Olorunfemi

EXEMPLARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL: CHIEF C. A. OLORUNFEMI (1926-2012)

By

Seye Adetunmbi

Like most of the well-educated ones of his age group, it was a humble beginning with a remarkable Christian upbringing. Through God’s grace, diligence, determination to succeed and dedication to duty Chief Claudius Ayodeji Olorunfemi popularly called C. A. got to the peak of his career as a teacher, educationist, school principal and administrator. His Christian parents were Pa Simeon Dada Olorunfemi of Omo-Owa family in Usi-Ekiti and Mrs Eunice Omoleye Olorunfemi of Ile Ogbese compound, Usi-Ekiti. His father was a Catechist who worked under Rev Jones (later Bishop). Chief Olorunfemi was born in 1926, he attended St Mark’s Anglican School, Offa and later started in Standard III at St Andrew’s School, Usi-Ekiti in 1939. He put in extra efforts in his studies to cover the lost ground academically and got promoted to Standard IV in 1940. In a class of 29 pupils CA came 3rd in the 1943 Standard VI examination. He attended Elementary Teachers’ College Owo, 1948-49; Nigeria College of Arts, Science and Technology, Zaria in 1957 and University of Nigeria, Nsukka 1961- 64 where he bagged B. A. Hons Education, the first set to graduate in 1964. 

Grandmother of CA

Parents of CA

His teaching career started in 1944 at Osi-Ekiti after obtaining Standard Six Certificate. He was a teacher at St Paul’s Anglican School, Ilese-Ijebu where he sat for the compulsory provincial uncertificated Teachers’ examination in 1947 and came first among the 350 who participated. He was Headmaster Junior Primary School, Ijero-Ekiti in January 1950-1952; St Paul Anglican School, Erijiyan in 1953; Aisegba Community Primary School,1954-55; Founding Headmaster of St Andrew’s Anglican Secondary Modern School, Igbara-Odo, 1955-57; Headmaster, Anglican Secondary Modern School, Aramoko, 1958-59; Headmaster, Harding Memorial Secondary Modern School, Ado-Ekiti 1959-61; All Saints’ Teacher College, Usi as Vice-Principal in 1965, Christ Girls’ School, Ado briefly in 1965. On the 1st of July 1965, he assumed duty as the Principal of St Mary’s Anglican Girls grammar School, Ikole where he served meritoriously till 1973 and Methodist Comprehensive High School, Aye-Ekiti in 1974-1984. After his retirement as a teacher in 1984 he had short outing in the private sector as the Managing Director of a Lagos based company 1985-1986 and got an appointment on merit on April 1st 1987 in the old Ondo-State Teaching Service Commission, Akure where he served meritoriously as Commissioner III till 31st of May, 1991. 

Chief Olorunfemi got married to Chief Mrs Juliana Ibadiaran Olorunfemi nee Babayomi of Ijan-Ekiti in 1955. They met at Erinjiyan-Ekiti where “Mummy” as CA often called his virtuous wife, was a pupil teacher and he too was the Headmaster of the school. Mummy, a devoted, caring, hardworking and industrious woman of dignity supported and stood by her husband resourcefully through thick and thin until death separated them. The marriage was blessed with children of substance; Mrs Modupe Akinyemi, Mrs Iyabo Ogunsuyi, Mr Abayomi Olorunfemi, Mr Akindele Olorunfemi, Mr Babajide Olorunfemi and Mr Ayokunle Olorunfemi. Chief Olorunfemi was an exemplar and a family man extraordinary who looked after the wards of his close relatives beyond his biological children. Within his limited means he tried his best for his wards who also appreciated the timely assistance of the great family man in their lives to the glory of God. 

Apart from his parental background as Christians which prepared him for his Christian life, he surrendered his life to Christ. CA served in the house of God as a chorister, parish Councillor and Diocesan Synod delegate. In 1951-53, he represented Usi in the District Church Council in Ado-Ekiti; was elected a Synod member representing St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Usi-Ekiti and served in many Committees between 1965 and 1983. On July 30 1979, he was installed the Balogun of St. Andrew’s Church, Usi by the Most Rev J.A. Abiodun Adetiloye. He joined Egbe-Imole of the Cathedral of Emmanuel, Ado-Ekiti between 1960 and 1961. He resumed active involvement in the Church activities after 1984 when he settled at Ado as a pensioner. His house hosted Bible study groups initiated by Bishop C.A. Akinbola in 1987. The group led to the founding of Henry Dallimore Memorial Church. 

He was appointed the Education Adviser to Ekiti Anglican Diocese in 1995, the position previously held by Rev Canon J.A. Babalola and Venerable R.A. Ogunlade. This made him to join the fellowships of Anglican Diocesan Bishops and technocrats in Ekiti and Ondo states. He served as a member of the Board of the Diocesan Vocational College; member of the Management Board of Anglican Christ’s Nursery and Primary School, Ado; member of Ile-Abiye Hospital, Ado; member Board of Governors, Ekiti Anglican Diocesan High School, Ado and as the Chairman of Diocesan School of Chaplains. As a working class person and a prized career teacher, he had to be moved round schools such that as many institutions as possible can benefit from his wealth of experience. This took him away from his home town, yet he was not too far from his people at Usi-Ekiti. His various commendable activities earned him the honorary Chieftaincy title of Aruwajoye of Usi-Ekiti on 6/9/80. Every community where he worked as a School Principal he often left his mark in the sand of time as a resourceful and diligent school administrator. This earned him the title of Olonaola of Egbe-Oba Land from Elekole Ikole, HRM Oba Adeleye II on 14/1/83 and the Bobameto of Aaye-Ekiti on 13/10/12. 






