By John Odunayo
SUNDAY, July 14, 2024 was the 81st birthday of former teacher, Surveyor Olayiwola Afolabi.
For the octogenarian, the day started like any other and he was at home himself that Sunday when he received an alert of N1m on his phone as birthday gift.
A surprised old man was still trying to find out who the sender of the surprise gift was when he was made to realize that his former students at the Surveying and Geoinformatics Department of Federal Polytechnics, Ado Ekiti were around to celebrate his especial day with him.
Surv. Afolabi, who retired as a Chief Lecturer in the institution years ago, according to the former students, “has produced Professors, Chief Lecturers, Surveyor-Generals, great surveyors and many captains of industry”.
After the merry with the former students and having listened to their testimonies, the former teacher gave an emotional appreciation.
He said, “I am sincerely grateful for this surprise visit to celebrate my 81st birthday.
“The first surprise was an alert of N1 million from one Ogunlade Idowu Matthew. I searched for the sender from my contact list, but I couldn’t find it.
“As I started being agitated, Surv. Dr Oyedokun Abiodun (a former student) walked into the sitting room. He told me that a group of the ex-students of the department had gathered together to honor and celebrate with me on my special day.
“He invited me to come out, only to see a group of ex-students who started to sing birthday songs.
“During the brief ceremony, some of those who spoke about me, relived old memories. I must confess, I became very happy to hear that many of my actions and decisions propelled many of them to attain enviable positions in life.
“My joy made me request from God that if I have to come to the world again, I will want to be a teacher. The greatest joy of a farmer is to see a bountiful harvest. With many of them occupying high positions in tertiary institutions, ministries, and highly successful private survey companies and industries, I feel highly elated and joyful.
“One of my prayers for all of them is to continue to progress in life. As they have gathered together to honor and celebrate me, they will be celebrated and honored too. They will receive the Grace of God to live long in good health and sound mind, prosperity and all round joy. Amen”, the Octogenarian former teacher prayed.
Dr Oyedokun Abiodun, one of his former students, said that the former students contributed the money and chose to give the octogenarian a surprise birthday visit and celebration in his Akure, Ondo State residence.
Abiodun, who is the National President, FPA Alumni Association, congratulated the former teacher on the occasion, saying, “Surv. Afolabi, who retired as a Chief Lecturer in the polytechnic years ago, has produced Professors, Chief Lecturers, Surveyor-Generals, great surveyors and many captains of industry”.
While thanking the former S&G students for the gesture and upholding the values of surveying and their Alma mater, Abiodun called on ex-students from other departments, “let’s celebrate our teachers when they are still living”.
Surveyor Olayiwola Afolabi, a native of Awe in Oyo, Oyo State, was born on 14th of July 1943.
Afolabi, a fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), was the first Head of Department of FPA S&G Dept and a former Dean.
The octogenarian is a former Chairman Nigeria Institute of Surveyors (NIS), Ekiti State Branch, and a one time Chairman, NIS Body of Fellows Ondo State.
