“I bless the name of the Lord because today is one I will never forget. I want to thank God, my King, my God, the God of wonders, God that says and does, God of love, God of promise, King who never fails, God who never forsakes His own, my rock, my support, the God that shows mercy unto me”
By John Odunayo
Ageless Mrs Folasade Ogunmade, wife of socialite and Chairman of Moving Oil and Gas Ltd, Wale Ogunmade, radiated joy and happiness on June 1, 2025 as she went before God in thanksgiving on clocking age 50.
For Folasade, attaining the golden age is God’s grace, hence she returned all glory to the creator of the universe as families, friends and colleagues joined her at the birthday thanksgiving service which held at Reconciliation and Liberty Bible Church, Oshinle Akure.
Looking radiant at age 50, Folasade, aware of the exultation by the Psalmist in Psalm 90:12 “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom,” attributed her being to God’s mercy and faithfulness, as she sought more wisdom with the pledge to continue to dwell in God’s presence all days of her life.
Flanked by her husband, Wale, her son’s, family members and friends, Folasade began her appreciations with a song, “Ope me lodo re… (My thanks unto Thee…), adding, “If you know me, if you know my story, I passed through a lot of things, but I take me testimony from Psalm 103:3-5.
“Who forgave my sins and healed all my diseases, who redeemed my life and crowned me with love and compassion, who satisfies my desire with good things so that my youth is renewed like eagle’s”.
In a poetic rendition, the joyful celebrant chanted, “I bless the name of the Lord because today is one I will never forget. I want to thank God, my King, my God, the God of wonders, God that says and does, God of love, God of promise, King who never fails, God who never forsakes His own, my rock, my support, the God that shows mercy unto me. He renewed my life, He redeemed my life. I return all glory unto you, I give you all adoration”.
She appreciated Evangelist Adeleye and all clerics of the church for their prayers and l being there at all times.
Folasade appreciate her spouse, Wale, who she described as “a caring husband, a caring father, my Special Adviser, he is everything. I thank him for being with me through thick and thin”.
The celebrant also expressed gratitude to her children, her siblings and members of her family, the Ogunmade family, friends, well wishers and colleagues.
She appreciated all “for coming to honour God in my life”.
Her husband, Wale Ogunmade thanked God for turning around all the challenges that came the way of the lovely couple in their marital sojourn.
He said, “We thank God, we bless the Almighty God. She is my testimony. It was difficult, but we thank God. All the afflictions of the righteous, God delivered them all”.
The socialite, who led the congregation in a song which he said he knew during the antenatal days, “Mo ti ba won yo yo to ki ojo ayo to de, mo ranti Ojo ti a o yo fun emi naa … Ki won ki emi naa ku oriire (I have rejoiced with them several times before the day of joy, I remember the day they will rejoice with me … So that they will greet me congratulations), said that his reflections on the song prompted his agreement that the golden birthday would be celebrated.
He recalled, “My wife told me that she would celebrate her 50th birthday. I replied, ’50 years! Okay, we will sing and praise God as usual’. She said, ‘No, it is beyond that’. I said ‘Okay oo, we don’t do that where I come from. We don’t even remember our birthday”, but she insisted. When the song came to me and I reflected on it, I agreed that we would celebrate the milestone. Here we are before the Almighty”.
Ogunmade thanked the General Overseer of the church, Evangelist Wale Adeleye; Resident Pastor, Pastor Ope Oluwadare; Pastor Olajide; Pastor and Mrs Ayodele and as well all church members for being part of the event.
He also appreciated families, friends, political associates and club members for their distinguished presence in church and well others who had come from far and near to be part of the memorable day but were not in church that morning.
In his exhortation, the General Overseer, Evangelist Adeleye, who congratulated Folasade and the Ogunmade family, said, “Attaining the age of 50, that is half of one hundred, is worth celebrating. God did a marvellous thing for the celebrant, so we should rejoice with her and the family”.
Adeleye, taking a cue from the progress in the Ogunmade family, said, “The Bible says that there is hope for fellowshipping with the living. Thank God for the life of this couple, they are steadfast and God keeps lifting them”.
He lauded Ogunmade as the Chairman of the Church Building Committee, saying, “He has been doing his best and we are seeing the positive impacts in the church”.
The gathering later shifted to De Javu Hotels, Alagbaka Akure, where guests were treated to an unprecedented entertainment and reception.
Amidst fanfare and ovations, Folasade, flanked by her husband, children and well wishers cut the birthday cake.
The Elan Club members, led by the President, Elano Kunle Akingbola, to which the socialite, Ogunmade belongs, spiced up the occasion with their attendance and activities.
The events were attended by dignitaries from within and outside.
