Onpetu, ex-UI VC, ANCOPSS, ANA, TAMPAN celebrate ex-school principal Bisi Oyerele on launch of three art works

Image caption: Mrs. Bisi Oyerele (nee Odebunmi)

Onpetu, ex-UI VC, ANCOPSS, ANA, TAMPAN celebrate ex-school principal Bisi Oyerele on launch of three art works

Mrs. Oyerele with Onpetu Oba Oyediran

Femi OGUNLANA

Result of hardwork is always recognition and celebration. So was it for Mrs. Bisi Oyerele (nee Odebunmi), a retired principal at Community High School, Lagbedu Orile in Ogo-Oluwa local government area of Oyo state.

Mrs. Oyerele, a passionate and prolific writer, novelist, songwriter, playwright, poet, lover of art generally, recently (December 20), at the Multi-purpose Hall of the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary (NBTS), Ogbomoso, presented to the public, three works, an occasion graced by several dignitaries.

Oyerele, the Chief Executive Officer of Chris-D Ventures, a drama production outfit based in Ibadan, launched two books (Crossroads of Love and Treasured Memory), her maiden album (a collection of cultural songs) and excerpts of plays), all which her creative mind produced.

Dignitaries at the occasion included Onpetu of Ijeru Kingdom, HRM Oba Sunday Oladapo Oyediran Lagbami Osekun III; president of All Nigerian Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Oyo state chapter, Mr. Akioye Akinsola (represented by the state general secretary, Mr. Dele Omololu); a former chairman Oyo state branch of the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, Mr. Akin Bello; Mr. Femi Ogunlana, publisher of Ogbomoso Insight; Prof Adebola Ekanola, a former Acting Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan and who was chairman of the occasion; Dr. E.A. Amao, founder and Chief Medical Director of Shalom Medical Centre, Ogbomoso.

Some others are Mr. Moses Gbade Ojo and Dr. Isaac Isola (chief launchers); Dr. Kazeem Adebiyi, English Department University of Ibadan and books reviewer; Dr. Sam Auda, Head of Music Department NBTS and reviewer of the album; Dr. Tunde Olaoye reviewer of the plays; as well as the chairman of Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) Ogbomoso branch, among others.

Chairman of the occasion Prof Ekanola congratulated Mrs. Oyerele expressing hope that the goal of the works would be realized and bring satisfaction and fulfilment. Ekanola added, “this work will speak highly of you all over the world.”

Onpetu also congratulating her, heaped commendations, saying, “You have done well to put down your experience and express the grace given to you by God, it is a wonderful milestone you have achieved. Thank you for the books you wrote, they have become gifts that generations yet unborn will benefit from. You have done well also presenting collection of plays and an album.”

Oba Oyediran however described the feat as a challenge, “You have produced these, it means you have to produce new ones, and so, will you say you have retired? No, you are just starting, you will have to do more.”

Reviewing the books Dr. Akinbiyi pointed out Crossroads of Love “explores the subject of love by calling attention to the vicissitudes that often characterize this emotion in the lives of most young adults. It offers a subtle but serious critique of the inclination to betray and the act of betrayal between lovers in contemporary times. It nevertheless shows how genuine love ultimately triumphs and poetic justice prevails,” just as he noted the Treasured Memory “explores diverse subjects. In the collection, the subjects are thematically grouped into six sections sub-titled as follows: Politics, Philosophical, Personality, Love, Spiritual, and Traditional. The collection consists of thirty-one poems of varying lengths.”

Dr. Auda and Dr. Olaoye on their own reviewed the album and excerpts of plays respectively both describing them as excellent works of art.

Delivering the exhortation Rev’d Dr. Ayo Olaniyi emphasized the importance of giving thanks always. He said, “No obstruction should hamper us from praising God, no challenge should obstruct us. When we praise God there is always a benefit to it.”

It was a memorable occasion, her younger brother Prof Akin Odebunmi of the English Department University of Ibadan expressed appreciation to all, wishing everyone journey mercies back to their destinations.

In a chat with ogbomosoinsightonline.com, the celebrant said creative works is a hobby to her, disclosing that her talent was discovered by one of her lecturers in the college of education. “God gave me the talent and it was discovered by one of my lecturers when I was at Ila-Orangun College of Education. The man gave me an assignment and he discovered my talents so he started developing me,” she said. “Since then I have been writing in newspapers – Tribune, Herald etc and anthologies. I have a lot of stories in national newspapers. I contributed to a book – ‘Talent” – which is a collection of new Nigerian short stories in 2002.

“I started with poetry, later l ventured into short stories, I published one short story book “Solerence” in 2010, I published “Broken Heart” in 2013 to mark my 50th birthday. I also ventured into movies, I wrote two movies, each containing 150 episodes and each episode contains 10 scenes – Broken Heart and Crossroads of Love. We will start the production any moment from now. But apart from that I am now on Youtube – Bisi Oyerele TV. I’ve posted one play-let ‘’Tit for Tat,’’ others will still come.

“We have seven play-lets yet to be released, then, I am a song artist. I have an album that contains ten tracks which we are releasing any moment from now – Christian songs and romance. Romance and love is my area. But if you look at it, it will cut across all aspects, religion will be there, tradition will be there, everything will now come back to end in romance. That is my talent.”

Background

I started my teaching career in Ogbomoso here at Arolu as a Grade Two teacher, so, I later went to Oyo state College of Education. When I came back I served at Ogbomoso Grammar School, later, I was posted to Anglican Grammar school. From Anglican Grammar School after my marriage in 1991, 1992, I moved to Ibadan to join my husband. I was posted to Alegongo as a class teacher, later, I was posted to Isabatudeen Girls Grammar School, as a class teacher too, where I became an HOD, then from there I was posted to Igbo-Elerin Grammar School as a vice principal. I later came back to Ogbomoso and I was posted to Orile-Igbon as a vice principal, I worked under Mr. Emmanuel Aremu. From there, I was posted to Lagbedu Orile High school as principal on August 3, 2015. September 2016, I retired, after 35 years, I started working in 1981, at the tender age of 18.

The albums she has produced include Ojo ati Isegun, Praise medley, Apala, Give me your heart, Oh, my darling, Ololufe mi and Eni bi okan mi, Li atete ko se, and Pretty baby my lover.

[Skit already on You tube – ‘Tit for Tat.’ (You can view her on Bisi Oyerele TV). Others to be out soon are the most beautiful gift, you, the dog that will miss its way, when the dog runs into trouble, still as ever and shattered hope.

The movies are the broken heart, crossroads of love (now as plays) each containing 156 episodes, and, to be acted in English nd Yoruba.