Akinyede

SIR LAMBERT OLUWAFEMI AKINYEDE (1928-2014): 
A Distinguished Legal Practitioner, Entrepreneur of Note and An Exemplary Philanthropist

By

Seye Adetunmbi, 9/1/19

In the Ekiti District of 1940s, only very few indigenes had the opportunity of attending famous and frontline secondary schools outside the old Ondo Province in the western region of Nigeria. One of the privileged few from Ekiti that attended St Gregory’s College in Lagos then was Chief Lambert Oluwafemi Akinyede. His forefathers were instrumental to how Catholic Church had strong foothold in Ado-Ekiti. His father, Chief Phillip Akinyede, the Asamo of Ado-Ekiti was the Baba-Egbe (the Lay President) of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Ado-Ekiti. He was born by his mother, Madam Maria Oni Akinyede on April 19^th 1928 in Ado-Ekiti.

St Gregory's College Days of Chief L. O. Akinyede

Between 1933 and 1942, he attended St George’s Catholic Primary School, Ado-Ekiti. Brilliant Lambert continued his secondary education at St Gregory’s College, Obalende, Ikoyi, Lagos in 1946 and passed his final examination in flying colours in 1951.

It has to be noted here that Chief Akinyede was a keen sportsman in his secondary school days. He was the Captain of St Augustine’s House at St Gregory College in his final year. As a skillful footballer, he played in the center half of the school first eleven for four years during which the college won Lagos Schools Cup for three consecutive years. On the return of the national football team from a tour of UK in 1951, he was among the students selected to play the national soccer team. He also served as the Lawn Tennis Captain, the Table-Tennis Captain and Cricket Captain during his last year at St. Gregory College, Lagos.

In 1952 to 1953, he attended Regent Street Polytechnic on Oxford Street in London where he obtained A-Level certificate in Economics, History and British Constitution. He gained admission into University of Bristol, South West England in 1954 and obtained LL.B. degree in Law in 1957. While at the Regent Street Polytechnic and University of Bristol, he played competitive table tennis, lawn tennis and cricket. After passing through the Council of Legal Education, Chancery Lane, England, he obtained BL certificate in 1958 and became the first Ado-Ekiti indigene to be qualified as a lawyer.

On his return to Nigeria he was enrolled at the Supreme Court of Nigeria as a Solicitor and Advocate on the 23^rd of December 1958. Between January and December 1959 he worked for Shell Company of Nigeria before going into private law practice. Hardworking and smart Chief L. O. Akinyede went into legal practice with Chief Olajide Esan as a partner in 1959. Esan, Akinyede & Co was a firm of legal practitioners and Notary Public; they had their office at 78 Murtala Mohammed Way, Ebute-Metta, Lagos. The law firm practiced extensively in the south western Nigeria handling cases relating to criminal law, civil cases and land matters. The partnership flourished from inception in 1959 to year 2000 to the glory of God. In his usual character, Chief Lambert Akinyede fondly remarked that he owed a lot to his senior partner, Chief Olajide Esan of blessed memory too.

Chief Akinyede got married to his evergreen heartthrob and beloved beautiful wife, Chief Mrs Florence Olufimilayo Akinyede, nee Osho. She was the first daughter of Mr Jonathan Oso of Baisaya family of Okesa quarter in Ado-Ekiti and her mother was Madam Alice Adepeju Oke of the royal family of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti. The ever resourceful Chief Mrs Akinyede who joined saints triumphant on January 5^th 2019 was a fruitful educationist and a talented fashion designer for many decades. The marriage of Baba and Mama Akinyede was blessed with seven productive and successful children: Mrs Folusho Olatunbosun, Mrs Modupe Fakeye, Olori Monisola Alade, Tunde Akinyede, Mrs Yinka Olatunbosun, Dapo Akinyede and Muyi Akinyede. As at the time of the transition of the patriarch, there were 22 grandchildren in the family. Sir & Lady Lambert Akinyede made marriage beautiful with the imitable manner they carried on as husband and wife. They entrenched family values in all their children that continue to keep marriage institution sacred in their respective homes.

Chief Lambert Akinyede was noted for discipline, honesty, probity, steadfastness, respect for elders, honouring one’s parents, selfless service in the vineyard of God, philanthropy, investment acumen, prudence, accessibility, openness, prudence, courage and other salient family values. All these virtues attributed to him constituted his personal philosophy and principles that guided his relationship with people generally. These attributes had been encapsulated in the word “Lambertism” by his children and wards. His favorite quotes that also speak to his life style guided by lambertism include:

• Don’t leave until tomorrow what you can do today because you don’t know what tomorrow may bring”;
• “Though the beginning may be tough, hard and strenuous, but with determination, focus and rigorous pursuit of your ideas, joy and success will definitely come your way at the end;
• “An investment in knowledge will always pay the dividends, I therefore suggest that people should acquire more knowledge from time to time”;
• “Little drops of water make the biggest ocean. By this you must be saving consciously rather than embarking on extravagant spending. That is how you can be financially empowered”

Chief Akinyede was a kind hearted person. One of his longest serving loyal staff was his driver, egbon John who remained with the family after his transition. How benevolent a boss is can be seen in the way the workers are treated. He ensured that his driver has a personal house among other benefits he enjoyed over the years. He trained many members of his extended family in school and empowered numerous people among his kinsmen and others who moved close to him or approached him for various kinds of assistance.

The chief in his elements was a jolly good fellow. He was a founding member of Ado Inland Club and a member of Lagos Island Club. He contributed his quota to emancipation of Ekiti people though his membership of Ekiti Progressive Union in Lagos and Ado-Ekiti Progressive Union in Lagos. He was also a founding member of Obanikoro Club in Lagos. Sir Akinyede also served as the President of St George’s Society of St Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Ado-Ekiti.

“A golden fish has no hiding place”. The good deeds of the distinguished Ekiti man, coupled with his distinct profile put him on the spot; this earned him recognition and awards from his kinsmen. In 1979 when His Royal Majesty Oba Olayisade, the Olojudo of Ido-Ekiti was marking 40^th anniversary on the throne, he was honoured with the title of Bobajiro of Ido-Ekiti. Also His Royal Majesty, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, Aladesanmi III, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti honored him with the chieftaincy title of Akinmuagun of Ado-Ekiti in 1993. His exemplary roles in Catholic mission earned him the exalted Knighthood of St Gregory the Great.

Sir Chief Lambert Olu Akinyede passed-on, on the 22^nd of November, 2014. May his gentle soul continue to rest in peace, amen.