Ibadan, Oyo State – On Friday, friends, family, associates, and fans of the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (Aketi) gathered at the prestigious Jogor Center in Ibadan to celebrate his posthumous birthday. The event, organized by Friends of Aketi (FoA), featured the public presentation of a glossy coffee-table book titled “The Essential Aketi,” cultural performances, and special tributes.

The late Governor Akeredolu, who passed away on December 26, 2023, served as the sixth civilian Governor of Ondo State from February 24, 2017, to December 26, 2023.

The event, tagged “Aketi: A Celebration of a Tree that Almost Made a Forest,” aimed to reinvent the traditional format of a Day of Tributes, incorporating music, dance, drama, guest interactions, and tributes in a high-impact performance.

According to FoA, the event showcased the fascinating life of Aketi through pictures, videos, recorded speeches, and personal memories. The organization hoped that guests would leave the venue inspired to live a life worthy of celebration, just like Aketi’s.

The highlight of the event was the unveiling of the 275-page book “The Essential Aketi” by Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, the widow of the late Governor. The book features interesting articles, including “One Tree that Almost Made a Forest,” “Apprenticeship in the Furnace of Leadership,” and “Quotable Quotes: Aketi Words in Marble.”

The four-hour event also included the cutting of Aketi’s 68th posthumous birthday cake by his family, a guard of honor by the Amotekun Corps, and attendance by dignitaries from various walks of life.

Credit: Rowland Onyekwu