It was double celebration for Chief (Mrs.) OLABISI AKPATA and Mrs. OLUFUNSO ADEGBOLA, as they turned 80 and 50, respectively, on December 22, 2010. Clergymen from Church of the Resurrection (Anglican Communion), 1004 Complex, Victoria Island, conducted a Thanksgiving service, with Holy Communion, at the Akpatas’ home, in Ikoyi, Lagos. In Ibadan, Oyo State, where Mrs. Adegbola resides, her family organized a Thanksgiving service, also with Holy Communion, at All Saints’ Inter-denominational Church, Jericho.
Mrs. Olabisi Akpata was born on Monday, December 22, 1930, in Ibadan, to the late Chief JOHN ADEYEMI AYORINDE, MBE, and his wife, MARYAM ALABA AYORINDE, nee BAKARE. Mrs. Akpata’s father, the Ashapa of Ibadan, was until his demise, third in-line to succeed the Olubadan (King of Ibadan). He was a highly respected authority on Yoruba custom and heritage. In the 1950s, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain bestowed the title of Member of the British Empire (MBE) on him.
The young Miss Ayorinde had her education at Kudeti Girls’ School, now St. Anne’s School, Ibadan. She left for the United Kingdom in the mid-50s where she studied at the Institute of Education, University of Edinburgh, Scotland. She obtained a Diploma in June, 1957. From 1957 to 1958, she studied at Chelsea School of Art and Design, London, specialising in textile design.
She returned to Nigeria, in 1959, and joined the Western Nigeria Ministry of Education. From 1959 to 1961, she was an Arts teacher at Government Training College, Ilesha. She was later transfered to the Ministry of Information, Ibadan, where she worked as a Graphic Arts Officer. In her spare time, she produced adire (tie-die). She was the first, in Nigeria, to introduce the conversion of adire from basic indigo to colour. A book has been written about her works. She also specialised in making silver jewellery.
On December 2, 1964, she got married to Mr. TAYO AKPATA, then an Admin. Officer with the Ministry of Health. Mr. Akpata (now one of the senoir Chiefs of the Oba of Benin) later joined the staff of the University of Ibadan and rose to the position of Deputy Registrar. He was a Commissioner for Education in the Government of the now defunct Mid-Western Nigeria. He later became the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Trust Fund. The Akpatas have three children, Iyen Akpata, Osa Idowu and Osagie Akpata; and grandchildren.
Co-celebrant Olufunso Adefunke Adegbola was born on Thursday, December 22, 1960, in Ibadan, to the late Chief BOLA IGE, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) … a former Governor of the old Oyo State; Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice … and his wife, the late Justice ATINUKE IGE, nee OLOKO, of the Court of Appeal.
Olufunso had her elementary school education at Eleiyele Private School, Ibadan. She had her secondary education at St. Anne’s School, also in Ibadan; Westonbirt School, Gloucestershire, England, for her O & A Levels; Essex University, Colchester, where she got a Bachelor of Arts degree in French and Spanish. She studied Law at Bristol University, where she got an LL.B degree. After attending the Nigerian Law School, she worked with the law firm BOLA IGE & COMPANY, for seven years, from 1988.
On August 20, 1988, Miss Olufunso Adefunke Ige got married to Mr. OLUGBENRO ADEGBOLA, at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Esa-Oke, Osun State (he is the Managing Director of Evans Brothers (Nigeria Publishers) Limited. They have two children – ‘KAYODE, 20, and AYOTUNDE, 17.
Mrs. Adegbola founded The VALE College, Ibadan (a private co-educational secondary school) in November, 1994. She engages in charity and social work as Chairperson of Ibadan Home for Motherless Babies; member of Oyo State Child Rights Committee and member, University of Ibadan Advancement Board etc.
On Monday, December 27, 2010, a dinner dance was hosted by the Akpata children, IYEN, OSA and OSAGIE, at the FOUR POINTS Hotel, Lekki Road, Victoria Island, Lagos, for 80 year-old Mrs. Olabisi Akpata and 50 year-old Mrs. Olufunso Adegbola. The late Justice Atinuke Ige and Mrs. Akpata were cousin and the best of friends.
Mr. MUYIWA IGE, an architect, was the Master of Ceremonies.
Here are some of the personalities at the dinner dance.
Photographs by multi award-winning photographer, SUNMI SMART-COLE, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of PHOTONEWS: and Staff Photographer MUYIWA IK-DAIRO.
fantastic photos sir
love,
Kayode
Kayode, thank you very much. You are very kind. I am still writing the captions.
The pictures are so beautiful. Thank you very much
As always… Absolutely beautiful…shots… Thank you..