Sir Olatunde Okelana: 60 years of exemplary living by Femi OGUNLANA
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Today, April 24, marks the 60th birthday of Sir Olatunde Okelana JP. Sir Okelana is an extraordinary, towering figure, who attained enviable heights by his force of personality. There are no records of his coming out of a background abounding in riches and exceptional opportunities but by a strong mind, dint of hardwork, conviction, determination and indomitable spirit, he plodded the ladder of success to reach high and create the life he envisaged, envisioned and wanted.
Okelana, a traditional Chief – Balogun of Orile Igbon, a Knight of St. Bernard Commandery No 35, Chicago IL, almost completing his PhD in Criminology and Security Studies, and a retired military man, has made incredible impact in life and you cannot but notice him in any gathering or platform he inhabits. He is a man that doesn’t suffer fools gladly. He is a man that cannot be gagged or suppressed. He is a man of valour and vigour, and unusually animatedly impressive. Upon all, he is a nice “big man” – in stature, in status and accomplishments. A jolly good fellow, you cannot wave him aside. A good debater, who articulates his positions with passion and fervour and power, he is worth the name pased down to him by his ancestors; in fact, he has widened its horizons. In addition, he is an exciting, very sociable man to be with, yet unassuming.
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He has lived dangerously that one would think he wouldn’t live to celebrate Diamond Jubilee but he is a man of grace – the undying, sustaining grace of God has kept him alive, which makes him to navigate triumphantly, different calamitous situations. It is glory to God.
Furthermore, he is untiring, he is forceful and pursues his goals unyieldingly, all that contributed to making him the person he is today, a self-made man of esteem and integrity, who in exceeding manner carved an applauding niche for himself in a world brimming with harshness and hostilities. It’s remarkable, noteworthy and praiseworthy.
He started as a pioneer at Adeniran Memorial Grammar School (AMGS), Ogbomoso, Oyo state, in fact, he had the singular honour of being the first ever student of the school (founded October 16, 1978), and so was bestowed admission number 001. He graduated in 1983, and in 1984, he joined the Nigerian Army. He rose through the ranks, retiring meritoriously in 2019.
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While in the army, he demonstrated bravery and precision and un-diminished love for the profession, which catapulted him into places. He served in many capacities, notably 22 Brigade Education Unit, Nigerian Army, Ilorin, Kwara state (January 2009 – August 2016) as Chief Instructor; Director, 22 BDE Education Arm of the Nigerian Army, Sobi Cantonment, Ilorin, during which he oversaw dozens of teachers, assigning class schedules, reviewing curriculums and organizing in-service trainings; and from January 2004 to August 2008, his duty post was the Nigerian Army School of Education, Ilorin, where he was tutorial master, with duty to superintend students in French language. This made him to travel extensively in West African French speaking countries to supervise institutional education trips among Nigerian soldiers and other personnel. His flair for knowledge and knack for educational attainments piloted his deployments in these theatres where he creditably discharged his schedules of duties.
He had taken time to augment his educational status, which he is still exploring despite his advancing age. Presently, he is at the crest of bagging PhD in Criminology and Security Studies at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
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His MSc he obtained in Criminal Justice at the Chicago State University, USA. He benefitted in 2014, a TETFUND scholarship through the Nigerian Army for the programme. In the course of his studies here, he gained valuable experience at the Chicago State University Police Department from September 2017 to November 2017 (Public Safety Headquarters, Chicago Police Department – post OPT), Chicago, for his practical.
Also, he earned Bachelor of Science in Criminology & Security Studies at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
In his stride as a student, he explored other practical areas to bolster his skills, such included Advanced Graduate Practicum Participatory Observation (final paper) in CJ 5899 December 2017, and Police Response to Domestic Violence 2006 – 2015 in USA (December 2017), all which further enhanced his professionalism in criminal investigation.
As a student of NOUN, his activism propelled him to emerge as official student body representative to the school authority, a role he played with distinction and applaudably.
Earlier, he acquired Advanced Diploma in Computer Science at the Lagos City Computer College, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria (December 1991); Diploma in Functional French (December 1998); Advanced Diploma in French Studies (July 1999); and National Certificate of Education in English & French Languages Studies at the Nigerian Army School of Education, Ilorin, Kwara state (2004), all which came handy during his army trajectory.
Chief Okelana also worked at various times at Inter Tech Group Inc. Elmhurst as security officer (post OPT) from May to December 2018; as student worker at Chicago State University Library (October 2017 – December 2017); Nigeria Police Force ‘A’ Division Ilorin (SIWES) in 2012; Military Secretary Department of the Nigerian Army; and OIC Data Base Computer Room (December 1999 – august 2000).
In July 1997, he was conferred with the prestigious war title of Balogun Olugbon of Orile–Igbon (Generalissimo), Surulere local government, Oyo state, by the late Olugbon, Oba Samuel Adegboyega Osunbade, FCA, JP Adeyelu III, a befitting title that fits his disposition and made him a member of Olugbon Royal Council (in fact, he is currently Chairman of the Royal Council following the demise of Areago Olugbon, Chief John Agboola Ladeji (John Brown). This Council oversees the day-to-day administration of Orile-Igbon area, with sovereignty over scores of towns and villages and tens of thousands of inhabitants. He holds the title till today.
The Balogun Olugbon is a member of several professional bodies such as Nigerian Computer Society, NCS, (formerly Nigerian Computer Association of Nigeria) and Midwestern Criminal Justice Association (MCJA) (USA).
A student Senator in the Students Government Association (SGA), Chicago State University and won the best SENATOR of the SGA for Fall 2017, he was appointed Justice of Peace, JP, on his birthday on April 24, 2006, by the Oyo state government of Nigeria. He has served as a conflict mediator with the Alternate Dispute Resolution Unit of the State Department of Justice for Ogbomoso Zone.
An outstanding man has no hiding place, his skills and exemplariness thus found him out in March 2017, and so, got appointed a Knight and created member of St. Bernard Commandery No 35, Chicago IL USA, to earn the especial title of “Sir.” This effectively makes him one of the few Knighted persons in Ogbomoso nay Oyo state.
Sir Okelana has built himself in a remarkable manner, thus making a respectable name for himself under the heaven. It is laudable. But there are more heights to conquer. The fiber that defines him and the ‘restless’ spirit that indwells him will not allow him to slow down. He will definitely go much higher places and further entrench indelibly his foots in the sands of time.
He is married, with equally successful children doing well in various stations in life.
The founder and chairman of SIR OLATUNDE OKELANA FOUNDATION (a charity organization founded on February 22, 2024), we rejoice with Your Highness on this occasion of your birthday, and heartily wish you long life and prosperity, in peace, greater prosperity and health.
Cheers as we release 60 special balloons to commemorate the auspicious occasion!
