By Maxwell Oyekunle
Can you imagine what it means to be a centenarian?
To have spent at least, 36,525 days or 5,218 weeks walking the face of the earth!
One who has several children who are already in their 60s and 70s!
Despite all these, and still be in good health, with everything well put together!
I know most of us are already wondering where all of this is going, well, wonder no more, I’m trying to paint a picture of what was going through my mind when I witnessed a truly remarkable celebration recently.
I was at an event held in honour of a veteran preacher and teacher of God’s word, Pa Stephen Folayan Ologbosere where I was blown away by the dignified mien and carriage of the celebrant.
This was very noteworthy because Pa Ologbosere walked unaided, spoke eloquently with vigour and passion about not letting standards fall, especially as regards their conduct as Christians.
The elder statesman, who spoke for about 20 minutes on his feet, thanked everyone for the honour done him and charged them to be good ambassadors of Christ and Christianity in all that they do.
And afterwards, Pa Ologbosere stood for around another 20 minutes taking pictures with attendees at the event!
To cap it all up, the sharp-witted old man, spoke with people he had not seen in years who attend the event, perfectly recalling their names including that of their children without prompting!
One would not have expected that of an 80-year-old, not to talk of a centenarian!
In a short exhortation on the occasion, a retired Regional Overseer, of Apostolic Faith Church, Reverend Folorunso Ajayi said, having Christ in one’s life supersedes anything a man may acquire or do with his life.
Reverend Ajayi charged everyone to emulate the example of Pa Ologbosere on how he devoted his life to the service of God and mankind, adding that the rewards of such exceed any earthly measure.
While speaking about the person of Pa Ologbosere, the Regional Overseer, Apostolic Faith Church, Ibadan Region, Reverend Funsho Sobowale, described him as, “our quality assurance officer who keeps us all in check and corrects us”.
Also speaking, one of the sons of the celebrant, Mr Sunday Ologbosere said, “Daddy is a disciplinarian who can beat very well, although I actually deserved all the caning I got as a young lad because I was quite stubborn back then”.
He added that Pa Ologbosere taught him the virtues of punctuality, integrity and self-discipline.
Pa Ologbosere was born on February 17, 1923, into the Obele royal family of Akure, to the late Chief Obele Ologbosere and Late Madam Felicia Olateju Ologbosere.
He attended St. David Primary School, Ijomu, Akure where he obtained his Standard Six certificate in 1945.
He started his career as a teacher at St. Peters’ Anglican Primary School, Ijare in 1946 and worked there till 1949.
He worked as a teacher in various schools thereafter in Akure, Osogbo and also worked with companies like G B Ollivant and Company Ltd which deals in pharmaceuticals etc. and Nipol Limited in Ibadan where he voluntarily retired in 1977.
Pa Ologbosere joined the Apostolic Faith Church, Ibadan in 1961, became a Sunday School Teacher in 1978, a preacher in 1980, and a full-time gospel worker in 1985 before his official ordination in 1995.
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