To God be glory, he served God and mankind till the end. Chief C.A. Olorunfemi slept in the lord on September 8, 2012 and was survived by his beloved wife and children. Commendation service was held at Emmanuel Church Cathedral, Ado-Ekiti on Friday January 18, 2013. His body was laid to rest after funeral service at Cathedral Church of St Andrew, Usi-Ekiti on Saturday January 19, 2013. May his gentle soul rest in peace, amen.

Funeral Rites

Commendation Service at Emmanuel Church Cathedral Ado-Ekiti

 

Lying-in-State at Comprehensive High School, Aaye-Ekiti









Funeral Service at All Saints' Church Cathedral, Usi-Ekiti














Reception

ABAYOMI OLORUNFEMI BAGGED HONORARY CHIEFTAINCY TITLE

Abayomi Olorunfemi was honored with the chieftaincy title of the Atayese of Ilamo-Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area, on February 3rd 2018 by his Royal Majesty Oba Awoseyila. Chief Yomi Olorunfemi was joined by family members, friends and other well wishers as recorded in the accompanying photos on this page.

CITATION

Abayomi Olumide Olorunfemi is an accomplished medical care practitioner based in the United States of America.
He was born into the family of Chief & Chief Mrs C. A. Olorunfemi of Usi-Ekiti, 56 years ago.
He had his primary education at LA Anglican Schoo, Ikole-Ekiti in 1966 to 1968 and St Clare Nursery and Primary School, Oshogbo in 1968 to 1973. He attended Mary Immaculate Grammar School and Methodist Comprehensive High School, Aaye-Ekiti between 1973 and 1979. He is a product of Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti where he did Lower Six of the Higher School Certificate course before gaining admission into University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University. He graduated from the Faculty of Education with a degree in Political Science in 1984. He did his National Youth Service programme at a Muslim Grammar School in Otta, Ogun-State.
Abayomi later attended Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona in the United States of America where he bagged B. Sc Nursing degree. He has been working in various hospitals in Maryland, USA for the past 20 years.
Yomi is a passionate Ekiti man who despite being comfortable in the USA his mind is always in Nigeria. This made him to make deliberate efforts to have commercial businesses running in Nigeria as well as developed properties.
Yomi Olorunfemi is married with children to the glory of God.
It is a thing of joy that His Royal Majesty, Oba Awoseyila, the Alamo in Council deemed him worthy of a honorary chieftaincy title in Ilamo-Ekiti kingdom.

MAIDEN SPEECH OF ATAYESE

Protocol: Royal Majesties, Lord spiritual & temporal, Alamo-in-Council, my mother, relations, friends, distinguished ladies and gentlemen.
Today is marvelous in our eyes and we are all glad in it.
It gives great joy that His Royal Majesty, Oba Awoseyila, has considered me worthy to honor me with the chieftaincy title of .... of Ilamo-Ekiti. Let me use this opportunity to formally thank my royal father, Oba Alamo.
By virtue of this honor I am not only now a member of Ilamo-Ekiti but an ambassador of Egbe-Oba kingdom of which Ilamo is part of. My prayer is that the king will live long and Ilamo-Ekiti will witness an unprecedented growth and development during his tenure in Jesus name, amen.
I am particularly delighted by this development because major part of my innocent years as a child I lived it here in Ikole-Ekiti with my parents and siblings. This was when my beloved father of blessed memory, Chief C. A. Olorunfemi was the Principal of St Mary Girls High School between 1966 and 1974.
This remarkable period of my formative years afforded me the rare privilege of associating with distinguished families that include the Adeleyes, Babalolas, Faloduns, Ipayes etc. One thing I realize is the fact that most of my best friends till today were the ones I met while growing up in Egbe-Oba Land. My childhood memories remain evergreen.
With this opportunity to be culturally reconnected with Ilamo as a chief, I will not be too far from the community. God being my helper, I will associate with every progressive initiative in the town and contribute my quota to the best of my ability.
My humble charge to the community is that every well meaning member of Ilamo must work together for the good of the town. On matters of communal benefit, every indigene must think of Ilamo first before self. Also qualified indigenes of the should show more than passing interest in who governs them at all tiers of government. The fact that our king got to the position of a Director in the Central Bank of Nigeria should inspire the younger ones to aspire to greater heights. I pray that sooner or later Ilamo will produce President of Nigeria, Senator, federal minister, Governor, Assembly members, Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries in Jesus name. Amen. The only way to attain this is to get involved.
Once again, I thank Ilamo community for giving me this rare opportunity to become one of you.
Ari ire ba ara wa se o.
In seun mi o

RECEPTION