Memories of A Great Dad

by maikelkaes

https://maikelkaes.wordpress.com/2019/06/14/memories-of-a-great-dad/

Photo by Samuel Silitonga on Pexels.com

"Any man can be a Father but it

takes someone special to be a dad."
Olivet Heights, teach ’em Soccer!!!

Olivet Heights, teach ‘em Soccer!!!

Popular slogan of Olivet Baptist High School .

In the Swinging 60s through the Super 70s, Olivet Heights was great in academics, fantastic in
sports, and scintillating in social activities.
Her grounds are hallowed, a Mecca to students from other schools and colleges.

It was always a pride to put on her uniform.

As the nation was ebbing out of the infamous Biafra War, and I was getting ready for life in the
secondary school. Olivet Heights was my only choice.

When you have a great Dad, growing up becomes meaningful, and learning appears a great virtue.

Dad was well schooled, and a very serious Catholic, maybe more Catholic than the Pope!

Born in 1900 to prosperous Emmanuel Ojelabi, a prominent Lagos and West African Coast
merchant, contemporary of Andrew Thomas, the wealthy Lagos trader and auctioneer - father of
erudite lawyer, Chief Bode Thomas.

Dad was also very close to Chief P.A. Afolabi, grand-father of Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie.
He was warmly welcome at any time in the palace of Alaafin Adeniran, father of present Alaafin
Adeyemi.

Dad schooled at the Holy Cross School, Lagos, a premier Catholic School founded in 1871. He
trained to be a teacher, and taught in schools in Lagos and Ibadan.

He later joined the Railway Corporation in Ibadan, was sent abroad for further training. He was the
Railways Station Manager at various Loco Running Sheds, and retired as Senior Stations Manager,
Nigeria Railway Corporation, Jebba.

Though adjudged to be brilliant and well-behaved from my primary school reports, Dad admonished
me to study hard and prepare well when he paid and got me the Common Entrance Examination
Admission Form into Olivet Baptist High School.

As admission to Olivet Heights was usually keen, tight, and highly competitive for candidates from
many parts of the country, a peripheral staff in the school requested that I provide him with my name
and examination number for him to give “unfailing assurance” that my admission to the school
was guaranteed.

Thinking he was doing my parents a favor and great kindness, rather, this man caught the ire of my
father.
In his rage, Dad did not only scold the man and rebuke him in public for perpetrating corrupt
practices, he banished him from our compound, and warned him never to get close to me ever
again.

Mother was in full agreement.

My parents then took me into Dad’s study, made me read chapter 1 of the Book of Proverbs. They
both exhorted me on good manner, honesty, and a life devoid of cheating and untrustworthiness. I
was made to memorize Proverbs 1: 8, 9 that day, and to read the Bible daily.

“My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of
thy mother:

For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about
thy neck.” (Pro 1:8,9).

That timely admonition continue to have a lasting effect and impact upon me till this day.

Joseph Babajimi Ojelabi died at the age of 75, on June 15, 1975, after a brief illness, when I was
just settling down in Secondary school.

Jay Bee was a father like no other Dad because, though very many years older than me, yet he
taught me so much within such a little time, showed me life, led me through practical Christianity
unto Christ Himself, and gave me a good stead and platform to live by.

No words to express how important and loving my Dad was to me,

No words to describe his continuous positive powerful influence in my life

and family,

He lived, and let me watch him learn how to live better.

A Dad like no other, J. B. Ojelabi. Adieu.

https://maikelkaes.wordpress.com/2019/06/14/memories-of-a-great-dad/