“What they have done for their mum today is going to add value to her life and to her existence. I can see happiness. I can see inner joy. I can see celebration. I can see that she is psychologically okay”
By John Odunayo
Deaconess Felicia Fehintola Aribisala danced before the Lord as she offered praise and thanksgiving to the Almighty creator of the heavens and the earth to celebrate her 90th birthday on Saturday.
It was a joyous gathering of children, relatives, friends, and eminent personalities from different social and economic walks at the Chapel of His Glory, Liberty Sanctuary, Iworoko Ekiti, venue of the Thanksgiving Service and later G-Bos Events Hall, Ado Ekiti for reception.
The academic community was visible at the birthday celebration of a Godly woman, a mother of renowned scholars and two Vice Chancellors – Prof. Gbenga Aribisala, pioneer VC of the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, FUTES, Iyin Ekiti and Professor Segun Aribisala, a former VC of Oduduwa University.
An elated Deaconess Aribisala joyfully danced, offering praises to God at the programmes which featured soul-lifting songs, heartfelt testimonies, thanksgiving and the cutting of her birthday cake.
In his sermon, titled “Redeeming the Time”, Senior Pastor of the church, Rev. Modupe Salami, charged Nigerians, particularly Christians to make judicious use of their time on earth by living exemplary lives rooted in godly virtues.
Salami warned against laziness, moral laxity and excessive materialism, stressing that many destinies had been truncated due to indolence, uncontrolled emotions, and ungodly lifestyles.
The cleric urged Christians in positions of authority to channel their resources towards uplifting humanity and promoting godliness, admonishing children to always take good care of their parents while they are alive instead of lavishing resources on elaborate funerals afterwards.
Speaking at the colourful reception, a former Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, Prof. Olawumi Ajaja, described Deaconess Aribisala as “a virtuous woman who stood firmly by her late husband in raising godly and successful children.
According to Prof. Ajaja, living to see her children become university vice chancellors and thriving Christians is a rare grace worthy of celebration.
The VC, Ekiti State University, Prof. Babatola Ayodele, said there were lessons for parents to learn in the life of the 90 years old celebrant.
Ayodele said, “We have a record that she ensured that all her children were adequately educated.
That is why today, two VCs are from the womb of this woman. My challenge for all parents is to ensure that they take care of the education of their children, they provide for the educational needs of their children, and even the character of their children.
“When you look at the children, the issue of training, you can see the way they are well trained. They are people of good character. If they are not well trained, they will not do this for their parents and for their mom.
“So all parents must learn from this. They must take care of their children, ensure that their children are properly educated, especially in the way of the Lord. All her children are educated in the way of the Lord, and that’s why this woman is enjoying this.
“What they have done for her today, is going to add value to her life and to her existence. I can see happiness. I can see inner joy. I can see celebration. I can see that she is psychologically okay,” the EKSU VC said.
Family members, including Pastor Gabriel Ibigbami and Mr Fakunle Olutoye, extolled the virtues of the nonagenarian, describing her as a peace-loving, caring mother who had contributed immensely to peaceful coexistence in the family, community and among in-law.
In separate interviews, her sons, Prof. Gbenga Aribisala and Prof. Segun Aribisala, described their mother as “a disciplined, prayerful, compassionate and strong-willed woman who made huge sacrifices to ensure they received a sound education.
The two dons noted that the colourful celebration of their mother was not only to mark nine decades of God’s faithfulness in her life, but also to encourage a renewed commitment to godliness, hard work and responsible parenting in today’s society.
They urged younger parents to emulate her fear of God, hard work and commitment to properly raising their children.
The FUTESI VC described his mum as “very prayerful. She wants her children to succeed and she is somebody that loves people that are around her. I think those are the virtues that stood her out I think she’s very happy”.
Also speaking, Dr Segun Ipinlaye thanked dignitaries for honouring the family and encouraged people to invest in their children’s education, describing it as the greatest legacy parents can bequeath.
Dignitaries at the event included the Owa Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Adewole; former EKSU VC, Prof. Dipo Kolawole; Registrar of FUTES, Mr Oluwole Dada; FUTES Librarian, Prof. Oluwadare Busayo; FUTES Bursar, Mrs Rachel Ajayi and her husband, pioneer DVC of FUOYE, Prof. Adeniyi Ajayi, alongside many distinguished professors across Nigerian universities.
