Kunle Adelabu
The remains of Otunba Adebowale Ogunade, a businessman, sports promoter, community developer and an outstanding philanthropist, was, on Friday, March 5, 2021, interred at his house in Igbogbo.
His death, which occurred on Sunday, February 14, 2021, after a brief illness, had thrown his home town, Okun Owa in Ijebu; his home base, Igbogbo and entire football family in Lagos State into a deep mourning because of his impact and love for the round leather game which he greatly and passionately invested in while alive.
Earlier on March 5, a burial service was held at the Igbogbo Township stadium and was attended by Hon. Rotimi Olowo, the representative of Shomolu II at the Lagos State House of Assembly and Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Hon. Nurudeen Solaja, representative of the Ikorodu Constituency II and Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts (State), Builder Sesan Daini , Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Hon. Adeola Banjo, Chairman, Ikorodu North LCDA and Mr Oluwatoyin Gafaar Bolowotan, Director – General, Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC ).
Alhaji Luqman Sonibare, the Chairman of the Ikorodu Divisional Football Association (IDFA), Alhaji Kolawole Saheed Akinsanya, President of the Grassroots Sports Development Forum (GSDF), Mr David Hassan, Chairman, Ikorodu (Football) Referees’ Society, Mr Tunde Gbolagunte and many other ex – internationals were also on ground to pay their last respect to the deceased.
The burial ceremony, which was organized by the deceased’s family, in conjunction with the All Stars Football Club, Igbogbo, started on Thursday, March 4, with a novelty match at the Igbogbo stadium in honour of late Ogunade who was the owner and financier of the Destiny Boys Football Club, lkorodu, while Christian Wake Keep and night of tributes were also held at the same venue.
The Ikorodu Divisional Football Association (IDFA), Ikorodu (Football) Referees’ Society also played prominent roles in the burial arrangement.
The All Stars teams that took part in the novelty match were Ikorodu All Stars, Obanikoro All Stars, Agunfoye (Alabama) All Stars, Ibeshe (Macbeth), Barrack and Abiyamo (Agunfoye) All Stars clubs.
Obayomi Adeoye Adebowale, Chairman, Igbogbo All Stars FC, speaking with THE IMPACT at the burial ceremony, described Otunba Ogunade as a man of the people who made great impacts on sports and human lives while alive.
“Debo is an icon, a philanthropist and pillar of sports in Nigeria, Lagos, Ikorodu Division and Igbogbo in particular.
“He is a man of the people who did things without looking back. He had been a helper to many individuals and groups, especially the Igbogbo All Stars. If we begin to mention what he did, we would not leave here.
“He is a man that we regret to have lost. May his gentle soul rest in peace”, he prayed.
“He had planned a lot for the All Stars but we lost him. He planned to get us more balls, facilitate their travelling to different parts of the country to play with other All Stars and many more but here we are contending with his untimely death.
“It is a big loss and we pray that we have people to fit into his shoes and fill the vacuum”, Obayomi lamented.
The Igbogbo All Stars Chairman also appreciated members of the All Stars that stood firm to honour the late Big Debo as well as other invited All Stars teams that came to honour him.
Oduntan Taiwo Hassan, late Ogunade’s Personal Assistant and former Executive Secretary of his company, Big Global Resources Nigeria Limited, stated that late Otunba Ogunade was a man of many parts and a man who built many breadwinners.
“Big Debo was a renowned philanthropist, an astute person, a politician, a leader, mentor and pillar of sports. He was an uncommon intelligentsia. He asked questions but already knew the answers before you proffer answers. He always does that to test your intelligence and set into motion an intelligent discourse. He was just like that”, he said.
“He didn't just relate with people but impacted the lives of each and every person he had contact with. His demise will be a very great loss to the community, state and the country at large.
“Big Debo had been able to raise whole lots of persons who in return have been able to raise their own families and became breadwinners. Talk about construction, he had about 100 staff working for him and each of them is a breadwinner. In sports, he had players both home and abroad, and each of them is a breadwinner. Notable among them is Oluwatobi Alagbe who is plying his trade in Austria.
“The player played in the Flying Eagles where he made a very big impact. The guy is from Igbogbo and he was our representative in the Flying Eagles.
“Big Debo also had a sound entertainment company with a lot of engineers working for him who are also breadwinners. There is also Jokem Farms, an agriculture company which products are directly consumed by many families.
“We are talking about five companies in Nigeria through which Big Debo was impacting heavily on the people.
While describing Big Debo as an uncommon intelligent man, Oduntan charged the Director – General, Lagos State Sports Commission, to ensure that his team boys, which are ambassadors of Ikorodu Division and Lagos State, are sustained and cared for.
“He was a very good friend who, whenever he was in his solitude time, invited one or two persons to be with him so that they could rub minds and impact his own wealth of ideas. That was how great his personalities was.
“Destiny Boys FC have been flag bearers of the Ikorodu Division at the Nationwide Divisional One for about three seasons consecutively. We cannot overemphasize that.
“Good enough, the Director of Sports in Lagos State today is a son of the soil in the division and the Destiny Boys FC happen to be pride of Ikorodu Division, I think that the DG Sports should ensure the team’s continuity; ensure that the boys in the Destiny Football academy are not discarded, keep them together and keep the flag flying”, Oduntan said.
“This, by implication, will improve the sporting activities of youths in Ikorodu Division”, he added.
