Governor of Oyo State, ‘Seyi Makinde, on Saturday, attended the 80th birthday celebrations of the duo of the wife of former Chief Judge of Oyo State, Chief (Mrs.) Adetokunbo Ayorinde, and the co-founder of the BOVAS Group, Architect Bamidele Samson.
The governor congratulated the celebrants at separate events at the Cathedral of St James the Great, Oke Bola, Ibadan, and the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan. He stated that at 80, the duo had impacted society and had done well for themselves.
Governor Makinde congratulated Chief (Mrs.) Ayorinde, the wife of a former Chief Judge of Oyo State, the late Honourable Justice Timothy Adebayo Ayorinde, and prayed that God would preserve her life to celebrate 100 years and beyond.
At the reception held in honour of the BOVAS co-founder, the governor hailed Arch. Bamidele Samson for contributing positively to the development of Oyo State and Nigeria through his business and stated that the celebrant has given back to society in various ways.
According to the governor, BOVAS’S excellent credentials made it beholden to the Oyo State government. The government awarded the company the construction of the 500,000-litre Aviation Fuel Storage and Dispensing Facility at the Ibadan Airport, and the project was completed in record time.
He said: “On behalf of the Government and the people of Oyo State, I wish you many happy returns. You will live long to celebrate 100 years in good health and for the development of our country.
“Some of us don’t know that the celebrant is from Osun State. In Ibadan and Oyo State, we all know BOVAS—not just in terms of business but of giving back to society. He is based in Ibadan, and has given so much back to the society.
“When you are doing business, you don’t need to hide your name, you will be proud to put your name. So, BOVAS has done well and so much for us here that one day when we were talking about the aviation fuel facility for our airport here in Ibadan, I told my people, don’t go to Lagos, don’t go anywhere, go to BOVAS and sit down with them and negotiate the aviation fuel facility and today, it was completed in record time.”
Earlier in his sermon at the Holy Communion and Thanksgiving church service to mark Mama Ayorinde’s 80th birthday, the Bishop of Ibadan Diocese, Anglican Communion, Most Reverend (Dr) Joseph Akinfenwa, appreciated the celebrant for being part of the solution for the younger generation.
He equally commended the administration of Governor Makinde for his morality in governing the affairs of the state, stressing that history will never forget him.
“If peradventure the country’s constitution will give room for a third term, you will surely win. Forget that PDP or SDP or APC is here today. You have outstood all of them.”
Both events had top government functionaries, traditional leaders, and captains of industry in attendance.
