indian hemp.
Kehinde Mosunmola Oluleye, a rare gem, smiled gleefully in her moment of honour and celebration. She was seen in different moulds by different people who talked about her person, looking from different sides of the prism.
For instance, to Prof. Oluleye, her husband, she was the best gem that a man could ever have from God. Her children described her as a great mother while her mother saw her and her twin-sister as very obedient and diligent children. The members of staff at her clinic saw her as a goal-getter and a deft hand at medicine, while friends and clients extolled her virtues as a committed woman, a rare breed in her field and god-fearing.
Despite all the characteristics, one of her staff members said that she would not let anything distract the love of her life as she prioritized the welfare of her husband.
Brave, bold and beautiful, ‘Ejire, afinju omo agbalagba,’ acknowledges the power of God and defers to His ability to help human beings through journeys of life.
Her daughter, Modupeore, said that “Although mummy gets angry easily, she does not hold grudges. She is someone you can rely on. She is fun to be with. She is very prayerful. She is the best mum in the world. I love my mummy very well.”
One of her members of staff, Damilola, had these to say about her, “She is beautiful, talented and intelligent. She would always advise you to be hardworking and hope for the best.”
During a special interview session, the celebrant, a native of Ode Omu in Osun State, said that although she was born into an elitist family, life was not a bed of roses for her after all. Recalling the pockets of ups and downs that she had gone through in her growing years, she said, “My father is late. He actually died when we were in JSS3. My twin sister and I went through a lot but thank God for my mum. She persevered and stood by us. In fact, there was a time all her friends were going to Saudi Arabia to work but she said she had to stay behind so that she could monitor our progress and make sure we toe the right path. Even if there was no money, it was better she brought us up in the right way.
“My dad used to take us for holiday. We would go to Ikogosi Warm Spring, Olumo Rock, Kaduna etc. So, growing up was fun with my sister, cousins and families.”
“I attended the Polytechnic Staff School, Ibadan. My father was a lecturer, but we had to leave the school when he died in 1988. My mum is a retired nurse with the University College Hospital. We were managing her salary. It was not easy. We attended Federal Government Girls’ College, Oyo. To the glory of God, we both got admission to study medicine in the University of Ibadan and we came out in flying color.
“My sister (Taiwo) is living abroad with her family. My husband is an ophthalmologist in UCH. We got married in year 2000 and we have three children to God’s glory. Things were not easy but many people did not know. At a point, I resigned and we started our clinic and to the glory of God, it was blessed. But, it took perseverance and consistency. We started the clinic in May 2010.
Comparing her experience as a child to what happens nowadays, she said, “Social media has really damaged everything. Children are too busy with social media. The problem with social media is that it presents fake lifestyle. There are lot of advantages and vices on social media. It brings undue pressure on children. But my children know better.
“I encourage youth to work hard and be focused. If all of us are millionaires, it makes everybody happy. You have to do something. Some people easily lose hope. The youth do not want to work, they just want the money. There is no success story that doesn’t have challenges. In some cases, the rich just pass the money they don’t pass the value, so the money would fizzle out soon afterwards.”
On her role as a wife and mother in the home, she said, “A woman is the one that builds home. You should be firm because we have foresight. Women should not give up. You give some advice on your kneels, sometimes you give advice gently, while in some instances, you give it violently. Some women abandoned their homes; that is wrong.”
