L-R: Son of the Celebrant, Folajimi Fayemi; Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye; celebrant and wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; and her husband, Dr Kayode Fayemi, during a Thanksgiving Service, commemorating her 50th Birthday Anniversary, at the Government House Chapel, Ado-Ekiti.
The Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Most Rev’d Felix Ajakaiye has described the Wife of Ekiti State Governor and founder Ekiti Development Foundation (EDF), Erelu Bisi Fayemi as a gift from God to the entire world.
Bishop Ajakaye who spoke at a special thanksgiving service to mark the 50th birthday of Erelu Fayemi at the Government House Chapel, Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, urged the celebrant not to lose hope in God or derail in her pursuit of truth.
While lamenting the poor attitude of people to maintenance culture, the cleric advised Nigerians to make use of their God-given gifts to make positive impact on their generation.
The Catholic Bishop who lauded the philanthropic life style of the celebrant, urged Nigerians to emulate the life of the celebrant by multiplying wealth and not poverty.
Bishop Ajakaiye also used the opportunity to congratulate the first family for the wonderful work they are doing to transform the state to an enviable height.
Erelu Fayemi, who was full of praises and thanks to God, said words were not enough to describe how elated she felt attaining the golden age.
The governor’s wife who also appreciated God for all the challenges she had faced while growing up, thanked God for his love and support for her husband and children who had given her the opportunity to carry out her professional career without hitch.
She said “the journey has been full of ups and downs, full of challenges, triumphs, and travails and looking back now, I just thanked God that I have had more cause to laugh and rejoice in my life than I have cause to cry and regret”.
The celebrant prayed God to continue to grant her good health so that by the time she would clock sixty she would still be strong and be able to run around to achieve her desired goals.
She said despite the fact that her father was very strict, he was very proud of her which gave her a lot of confidence to aspire and achieve greatness in life.
“So, coming from that kind of background gave me a lot of confidence, it boosted my self-esteem through life, through school, through going back to the United Kingdom, getting married, being part of a political family has taught me that it is important to stand up for what I believe in”. The Wife of Governor said.
In his remarks, the husband of the celebrant and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, said the faithfulness and commitment of his wife to God was an impetus towards achieving success in his struggles.
He commended his wife for always being there for him as his source of encouragement and a pillar of support through both good and hard times.
The celebration which was low key had in attendance the husband of the celebrant, Governor Kayode Fayemi, his Deputy, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; husband of the former Deputy Governor, Arch. Lanre Olayinka; the Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Adewale Omirin; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Yemi Adaramodu; state commissioners, members of State’s House of Assembly, permanent secretaries members of the Fayemi and Adeleye families.
Erelu Fayemi read the first lesson from the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 28 verses 1-9 while the birthday song was led by the Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu
The celebrant also planted some trees in Government House Grounds to commemorate the august occasion.
Last modified: June 11, 2013
