The kingdom of Ileogbo, under the pragmatic leadership of Kabiesi Oba Abeeb Adetoyese Agbaje, felicitates with the entire Ileogbo community and Nigerians as our daughter, the global weightlifter Adijat Olarinoye earns Nigeria her first Gold Medal at the ongoing 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
This is yet another proud moment for us as Adijat has been proving over the years the unlimited prospect of successes she can attain, if provided with the platform. The results of this is her consistence emergence in Nigeria, Africa and now on the global stage. We are proud of you, and of the model you’re creating for our teeming youthful population that it cannot be gainsaid that you’re a good role model for the coming generations, many of whom have not been hiding the height of their pleasure and familiarity before, during and after your successful competition yesterday. The happiness has taken over the mind and cloud of Ileogbo.
Success as we all know drives home familiarity from even the people who were antagonistic of the characters. It is with this we admonish you to always remember that familiarity comes after success. We encourage you to keep the morale high and not get distracted by the influx of well-wishes, as there are numerous gold medals awaiting you.
In the words of Hon. Justice Jide Falola, he said: “I earnestly congratulate our beautiful sister on this record breaking event, and for promoting herself to the level of world recognition. I recall her humble beginning, when her story broke on IDF platform few years ago. Some of us, including Dr, Alli Yakub, Engineer Semiu Odeyinka were trying to secure admission for her at Adeleke University, Ede, on special concession as sports personality. Then Engineer Lanre Adeleke came in, to raise the issue of getting her into a Sports Academy in US and all that. Her parents were supportive of all the suggestions. So, like Tobi Amusa, Adijat has a checkered history of hard work and support base from Ileogbo. All these while there was no body from the mundane “Iwo land” attached to the modest struggle and encouragement.”
“In year 2020 just after winning a gold medal at the African level, Ileogbo Unity Forum honoured her with a prestigious award of excellence for projecting the name of her cradle in the world of fame. The award was received on her behalf by Yeye Onto, Chief Mrs Samiat Bamigbayan at the grand finale of year 2020 lleogbo Day anniversary celebration. We were vidicated that she is indeed a promising star. Congratulations, lleogbo, a distinct settlement created by God, aside the infamy lwoland,” noted Alhaji Lamkam, a leading community development expert.
It is with the same joy we are proud to associate with the legendary Grammy Award winning artist, Mr Lekan Babalola, another indigene of Ileogbo who performed at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth events. It’s a double win for Ileogbo and we are proud of you both.
With the spate in which youths of nowadays derail from the tenet of hardwork, determination and consistency, we believe your consistent successes are smoking gun to spike the thoughts of reflective pause for the youths, especially the females, to commence sincere soul-searching activities so they can equally emerge with sustainable legacies.
As we know this is not your first time of making us proud, we pray this shall not be the last. May you never get tired. May your wings fly far beyond your predicted limitations. Thank you for putting Ileogbo on the global map once again and we are glad you enable us to share personally from this national success.
Quadri Adegun writes for the community.